Hello I am on 40 mg of Lipitor. Lipitor has defintely not decreased my HDL and I am not aware that it is able to do that. Guidelines for people with risk factors such as high blood pressure are that you need to get your LDL under 100. I would stay on the medication if you can.
Your LDL is higher than it should be. Your HDL is not only well out of the risk zone, it is actually considered "protective" over 60. The LDL needs to come down. With your heart showing signs of high blood pressure's ill effects, it would be very wise to stay on your cholesterol medication. The drug companies that manufacture these medications often have help available to people who have inadequate prescription coverage. I'd look into it.
You should discuss with your cardiologist cheaper alternatives to Lipitor. Here's a Consumer Reports website with a comparison.
http://www.consumerreports.org/mg/cost-effective-drug-choices/cedc_statins.htm
For example, the cost of generic lovastatin is about a third the price of lipitor ($34/mo vs $90/mo).
Also, you never mentioned what your BP is. If it's just slightly elevated perhaps your doc can substitute something cheaper there as well. For example, a common (and cheap) diuretic, HCTZ, has been shown to be more effective than most other BP meds.
Best wishes
Tony
I am reading a very interesting book, "The South Beach Heart Program," by Arthur Agatston. He is a renown cardiologist as well as the author of the South Beach Diet. He makes a very compelling case for aggressive prevention of heart disease. This includes a healthy lifestyle, which it sounds like you are doing. Most important he talks about the benefit of statin drugs and controlling blood pressure. He claims his patients rarely have heart attacks, and people with a lot of risk factors can have live well to a normal life expectancy. I certainly recommend the book.
Charlie