Why are statins taken in the evening and not during the day? When do you take statins? Why statins in the evening is the indication regarding the timing of these drugs? What are statins and how is their mode of action relevant to the time during the day when they should be taken?
What are statins? Statins are organic drugs that inhibit an enzyme that regulates the production of cholesterol in our body, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Therefore when we use statins we inhibit the activity of the enzyme and thus reduce the level of cholesterol production in our body. Inhibiting the activity of this enzyme in the liver also leads to an increase in LDL cholesterol receptors – the bad cholesterol. In this way, the use of statins leads to the removal of this cholesterol from the blood.
More on cholesterol and triglycerides:
Statin drugs are used in the world in a particularly common way. Along with the many benefits, significant research findings have indicated harm and risks due to the consumption of statins. Before consuming medicines, their suitability for the patient’s condition must be examined. That is why it is important to consult a specialist before using any medicine, especially statins, and to conduct regular tests such as liver enzyme tests.
Why statins in the evening?
So when do you take statins? Why are statins in the evening a medical indication for taking these drugs? Why are statins in the evening the recommended timing for using this type of medication?
Regular statins are recommended to be taken in the evening, to inhibit the production of cholesterol, which is mostly made during the night in the liver. In contrast, statins with long-term delayed action such as atorvastatin or rosuvastatin affect the liver to produce cholesterol during the day. Therefore, you can take these statins at any time during the day.
How to consume statins? The statins are recommended to be taken on a full stomach after a meal. This is, among other things, due to the side effects of statins on the digestive system. Alcohol and grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking statins.
When do statins start to work? The effect of statins to stabilize cholesterol begins after two weeks and reaches a measurable effect after five to six weeks. In addition, research findings have revealed that statins begin to have an effect already after 6 months on reducing plaque – the hardened plaque that blocks the blood vessels and leads to heart disease and death.