Safety and Benefit of Discontinuing Statin Therapy in the Setting of Advanced, Life-Limiting Illness

Abstract

Safe and effective use of medicines includes medication selection and dosing for a targeted indication, monitoring for benefits and harms, and discontinuation when appropriate. Data from clinical trials guide the initiation of long-term medication therapy for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease but rarely define the timing, safety, or risks of discontinuing the agents. As a result, the number of medications often accumulates.^1,2