PATIENT INFORMATION

Deciding about a statin

Your GP has recommended a statin to lower your chance of a heart attack or stroke. This page uses NICE's own figures, so you can decide.

It is your choice. When you have read this page, answer the questionnaire we sent you. There is no wrong answer.

What your score means

We looked at your cholesterol with your age, blood pressure and other health details. Together they give one number. It is your risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years.

Say your score is 20%. Picture a crowd of 100 people with the same score.

We would expect 20 of them to have a heart attack or stroke. The other 80 would not.

Your text message from us has your score in it. Tap the number closest to yours.

What you tap stays on your phone. This page cannot send anything anywhere.

What helps without tablets

These lower your risk whatever you decide about the statin.

Do

stop smoking if you smoke, which helps more than anything else
move more, aiming for 150 minutes a week that leaves you a bit out of breath
swap butter, fatty meat and pastry for olive oil, oily fish, nuts, beans and oats
keep to a healthy weight
keep alcohol within 14 units a week

At your level of risk these help, but usually not enough on their own. That is why we also offer the tablet.

How much a statin would help you

Out of 100 people with your score, all taking a statin for 10 years:

7out of 100 people with a 20% score avoid a heart attack or stroke because they took a statin

7 avoid a heart attack or stroke because of the statin
13 have one anyway, despite the statin
80 would not have had one either way

These are NICE's figures, for 100 people with the same score as you. We cannot say what will happen to any one person.

A statin does not protect everyone. Some people have a heart attack or stroke anyway.

Most people would not have had one either way. They take the tablet for years without knowing whether it helped. That is true of every preventive medicine.

What taking it involves

The tablet

Atorvastatin 20mg, one tablet a day, at the same time each day. Food does not matter. This is the dose NICE recommends for people in your situation.

It has been in use for over 25 years and costs the NHS a few pence a day. It goes on your repeat prescription.

Blood tests

One blood test about 3 months after you start. It checks that your cholesterol has come down and that the tablet suits your liver.

After that, a routine check once a year. You do not need to fast for it.

How long you take it for

The protection lasts only while you take it. So this is a long-term tablet, not a course.

You can stop at any time, and you can change your mind either way. Nothing here is permanent.

Possible side effects

Most people take a statin for years and notice nothing. Here is what the evidence shows, out of 100 people.

Muscle pain

Out of 100 people who took a statin for a year

72 did not get muscle pain
26 got muscle pain, but would have got it anyway
2 got muscle pain because of the statin

Muscle pain from a statin usually shows up in the first year. Aches are common in people taking nothing at all. That is why most aches in people on a statin turn out not to be caused by it.

If you get aches, tell us. We can test it by stopping the tablet for a few weeks and seeing what happens.

Severe muscle damage

This is the one people worry about, and it is rare.

About 3 in every 10,000 people who do not take a statin get severe muscle damage anyway. If all 10,000 took a statin, on average 3 more people would get it.

Type 2 diabetes

Out of 100 people who took a statin, in trials lasting 4 to 5 years

95 did not get type 2 diabetes
4 got type 2 diabetes, but would have got it anyway
1 got type 2 diabetes because of the statin

This is more likely if you were already close to getting diabetes. Even if you do get it, the statin still lowers your chance of a heart attack and stroke.

Dementia

There is no good evidence that statins cause dementia.

Who cannot take one

Statins are not used in pregnancy, when breastfeeding, or when you are trying for a baby.

Tell us on the questionnaire if any of these apply to you.

you have liver disease
you drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week
you have had a problem with a statin before
you have muscle pain now that has not been explained

Some other medicines interact with statins. Your GP checks your record for those before prescribing.

Making your decision

Check how you feel about these 4 questions before you answer the questionnaire.

do you feel sure about the best choice for you
do you know the benefits and risks of taking a statin, and of not taking one
are you clear about which benefits and risks matter most to you
do you have enough support and advice to make a decision

If you answer no to any of them, tick "I would like to talk it through" on the questionnaire. We will arrange a call.

What happens next

Answer the questionnaire we texted you.

If you say yes, and nothing on your record needs checking first, the prescription goes to your usual pharmacy. You will get a text explaining how to take it.

If you say no, we record it and leave it there. You can change your mind at any time.

Immediate action required: Call 999 now if you have:

chest pain at rest, or chest pain lasting more than 15 minutes
sudden weakness or numbness in the face or one arm
sudden trouble speaking or understanding speech

Non-urgent advice: Contact the surgery the same day if you have:

chest pain or tightness when you walk uphill or hurry
breathlessness that is new for you

More information

NICEShould I take a statin? The full decision aid (PDF, 806KB)www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng238/resources/patient-decision-aid-on-should-i-take-a-statin-pdf-243780159 NHS.UKStatins: how they work and side effectswww.nhs.uk/medicines/statins/ British Heart FoundationHigh cholesterol explainedwww.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol

Reviewed 26 August 2026 · next review 26 February 2027