Most statin side-effects not caused by the drugs, study finds

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Andrew Gregory Health editorFebruary 6, 2026 at 12:30 AM

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A comprehensive review published in The Lancet found that most listed side effects of statins are not caused by the drugs themselves. Researchers analyzed 19 randomized controlled trials involving 124,000 participants over an average of four and a half years. They found no strong evidence that statins caused 62 of the 66 listed side effects, including memory problems, depression, and sleep disturbances. The study confirmed the known risks of muscle pain and diabetes, and identified a few other rare side effects. The authors suggest that statin labels should be updated to reflect the evidence, enabling patients and doctors to make more informed decisions about the medication, which is proven to reduce heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths.

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Rory Collins 50% Oxford University 60% The Lancet 70% Christina Reith ×280%

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statins 100% side-effects 90% meta-analysis 60% systematic review 60% muscle pain 60% strokes 50% cardiovascular deaths 50% diabetes 50% heart attacks 50% liver abnormalities 40%

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Positive

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The Guardian - World News

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statins side-effects meta-analysis systematic review muscle pain strokes cardiovascular deaths diabetes heart attacks liver abnormalities

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