What medication class is considered first line for treating dyslipidemia but can cause muscle-related symptoms?

Statins are indeed the first-line medication class for managing dyslipidemia, particularly in lowering LDL cholesterol levels and reducing cardiovascular risk. This class of medications works by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver, effectively reducing the overall levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream.

One of the notable side effects associated with statins is the potential for muscle-related symptoms, which can range from myopathy (muscle weakness) to rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown). This is a clinically significant concern, as it may lead to increased creatine kinase levels and potential kidney injury, although these severe side effects are relatively rare.

Other medication classes listed, such as fibric acid derivatives, bile acid sequestrants, and niacin, can be effective in specific situations or patient populations but are not considered first-line treatments for dyslipidemia as broadly as statins are. Fibric acid derivatives mainly decrease triglycerides, bile acid sequestrants can lower LDL cholesterol but are often adjunctive therapies, and niacin has fallen out of favor due to its side effects and uncertain impact on cardiovascular outcomes. Therefore, the recognition of statins as first-line therapy highlights their central role in lipid