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Statin drug linked to sleep problems
Some poor sleepers might benefit from changing their cholesterol-lowering medication say US scientists
Taking one type of cholesterol-busting drug could stop you from getting a good night's sleep, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association meeting in Florida.
In the largest study of its kind, scientists at the University of California's San Diego School of Medicine looked the effects of two different types of statins, pravastatin and simvastatin, on people's sleep.
Over a thousand healthy adults were involved in the six-month trial. The volunteers were given daily doses of simvastatin (20mg), pravastatin (40mg) or a placebo and the quality of their sleep was measured using two established sleep scales. Sleep patterns were assessed before and during the trial.
The team found that significantly more people taking simvastatin reported sleep problems than those taking either pravastatin or the placebo.
'The results showed that simvastatin use was associated with significantly worse sleep quality,' said Beatrice Golomb, lead author of the study. 'The findings are significant because sleep problems can affect quality of life and may have adverse health consequences, such as promoting weight gain and insulin resistance.'
The scientists believe that because the simvastatin is fat-soluble, it can enter the brain more easily and possibly disrupt the area associated with sleep. This is not the case with the water-soluble pravastatin, which has difficulty crossing from the blood into the brain.
The report was keen to point out that not everyone taking simvastatin would necessarily be affected. 'Sleep deprivation is a major problem in a minor number of people,' said Golomb. 'Patients taking simvastatin who are having sleep problems should consult with their doctor.'
Over half of all adults in the UK have high cholesterol levels and more than 1.8 million take statins to keep their cholesterol levels in check. High cholesterol is linked to heart disease and stroke and it is estimated that statin drugs save approximately 6 – 7,000 lives in the UK each year. Most people who take a statin to reduce their cholesterol have few or no side effects.
In response to the study, Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said: "The good news is that there are several different statins available and if one doesn't suit you, talk to your doctor about switching to another."
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