[Practical approach to statin intolerance]

Statins significantly decrease the cardiovascular risk and the reduction of cholesterol by statins has become a milestone in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases for a large group of patients. In spite of that an adequate use of statins in many patients is limited by adverse symptoms which lead to interruption of the therapy in some patients and low adherence to the therapy in others. Therefore the subject of statin intolerance is of great clinical importance. Statin intolerance can be defined as an incidence of myalgia or other adverse symptoms associated with a statin therapy, which lead to its interruption. Nonetheless, even if such symptoms develop during the statin therapy, these adverse effects are frequently not associated with the treatment and most patients with an anamnesis suggesting episodes of such symptoms are able to tolerate an adequate statin therapy. It is therefore of great clinical importance to identify the actual cases of statin intolerance in order to avoid the unnecessary interruption of the statin therapy in the patients who would benefit from it. Regarding patients with a proven statin intolerance, statins should be administered according to an altered scheme and if tolerated, the dose should be gradually increased until the highest tolerated level is reached. When this careful approach is followed, most patients are able to tolerate some level of statin therapy at least. Besides that, there may be also other lipid-reducing drugs needed to reach the required goals. If the achievement of the lipid target values is difficult, a rigorous control of the risk factors may help in reducing the cardiovascular risk.