What happens if you stop cholesterol lowering medications abruptly?

What happens if you stop cholesterol lowering medications abruptly?

Cholesterol lowering medications known as statins act slowly with peak effect occurring by about two weeks. Long term effects of cholesterol lowering may last still longer. So unlike most other medications with fast onset of action like blood pressure lowering medications, the effect of stopping cholesterol lowering medications may not be evident immediately. But the cholesterol levels would rise gradually and may even rebound above the pre-treatment levels.

Hence it is not advisable to stop cholesterol lowering medications unless some important adverse effect is noted. When cholesterol levels go very low, dosage may be reduced and titrated if needed. Since cholesterol lowering medications have other desirable actions other than just lowering cholesterol, sometimes a higher dose may be prescribed by your physician in spite of near normal cholesterol levels. This is especially so in high risk situations like a person with a heart attack.