Patients are told to ‘stick with statins’

POPULAR Daily statins THE benefits of taking statins outweigh the dangers of the side effects, US health bosses told patients.

Statins are taken once a day by six million Britons to reduce cholesterol and ward off heart disease. They slash the risk of repeat heart attacks or strokes.

But some people are put off by apparent side effects including diarrhoea, feeling sick or headaches.

The American Heart Association found up to 10% of patients stop taking them because of symptoms they blame on the drug.

Dr Mark Creager, former president of the AHA, said: “Stopping a statin can significantly increase risks of a heart attack or stroke.”

One exception is if you pass dark urine, which may indicate a muscle injury that leads to kidney failure.