Is there a reason to take statins at night?

Is there a reason to take statins at night?

Statins are drugs like atorvastatin which inhibits cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme HMG Co A reductase in the liver. The enzyme is more active at night. Drugs which inhibit it will have better effect when taken at night. This is more so with earlier drugs like lovastatin which were shorter acting than atorvastatin. So it is better to take statins at night. Since atorvastatin is a long acting drug, it will have its effect even if it is taken at other times of the day.

Statins are very powerful cholesterol lowering drugs which have been shown to have beneficial effects beyond cholesterol lowering, which are called as pleiotropic effects of statins. While on statins, it is wise to watch for liver and muscle enzyme elevations, to check for a small risk of liver and muscle toxicity. Muscle enzyme elevation is important when there are muscular symptoms like pain. But for these relatively lower and uncommon risks, statins have a great role in reducing the burden of atherosclerotic vascular disease.