Statins taken by millions in Britain each day have fewer side effects than previously thought, a study suggests.
The drugs should continue to be prescribed to combat high cholesterol because the side effects reported by patients may be “overestimated and overdiagnosed”, the research found.
Between seven and eight million people take statins to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. They are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in Britain. Research suggests that one in 50 people who take the pills for five years will avoid a serious cholesterol-related health problem.
The latest study, published in the European Heart Journal, found that true side effects strike between 6 and 10 per cent of patients. However, it is thought that 50 per cent of patients complain.
