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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Cholesterol Lowering meds?
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Cholesterol Lowering meds?
by Lauro, Aug 04, 2000 12:00AM
Good Morning Doctor,
I am confused about cholesterol. My cholesterol
waxes and wanes between 218-240. HDL between 40-55.
LDL between 150-170. Triglycerides between 100-200.
What can cause such wide spreads in 4 months time.
(have this checked every 4 months)
Is it true that no matter how good the HDL is, if the LDL
is too high, a person is doomed into getting atherolscolsis.
(spelled wrong)
Doctor gave me Lipitor. Within 5 days, i could not take it anymore. Muscle pain and terrible tummy aches. he put me on Lescor. No tummuy aches with this one but weakmess in the muscles after 5 days.
He gave me samples of Prevochol and I have yet to try these as I am concerend this too will cause severe side reactions.
Is there any med with less side effects that will help lower my LDL. I was told the LDL comes down in only 20% of the population with diet and exercise and the rest of the people have to take a drug to lower the LDL. (80%)becuz 80% is genetic.
(was told this via a Cholesterol researcher via the phone for a drug study) I did not qualify due to the reaction, I had with Lipitor a few months back.
Your commnets on this would be appreciated.
Thank You.
I am confused about cholesterol. My cholesterol
waxes and wanes between 218-240. HDL between 40-55.
LDL between 150-170. Triglycerides between 100-200.
What can cause such wide spreads in 4 months time.
(have this checked every 4 months)
Is it true that no matter how good the HDL is, if the LDL
is too high, a person is doomed into getting atherolscolsis.
(spelled wrong)
Doctor gave me Lipitor. Within 5 days, i could not take it anymore. Muscle pain and terrible tummy aches. he put me on Lescor. No tummuy aches with this one but weakmess in the muscles after 5 days.
He gave me samples of Prevochol and I have yet to try these as I am concerend this too will cause severe side reactions.
Is there any med with less side effects that will help lower my LDL. I was told the LDL comes down in only 20% of the population with diet and exercise and the rest of the people have to take a drug to lower the LDL. (80%)becuz 80% is genetic.
(was told this via a Cholesterol researcher via the phone for a drug study) I did not qualify due to the reaction, I had with Lipitor a few months back.
Your commnets on this would be appreciated.
Thank You.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Aug 05, 2000 12:00AM
Actually, everyone's cholesterol levels can flucuate a bit, and I would not characterize yours as wide spreads. Differences in diet are especially likely to result in different cholesterol levels, as can random measurement error. There are people with hgigh LDLs who in fact do not develop clnically significant atherosclerosis, so you are not doomed to develop heart problems just based on the LDL. In a statistical sense, a person with a high LDL and/or a low HDL is more likely to have probelms due to atherosclerosis.
The class of cholesterol lowering drugs called statins can potentially cause muscle inflammation; it sounds like you have been having this side effect. There are other cholesterol medications, such as Niacin, that can also be used instead of the statins.
The class of cholesterol lowering drugs called statins can potentially cause muscle inflammation; it sounds like you have been having this side effect. There are other cholesterol medications, such as Niacin, that can also be used instead of the statins.
Good luck.
go to the drug store tomorrow and talk with the
pharmacist about Niacin. My GP is very open to all
suggestions.