Like all medications, statins come with potential side effects. Most are mild and go away over time, per the American Heart Association. In rare cases, you may experience muscle or liver problems, but typically the benefits outweigh the risks. “Whenever we start someone on a statin, we have a shared decision-making conversation to weigh the risks and benefits,” says Dr. Underberg. If you have more severe side effects, your doctor will reduce your dose or take you off the drug altogether, moving on to one of the other options.