Gidding - Figure 16 - Following FH children Text

Once a treatment regimen has been initiated in a pediatric patient, it is important to monitor serum lipid levels, liver function tests, and for muscle pain periodically. It is also important to make sure that no drug interactions are present. Girls need to be advised about pregnancy, as statins are contraindicated during pregnancies and if an adolescent is preparing for pregnancy or is considering pregnancy in the future, she should know about stopping her statin medication.

Initially laboratory values should be monitored at about 1, 3, and 6 months, and then every 6 months thereafter once a treatment is stabilized. If side effects or symptoms are a concern, then often simply withholding the medication for 2 to 4 weeks and then restarting it is sufficient. In most of the statin trials it was noted that when these issues have occurred, the medication could be stopped and then resumed and the side effects did not recur.

Gidding S. J Clin Lipidol. 2011; 5(6).