Statins are the medications used for lowering cholesterol levels. But according to recent research statins can be harmful for pancreas. However, such reactions rarely occur, but statins may lead to inflammation of pancreas. According to one of the M.D. from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, with statins there can be risk of acute pancreatitis. And with this report there was a concern in people’s minds as there are millions of people who take statins everyday for reducing or controlling high cholesterol.
Subsequently many other studies were also taken up testing different statin drugs just to find out that which one causes lesser risk of pancreatitis than others. And the reports suggested that even though such condition or side effect may be rare, all the statins pose this kind of risk. Another report suggested that the risk remains same even though the medication dosage is smaller.
In pancreatitis there is inflammation of pancreas. Pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach which is responsible for secretion of digestive enzymes. If the patient gets acute pancreatitis then it can be severe and may also have life threatening results. Normally, pancreatitis results due to alcoholism, gall bladder disease or occasionally due to abdominal injury. It is therefore recommended that cholesterol must be managed through lifestyle changes and diet which will help in reducing the dosage or completely stopping the medications. |