Research done at the University of Nottingham in the UK appears to show that there can be serious side effects for long term users of a class of cholesterol reducing drugs.

Medications doctors prescribe to bring down cholesterol levels in your bloodstream are called statins. Doctors prescribe them for their patients who have hypercholesterolemia, or cholesterol levels that are above normal. While the body produces cholesterol naturally, unhealthy levels are usually due to lack of exercise and too much cholesterol-rich food in your diet.

There are several types of cholesterol. One type, known as LDL or low density lipoproteins, tends to stick to artery walls. This can result in a condition called artherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is one of the primary causes of heart disease and strokes.

High cholesterol also contributes to high blood pressure because your heart has to work harder to pump blood through narrowed arteries and veins.

Statins inhibit an enzyme produced by your liver that creates cholesterol. But there’s a downside, according to the U.K. study. Using cholesterol-lowering medications for a long period of time may eventually have a negative effect, and even, in some cases, result in liver failure.

The Nottingham research also found that statins may contribute to a condition called myositis, or inflammation of the muscles. In addition to causing muscular pain, myositis also makes muscles weaker. As it progresses, it may eventually lead to a more serious condition known as rhabdomyolysis. With rhabdomyolysis, your muscle begins to degrade, which produces a byproduct known as myoglobin. Myoglobin passes through the kidneys and can cause serious kidney problems.

According to the Nottingham study, long term statin use can also endanger eye health, causing cataracts to develop.

The research emphasized the importance of getting regular liver function tests done if you’re taking statins to reduce so called “bad” cholesterol. You should also be tested for any likelihood of future kidney failure.

But there’s also positive news from the study. While it was found that side effects can happen, it was also determined that the overall odds were slight. When the possible side effects of statins are compared to the likelihood of heart disease due to high cholesterol and hypertension, taking statins makes sense when they’re prescribed by your doctor.

In recent years, doctors have been prescribing medications that lower cholesterol more and more because the number of patients with obesity, which is a primary risk factor for high cholesterol and heart disease, has been increasing at alarming rates.

Recently, computer programs have been developed to help doctors identify patients with the highest likelihood of having side effects someday. Patients should be monitored closely if it’s apparent that they need cholesterol lowering medications, but are also more likely to be subject to side effects.