Cholesterol Lowering Medication

[treborotos]

I have been taking Lipitor (20mg) and my wife has been taking Simvastatin.  Prior to being put on medication, my cholesterol  had been running about 205 for a long time and my wife's had been around 160.  What is the difference betwen the two?  My medication is considerably higher than mine?  Can you explain why? My blood sugar was running abot 137 so my Doctor also put me on Actoplus as well.  My Lipitor is about $100 and my wife's Simvastatin is about $6 (same quantity of tables-30).  Why should my wife be taking medication with her levels being slightly higher than the desired mid-point?

[remar]

Sorry. I forgot to ask if your Dr did a fasting blood sugar test. You have to fast for at least 12 hours. Even if you have a little milk with coffee before the test it can raise your blood sugar levels.

[remar]

What were your wife's other numbers? Were her triglycerides running high along with her LDL? What about her HDL, the good cholesterol levels? You can get a copy of her labs to look at the numbers. Her total cholesterol numbers look good but if the other numbers are out of balance that could be the reason her Dr prescribed meds.
I'm surprised your Dr put you on meds. They want your total number to be 199 or below, but the same thing, if your other numbers are out of balance then that could be why your on meds. Diet changes can some times easily get your numbers back down.
The reason for the cost difference is your meds are not generic and your wife's are. I think a med has to be on the market for 9 years before it can be bought in generic form.
Hope this helps.  Remar

[Myron_Long]

Don't know but there is no rule stating she has to take the medicine if she feels her body doesn't  need it. Doctors do sometimes overdo recommending medicines for stuff.