Statins side-effects debunked in global study

Media release: Friday 6 February 2026

Majority of statins side-effects debunked in global study

Heart Foundation welcomes finding of randomised controlled trial that statins do not cause the majority of listed side effects

The Heart Foundation has welcomed a major global study finding that the common cholesterol-lowering medication, statins, do not cause the majority of the side effects that have been listed in their package leaflets, including memory loss, depression, sleep disturbance, and erectile and sexual dysfunction.

Around 2 million people in Australia are on statins to help reduce dangerous levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol that if left untreated can clog arteries and cause a heart attack. The study was conducted by the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ (CTT) Collaboration and found no statistically significant difference between side effects reported by the trial and placebo groups, indicating that it isn’t statins causing the reported symptoms or feelings in patients.

Heart Foundation Chief Medical Advisor, Professor Garry Jennings AO, hoped the findings would give comfort to patients in Australia and encourage more people to stick with their statins.

“As consumers and health professionals we have too readily blamed everyday symptoms including aches and pains, small biochemical changes, and forgetfulness, on statin therapy.

“This important study confirms that most of these symptoms are due to other causes as true statin intolerance is rare. It should encourage people to keep taking statins in line with national guidelines.”

Professor Jennings said anyone with concerns or questions about heart medication should contact their GP first and foremost, given the risk of misinformation online.

The study by the CTT Collaboration was funded by the British Heart Foundation, UKRI Medical Research Council, and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. The work of the CTT is overseen by an Independent Oversight Panel.

For more information on this study visit https://www.cttcollaboration.org/news/statins-side-effects.