Is It Safe to Dive While Taking Cholesterol Medication?

I am a 50-year-old male diver who was recently placed on medication for high cholesterol by my doctor. I am leaving for a week long dive trip and want to know if there is anything that I need to be concerned about due to this medicine?

We commonly field this question on DAN’s-medical information line. Cholesterol medications, such as Lipitor, Crestor or Zocor, are classified as statins, which reduce both LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and inflammation in the arteries. Divers who take cholesterol medication should be aware of some important things:

Side Effects

Like many drugs, statins have a unique array of side effects. Muscle pain is the most common, and may feel like aches, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. It’s important to note this before diving so it may not be confused with DCS symptoms.

Some other side effects that could interfere with diving include discomfort or difficulty breathing, fatigue, digestive problems, cognitive dysfunction and/or increased blood sugar or type 2 diabetes.

Related Reading: DAN's Neurological Exam for Diagnosing DCS In The Field

Also, certain conditions can intensify the side effects of statins. If you are over 65, taking multiple medications or consuming alcohol, or have kidney or liver disease, you may be in a higher risk group for side effects.

Some side effects could be confused for decompression illness. If you do develop new symptoms after dive, assume they are caused by diving until a physician confirms their origin. And, no matter what the side effect, you should not stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor.

Dive Smarter

If you are a diver over age 45 and taking statins for medical reasons, you must answer “yes” to answer “yes” to at least these two questions on the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) Medical Statement:

• Are you presently taking prescription medications?
• Are you over 45 years of age and can answer YES to one or more of the following:
• Have a high cholesterol level.

In particular, these two answers may signal a preexisting condition that can affect your safety while diving, and call for a thorough medical examination.

Related Reading: Ask DAN: When Can I Go to Altitude After Diving?

It’s important to remember that before any dive you may be required to fill out a new RSTC Medical Statement. And, by answering “yes” you could be denied permission to dive. While most dive operators will accept evidence of recent medical clearance from your doctor, make sure you check with the dive operator in advance.

When taking any prescription medication, never automatically assume it’s safe to dive. Learn more about the risks of diving while taking medication at DAN.org or call DAN’s medical information line at (919) 684-2948.