Most side-effects listed for statins are not caused by the drugs, a major review finds.
Researchers published the analysis in The Lancet after reviewing 19 trials with 124,000 participants.
The study found evidence for muscle pain, diabetes risk, and four minor effects only.
These included liver test changes, mild liver abnormalities, urine changes, and tissue swelling.
Researchers found no strong evidence linking statins to memory loss, depression, sleep problems, or nerve damage.
The benefits of statins in preventing heart attacks and strokes far outweighed the small risks.
Lead author Christina Reith said statins did not increase common complaints compared with no treatment.
Experts called for updated drug labels to reflect the evidence and support informed patient decisions.
