Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

medications for HBP and Cholesterol

I am 50 yr. old male with history of benign arryhthmias. I exercise regularly and am normal height and weight. I also have a PFO and ASA. I went recently to my cardio and family doctor for check ups and my cardio said my left ventricle was showing slight signs of thickening and this was classic symptom of high blood pressure. My blood work showed a total cholesterol of 224 with 125 ldl and 65 hdl. They put me on 10mg of lipitor and 80mg of diovan. Another family doctor friend told me he would not have put me on lipitor with my high hdl levels because lipitor brings down both the bad ldl and the good hdl. Also, both meds are very expensive and I do not have prescription coverage on my insurance and was simply wondering:
1. Should I stay on what I am on?
2. Are there other meds that do the same thing but are generic, less expensive and just as effective?
3. Should I get off meds altogether?
I am confused and would appreciate any advice.
Thanks!
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
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.
Helpful - 0
61536 tn?1340698163
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.
Helpful - 0
66068 tn?1365193181
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
   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
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Community

Top Heart Disease Answerers
159619 tn?1707018272
Salt Lake City, UT
11548417 tn?1506080564
Netherlands
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.