Posted: 3/30/2005 2:05:47 PM EDT
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Well I finally got to the point that my Doc put me on Lipitor. I am 35 soon 36. My total Cholesterol is ~220 and the ration of good to bad cholesterol isn't good. Anyone else taking cholesterol lowering drugs? Docs what happens if I stop taking it? Any negative effects? |
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I was on lipitor for a couple of years and due to some bs by insurance co (co pay issues) I switched over to Zocor. My total is at about the same level as the lipitor but my ratios are actually better so in my case less is more . There are some possible long term issues as most of the data is with older folks who have a shorter life span. I started at year 45,am 51 now. My total C (when I was 45)was up around 190 which isn't as bad as some but I failed a stress test big time and a week later was on my back looking up into a big light with a cutter saying "you will wake up in about 10 or 12 hours and feel like shit". He was right- (5 way bypass) Now my total C is in the 145 range. I exercise,eat much better,and do the drugs.I asked my doc what was doing what % of the improvement."do you really want to mess around to find out will raise it back?" |
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I'm 40yrs old and have been taking 10mg of Lipitor a day for about 5-6yrs. Before I went on it I told the doctor to give me 2 months to lose weight (205) and lower my cholesterol (249). Well 2 months and 20lbs later, my cholesterol went down to 243, a whole 6pts, so my doctor put me on Lipitor, now it stays at about 175. I was told most of my high cholesterol was hereditary, since my mom & sisters are well over 250, they don't take anything for theirs, none of us are dead yet. I feel fine and wish I didn't have to take it, but I (and my doctor) feel it's a lesser risk than high cholesterol. I went off mine for awhile, just to see what would happen, after a month it went back up about 20pts. Just my 2 cents worth teamroper |
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Been on it for (I think) 8 years now. My levels are hereditary. My inital readings were over 800. (The doc thought is was a lab mistake and had me re-do it) I'm not overweight. With Lipitor 40 mg. I hover around 260. When I was activated the first time the army docs put me on heavy dose Zocor instead. Ended up in the cardiac ward and had secondary effects (weakness, muscle pain, chest pain) for months.  i have no side efects on Lipitor. My energy level really picks up when my numbers are low too. |
I thought it had raised one of my liver enzymes(only about 10-12pts) on a recent blood test, I was told not to drink any alcoholic beverages for a couple of days before my next blood test. Sure enough, it came back normal the next time! I usually have a beer or bourbon&coke every night, that's probably not good, but I guess my liver will probably go before my heart does, oh well!  teamroper |
How are you doing now? I know there are some side-effects, but of all the people I know who are taking something(I know several) only 1 had a side-effect, and it was muscle aches & fatigue! I don't doubt you, I just wish you luck! teamroper |
I never drank a drop during that time.  I'm sure it's all based on individual biochemistry. |
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I call those drugs Satans. I took lipitor for a few weeks and I couldn't walk. Legs were aching all over and I had an EMG or whatever it is when they stick needles in your legs to test musles. OW! That was worse then a Chinese torture test. Stopped taking the Lipitor and after a few weeks the pain went away. Screw that shit. |
Roger that!  I never got jaundice if that's what you're wondering. My levels equalled out after I abstained from Lipitor. My cholesterol is still too high but is managed through running. Thanks for asking. |
Run. Seriously. Take up running. |
All the cholesterol lowering drugs are statins. My doctor put me on Zocor when my cholesterol results came backe recently, as I've been eating really bad, and after reading up on them, I discontinued their use. I'm still taking stuff for my cholesterol until it gets back to normal, but I refuse to take the statins. Edited to add that my legs were starting to ache after taking them as another poster mentioned. I've also had Hepatits A, and the possible damage to my liver by the drugs was a little alarming, though my doctor played it off. I also had digestive issues that I'd rather not talk about. All of that went away when I stopped taking Zocor. Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas... |
