Cholesterol-lowering statins are promoted as a heart disease preventative that all over-50s should be taking-but a new report has found they have caused 20,000 life-threatening reactions and 227 deaths in the UK.
The drugs have caused a range of adverse reactions that have been recorded over the last 20 years, including irreversible muscle breakdown, muscle pain, blood disorders, diabetes, skin disorders and stomach problems.
In all, 18,928 reports of serious adverse reactions and 227 deaths have been reported to the UK drugs watchdog, the Medicines and HealthCare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The 227 deaths that were recorded were associated with stomach disorders, stomach problems, nervous system disorders and breathing problems.
All the adverse reactions were reported to the MHRA under its ‘yellow card’ system, which a doctor completes when he believes a drug has been responsible. However, there is a massive under-reporting, and it has been calculated that just 10 per cent of reactions are ever recorded by the system.
(Source: Sunday Express, July 5th, 2015)
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