Can statin drugs remove plaque from arteries?

How statins work. Statins help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, in the blood. They draw cholesterol out of plaque and stabilize plaque, Blaha says.

What drugs remove plaque from arteries?

Statins include:

• Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
• Fluvastatin (Lescol)
• Lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor)
• Pitavastatin (Livalo)
• Pravastatin (Pravachol)
• Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• Simvastatin (Zocor)

How do statins stabilize plaque?

“This is an important observation that tells us that statins work to stabilize plaques by converting softer, cholesterol-laden plaques that are prone to rupture into more stable calcified plaques that are relatively inert.

How effective are statins?

We have data now from over 20 statin trials of over 135,000 patients that show that statins compared with placebo or no medication result in a 23 percent reduction in heart attacks, 17 percent reduction in fatal or non-fatal stroke, 19 percent reduction in death from cardiovascular causes and a 12 percent reduction in …

How effective are statins in reducing cholesterol?

Statins are a type of medicine that are used to lower the cholesterol in your blood, helping to prevent heart disease and stroke. Statins often work very well. They can reduce your LDL cholesterol by around 30\%, sometimes even 50\% with high doses.

Do statins hardened plaque?

A: Yes. There have been several clinical studies — many of them done here at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins.

Do statins increase arterial plaque?

Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who are treated with statins experience an increase in coronary calcification, an effect that is independent of plaque progression or regression.

Are statins really effective?

While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people who take them and may rarely cause liver damage.