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mostly just a tag. A while back - 2.5 years or so, by doctors started waving the finger at me (actually he did not chastise me much, but said no mater what I do I will probably need it). I was about 35. I became a model patient. droped my weight from 195 to 152. almost doubled my hdl to ldl ration, and rolled back my cholesterol to 202 from about 250. He gave me a pass, but said eventually I would still need it. Last 9 months have not been good for my diet (life changes). Last time in I was up 8 lbs - and my cholesterol was almost back to original levels - blood stress test failed as well. I am living very clean right now, but not sure if it will help (I still weigh what I did in HS, and my bp is about 115/65. I really don't want to go on a synthetic sex hormone. |
EMG, RUN FORREST-RUN! BTDT no fun. Label on my Lipitor says "No grapefruit or grapefruit products while taking this drug". I don't know why. Danny |
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I take Crestor. 5mg/day. My # was 220 and it dropped to 135! No side effects. My father has had 4 bypasses, my brother is on a pacemaker at 39 yrs. old, and my 31 yr old sis. has had a stroke! You could say it runs in my family so I'm going to watch it closely. BTW, I'm in my mid thirties. Balming |
I wish you luck, it sounds like the statins is the least of your worries! teamroper |
Grapefruit inhibits the enzyme CYP 3A4 in the intestines, which is responsible for breakin down medications. One of the side effects of this inhibition is raised levels of the drugs in the bloodstream and undesirable side effects. The believed culprit, though with no real solid evidence, is a bioflavinoid that might be exclusive to grapefruit, as other citrus fruits do not cause blood levels of medications to jump. This is something else I learned in my searches on statins, as it struck me funny. Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas... |
| I took Lipitor for about a year or year and a half. Worked really good. lowered my LDL(bad) cholesterol from 168 to 98. BUT and a BIG BUT is in order here it made my shoulders hurt so bad I wanted to cry some days. So the doctor put me on Altocor, this DID make me cry some days.I quit 'em and ain't going back. |
I had been taking Zocor up until about a month ago; I was also experiencing a LOT of muscle pain which is much better since stopping the Zocor. The doctor advised me to restart the Zocor however, I am researching alternatives. My cholesterol is due to abnormal liver function and is hereditary. I used to be able to keep it under control with diet and exercise, but not anymore. |
My liver enzymes are a bit high now. I don't drink much now 2 or 4 beers a week. The Dr thought my liver function might be off becuase my cholesterol was high. Both of my parents have untreated cholestrol levels in the low 200's. My levels have been in that range for the last 10 years. So far, so good, no side effects. My father(heart attack at 62 mild stroke at 68) travels with a pharmacy( I don't know how many pills ) I really don't want to do that too but it appears that I am on the same road. |
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Has anyone here besides me figured out that the "doctors" might have some stock in these drugs they've brainwashed people into thinking they can't do without. There is more to heart disease than your cholesterol. Anyone notice that since they invented this crap the normal values for cholesterol have been lowered??? 165 Isn't a bad total cholesterol. There are other tests besides the usually cholesterol ones, like CRP, and homocystein that are now being used to determine heart disease. The parallel between heart disease is just a myth, there are many other factors at work. Western medicine has gone south since it's been taken over by the pharmacutical industry. Now even obesity is a "disease". |
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| We have seen alot of people switch from Lipitor to Pravachol or Pravastatin Sodium because it is a hell of alot cheaper. Zocor to simvastatin for the same reasons. We see people everyday that have been picking and choosing which prescription they are going to fill so that they can still afford to buy food. |
| I am on 40mg of Lipitor and my cholesterol is down to 141..I am only 40yo and at 39 had a heart attack. my cholesterol was 226 and was height weight proportionate. Dr. said the only thing he can say is that it was hereditary but my grandfather was the only person in my family that had heart issues. i now have a stint in my heart and have no ill effects from the medications. |
| HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, aka "statins" are excellent for lowering cholesterol. Many cardiologists think anyone over age 40 should be on one. You do, however, need periodic monitoring of liver enzymes. No drug is perfect and all have the potential for side effects. No such thing as "fire and forget". |