Q I've just been put on a statin because my cholesterol has gone up. I've been told to take it at night, why is that, how does it work and are there side effects?

A Cholesterol is a waxy substance mainly made in the body - the liver makes it from saturated fats in food.

Statins are a group of drugs that can reduce cholesterol. A statin works by interfering with the liver's ability to make cholesterol and they also help the liver absorb more bad cholesterol from the blood. This means there is less bad cholesterol to clog up blood vessels. If there is less bad (LDL) cholesterol in the blood the chance that fatty plaques build up in the blood vessels falls and so does the risk of having a heart attack.

Like most medications you can get side effects which will vary in degree and tolerance from person to person. But there are many different statins available so switching to a different one or reducing the dose can be dealt with easily. Statins all work in the same way but have different chemical structures and such variations mean your body might tolerate one better than another. Before prescribing a statin a doctor will look at all the risk factors involved: blood pressure, age, other medical conditions, family history, lifestyle factors and blood test results.

The best time to take statins is before bed, because more cholesterol is produced while asleep. More important is to take them regularly, even if bedtime is not convenient.

For further advice information Speak to your GP if you have any concerns or call Gillian on 0161 7721200.