statins

re·leas·ing fac·tors (RF),

1. any substance, usually of hypothalamic origin, capable of accelerating the rate of secretion of a given hormone by the anterior pituitary gland;

2. factors required in the termination phase of either RNA biosynthesis or protein biosynthesis. Synonym(s): termination factor

3. colloquial shortened form for the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors used as antihyperlipidemic agents, whose generic names end with the suffix statin. Synonym(s): statins

Synonym(s): liberins, releasing hormone

statins

Drugs of the hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor class (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). These drugs block the liver's production of cholesterol by competitive inhibition of the reductase coenzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of cholesterol synthesis. They can lower the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) by 25–45 per cent and a number of major trials have shown their benefits in preventing heart attacks and other effects of ATHEROSCLEROSIS. They reduce the risk of sepsis and fatal sepsis in people with cardiovascular disease, and it has been established that intensive statin treatment after heart attacks provides greater protection against death than does a standard regimen. Recent research on mice has suggested that statins may have some value in MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS because of an effect of diminishing the cellular immune reponse. This growing drug class includes atorvastatin (Lipitor), cerivastatin (Liponay), fluvastatin (Lescol), pravastatin (Lipostat), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). Note that the root ‘statin’ has proved popular with pharmacological neologists so, unfortunately, there are many other drugs, not in the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor class, with ‘statin’ in their names.

Statins

A class of drugs commonly used to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

Mentioned in: C-Reactive Protein

Patient discussion about statins

Q. husband has horrible rash bil. below knees to his ankles. it is bright red yellow weeping cracks. On statins He has been on zocor for 15 years and we are so afraid this may have something to do with this drug. He has stopped taking the drug because the pain and weakness, and numbness in his legs is considerable

A. i looked up for side effects and i saw only "eczema" as a skin side effect. but it seems odd to me that after 15 years you got this kind of side effect. it should have appeared years ago. you know- it might be a very good idea to go and see a Dr... and not stopping a medication without warning..