Cholesterol Lowering meds?

[Lauro]

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.

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

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.

[janel]

I too have had bad experiences with the meds.  I have tried several of them and had severe adverse reactions.  After by-pass I was scared and really tried the exercise and diet (to extreme).  The results were that while they were lowered some it was not enough so I went on meds.  That was 6 years ago and my dr. has tried one med. and than another.  A summary of the side effects I have would be; extreme nausea, vomiting, aches, depression and anxiety (which I had had after my surgery also), and sleep problems. I can take the meds for awhile and by the time they build up in my system the reactions begin.  Right now I am back on a moderate diet and trying to exercise again.  I am taking Vit. E, garlic and drinking a little grape juice also to see what this will do.

Good luck.

[Lauro]

Thank You Doctor, for your reply.  I will
go to the drug store tomorrow and talk with the
pharmacist about Niacin.  My GP is very open to all
suggestions.