Several years ago my Cholesterol level was about 205, my dr. at that time put me on Zocor (10mg). My level went down to about 180. I ended up having a negative reaction (joints) to it and had to switch to Lipitor (10mg). My level went down to the 160 range. I cut my meds in half and improved my eating habits and eventually stopped taking the medication. My level remained in the 170ish range.

Last year (Feb) my level was 150 (no meds). This year (Feb) my level went up 100 points to 249. We figured something was wrong and was retested after 3 months. I just got the result and it is still high at 222.

Has anyone here ever had such a dramatic increase / decrease?

 

Mine dropped like a stone on Lipitor but I couldn't tolerate it. I got switched to something else (in generic form) and it is working well.

Personally I credit heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, and an over-active sex life with my improved cholesterol levels. OK...two out of three ain't bad.

 

Jim-

My cholesterol levels have varied a lot, but I'm now down at the 180 level....taking Crestor- 10 mg/daily at night. This was a CHANGE from Simvastatin (generic) per direction from a Cardiologist...not my regular GP. Here are a couple tips/ suggestions:

- cholesterol levels also link with amount of exercise. TOF seems to get enough but you might want to start/ increase either jogging/ walking/ swimming on a regular basis....30 min/day at least 3x weekly
- diet is also obviously a factor, and your doc can advise. cutting way down on the fats, fried foods, etc is critical i have also cut way back on refined sugar, and my Triglycerides have gone way down....a good thing.
- taking whatever Rx at bedtime is impt b/c PLAQUE buildup....for some reason....is most active when you're asleep (this was new info that I only got from the Cardiologist)
- i think that the current target is 160-180.....no longer just "<200" for total cholesterol.

I've been watching my cholesterol levels (blood test every 6-12 months) for at least 10 years....and it will hopefully avoid the heart problems that my Dad encountered in his late 60s/ 70s. Eventually this led to a triple Bypass at age 79...complications thereafter leading to his demise.

 

Lipitor works but just kicks the crap out of me.
I tend to take it for a few months and drift away from it.
So after getting a 408 on my last test,
I'm in the process of switching over to try Crestor.

of course I have to jump through a half dozen hoops while chewing gum and rubbing my belly to get approval from my HMO first.

 

I take the generic of Lipitor and my levels are very low with no side effects. I eat sensibly and exercise which helps as well.

 

It is well known that statins work better for some people than others. Frankly, if your level is average but your ratio sucks, then where do you stand. I have read repeatedly that effectiveness may only be in the 30% range. They have really helped my dad, ratio included - nevertheless, he needed bypass surgery after being symptomatic. I take Zocor; my level has only gone down only 10-15% circa 200; my ratio sucks despite exercise; I live in uncertainty. It is my understanding that some people get better results than others. Just Sunday, I heard that children in their teens may need to be tested and perhaps go on statins to have better late life results. Next, we'll find out that the statin impact on desire and performance in a lot of men is a witting conspiracy.

 

I wasn't aware of any generic form of Lipitor. Do you have its name?

My doctor wanted my HDL levels higher and the LDL lower. I was doing OK on Lipitor but my health insurance company suddenly decided to exclude Lipitor from its drug formulary list, so I had to switch to Zocor. Zocor didn't do anything so my doctor placed me on Crestor and increased the dosage to what I consider dangerous levels. I started having muscle pain problems with Crestor and I told the doctor that I wanted to try something else. I was worried about kidney damage from the Crestor.

Meanwhile my health insurance put Lipitor back on its drug formulary. So I went back to Lipitor and added Zetia. So far this combination seems to work and gives acceptable HDL and LDL levels.

Now if I can only work on the diet and exercise components!

 

It is extremely likely that if a kid has high cholesterol it is genetically related.
As it is they have very limited results on hereditary related high cholesterol, never mind treating kids.

We refused to let our son ( ~288) be put on statins.
they have zero clinical information on what it does to kids.

 

Jim, I feel your pain. My cholesterol went from the 140s to over 200 and then 230s in the span of about a year. I tried lipitor which zonked me flat, then zetia which caused muscle aches and pains and now I'm just trying to eat more healthy and take omega 3 and 6 oils. I'm not due for another test for a few months. Cholesterol numbers are pretty much genetic and related to one's body mass. My body mass leaves much to be desired, so I'm trying to shed the pounds, but at this stage of life, it is difficult. Reducing stress has a great deal to do with your cholesterol numbers as well. If you're like me, (Type A, control freak, worry-wart) you'll have to resort to statins of some sort to achieve optimum levels. Best wishes.

 

I take Pravastatin 10 mg which is similar to Lipitor but not an actual generic to Lipitor. I switched to this from Lipitor and can't see any difference.