Statins

Medications: “statins”

• simvastatin

• lovastatin

• pravastatin

• rosuvastatin

• atorvastatin

What do statins treat?

• high cholesterol

  • lowers LDL (bad cholesterol)

  • increase HDL (good cholesterol

  • lowers triglyceride levels

• stabilizes fatty plaques in CAD (coronary artery disease)

How do statins work?

• inhibit enzyme: HMG-CoA reductase

  • cannot convert mevalonic acid & cannot activate mevalonic pathway = cholesterol is not synthesized (not made) = LOWERED CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

Side effects of statins:

• sore muscles (can lead to stain induced rhabdomyolysis)

• increased liver enzymes

• GI upset

• increase glucose leads in patients with type II diabetes

Nurse Roles:

• monitor for statin induced rhabdomyolysis

  • labs would show:

    • increased creatine kinase

    • dark urine

    • kidney damage

  • muscle deteriorate/breakdown → myoglobin enter blood stream → things get filtered in kidneys → kidneys hate myoglobin = damage

• no grapefruit juice or grapefruits = increased TOXICITY

• monitor LFT (liver enzyme tests)

  • ALT

  • AST