A leading heart surgeon has called on patients to consult their doctor before halting their intake of statins, which have been found to increase the risk of some serious side effects.

A recent study in more than two million British patients found that people taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs were more likely to suffer liver dysfunction, acute kidney failure, cataracts and potentially irreversible muscle damage.

The researchers, from the University of Nottingham, found that the risk was increased up to eight times for some patients, compared to those not taking statins.

However, the researchers themselves pointed out that statins were effective in preventing heart attacks and strokes, outweighing the risks for most patients.

Contacted by The Times, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Alex Manchè said any patients considering stopping statins because they were concerned about side effects should consult their doctor.

Almost 43,000 patients are entitled to free statins, according to data from the Health Ministry.

Mr Manchè, a respected surgeon, said common mild side effects from statins included muscle pains, nausea and intestinal problems, but patients could be faced with more serious issues, including abnormalities in liver function, which could lead to permanent liver damage.

"It is important to have regular blood tests to prevent this," he said.

He said another potentially fatal side effect was muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which could lead to kidney damage and in rare instances death. However, this condition was more likely to be caused by higher doses of statins or when the drugs were combined with other medications.

Mr Manchè said since statins were first approved by America's Food and Drug Administration in 1987, they had emerged at the forefront of treatment for high cholesterol.

He described statins as an important component of the overall strategy of secondary prevention of coronary heart disease after a patient had been diagnosed as at risk.

"They are routinely prescribed in higher doses after a heart attack, a coronary intervention (angioplasty or a stent) or a bypass operation."

Mr Manchè said when it came to prevention, attempts to lower cholesterol should go hand in hand with other strategies to reduce risks, including stopping smoking, eating a healthy diet, regular exercise and stress management.

He said if low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, remained high, statins could be an option, but there were other preparations, like plant sterols, vitamin B3 and omega-3 fatty acids, which could help lower cholesterol, either on their own or in combination with statins.

He pointed out that large studies had shown statins significantly reduced the risk of heart disease and their side effect rate was reported as similar to that of a placebo. However, some preparations were withdrawn after deaths from complications were reported in 2001.

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