cholesterol medication

[wazzadg44]

My body naturally creates too much cholesterol and I have been on Lipitor 20mg. or the generic Atorvastatin 20mg. for many years. Living in Thailand for many years I could not find these meds or they were very expensive,so when I returned to Australia I got 6 months supply(under section 24) and bought it back with me. Subsided in Oz so very cheap. I now can not travel due to medical issues and recently needed more of the above meds. My partner's daughter went to a pharmacy in Phitsanulok City and they stock Atorvastatin 20mg. for 700 baht for 30 tabs or a generic one called Chlovas 20-same ingredients as the other but cost 315 Baht per 30. For 6 months supply just 2000 baht which is more expensive than Oz but a hell of a lot less expensive than a return flight even if I could travel. So those of you who might be in the same boat as I keep looking as the meds are out there. If I can get them in Phits. they should be available most large cities. Hope this helps some one with the same issues.

[sfokevin]

I am from the US and for many years was on Lipitor 20mg... After moving here (~10 years ago) my Thai doctor suggested I switch to Bestatin 40 daily - A box of 100 cost 330 baht at any pharmacy... My cholesterol has been fine for years...

 

 

[wazzadg44]

Thanks for that-I will for sure see if the pharmacy here stocks it. I would have thought though they would have offered it if they stocked it. They may not.

[lopburi3]

Bestatin is not the same medication - but as said for most people will work fine and be much cheaper.  Note he said his Thai doctor recommended it.  You should check with your doctor first and that would be a reason your pharmacy did not mention - every pharmacy stocks it and many other brands of the same medication (Simvastatin).

Quote

 

Available Brands
Bestatin, Eucor, Lochol, Simvas, Torio, Zimmex, Zimva

Other Known Brands

Zocor

 

 

[JAS21]

I was on B Statin since 1993. eventually up to 40 mg along with Ezetimibe 10mg.

 

after complaining about many aches and pains the doctor suggested the more expensive statins e.g. ROSUVASTATIN or aww ATORVASTATIN.
 

I was paying 22.7 baht each for Ator. and 

26.3 bath for Rosu 

 

also 19.35 baht for the Exetimibe.

 

SANDOZ make the above and they are cheaper than import.

 

So basically I’ve switch between a lot over the years.

 

TBH I don’t seem to have any less aches Aand pains on the expensive ones compared to B Statin. Also little difference in my blood levels.

 

PS Statins help stabilize the plaque, so <deleted> Don’t stop taking them without talking to your doctor first

 

[Pilotman]

Here is an idea that will not sit well with a few people here, control it with diet, not pills. Taking Statins doesn't mean that you attack the underlying fundamental problem, which is often diet, nutrition issues generally and lack of exercise.  Tackle these first and then worry if the situation doesn't improve.  Statins are not a magic medicine and do have their own downsides.  I speak from experience, not as a Doctor, but then again, I rarely trust doctors to know much more than I can find out on google, especially here in Thailand.    

[JAS21]

15 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

Here is an idea that will not sit well with a few people here, control it with diet, not pills. Taking Statins doesn't mean that you attack the underlying fundamental problem, which is often diet, nutrition issues generally and lack of exercise.  Tackle these first and then worry if the situation doesn't improve.  Statins are not a magic medicine and do have their own downsides.  I speak from experience, not as a Doctor, but then again, I rarely trust doctors to know much more than I can find out on google, especially here in Thailand.    

In 1993 I was an extremely fit, Gym, cycling and squash playing person.

 

I had an MI And afterwards a double bypass.

 

While on the sick, for six weeks. I readily cycled 10 miles before breakfast, Spent time in the gym every day and follow very carefully the dietitians instructions.

 

My cholesterol continue to climb, it was obviously low after the operation.

 

My doctor, quite a well known one, at London Bridge Hospital, said I should get my LDL down to a very low level and he started me on statins. He also put me on Ramipril (Hope Study)

 

Right or wrong who knows, Would I still be alive now without.....

[wazzadg44]

I was on a very strict diet after being diagnosed with high cholesterol. After my cholesterol count did not go down I was put onto Lipitor. Also at that time I was a postman in Oz cycling many km's every day and fitness/ exercise was not an issue.

[Pilotman]

It's all in the individual's make up of course.  Exercise is not a cure all, neither is diet, but its a very good start for some people.  I have often heard very over weight, very unfit people talk about the drugs that they are taking and the health issues they have , when it is clear that the medicines are only trying to over come, and mask,  a very unhealthy life style. 

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, wazzadg44 said:

so when I returned to Australia I got 6 months supply(under section 24) and bought it back with me. Subsided in Oz so very cheap.

I go back to Oz annually and bring back 12 months worth of my medication supplies at a time because I know how expensive they are here, can't you do the same ?

 

My Doctor gives me what he probably gave you, a section 24 and a separate private prescription, I go to two separate chemists, because I don't know if the private script costs more, but on the last two occasions I have paid the same subsidised amounts, at both separate chemists, it might be that the government doesn't want us to take more than 6 months supply out of the country at a time, as I have heard some people selling prescription drugs overseas in the past.

 

I also get a letter from the Doctor for immigration advising them what I am on, and what they are for, and I have never been pulled up at immigration, although I have read you can't bring in more than a months supply into Thailand ?

 

Prices here are crazy, I was quoted like 2,000 baht for a pack of 30 tablets of Lipitor 40mg as they didn't have the Atorvastatin 40mg which I take, and are like $5 back in Oz.

 

In October when I was in Oz, I said to my Doctor that I might not be back for 18 months and he gave me a higher dose i.e. Atorvastatin 80mg and said just cut them in half, so they will last me for at least 18 months, section 24 and private script.

 

The strangest thing with the Cardiologist when I saw him the previous year was that he said he wasn't happy with my LDL reading of 2, which was like that for the since 2011 and prescribed me with another additional drug called Ezetrol 10mg, generic brand is Ezetimibe 10mg at $13.69 for a pack of 30, he wanted my LDL reading to be between 1.7-1.8, so I took them for a year and saw him again in October, the reading for the LDL was 1.2 after taking the additional tablet, and he said he was happy with the reading, me thinking its low, but hey, he is the specialist and has kept me going for 11 years ????

 

I eat clean and exercise, but without the meds, I don't think my LDL cholesterol would come down by itself, and I did test that theory myself, i.e. I did a reading in the beginning after taking the additional tablet for 3 months, my LDL came down from 2 to 1.5 and after stopping the additional tablet for 3 months my LDL went up to 2.1 so I went back on the additional tablet for 6 months till I saw my Cardiologist and the LDL reading was 1.2, so I suppose if keeping the LDL reading pegged low extends my years of not having another heart attack, so be it, albeit my liver gets a workover, damned if you do, damned if you don't ????

 

 

[Pilotman]

I have told this story before on TVF, but it bares repeating. When I left UK to come to Thailand, I was on several medications, Tramadol being one of them. I decided then that I was not prepared to jump through all the hoops needed, nor incur the expense, of continuing to take medications, especially as I was not sure that I really needed them. I felt then as I do now, that the medico had chosen the easy route with me and just prescribed what they thought a person of my age normally took. When I arrived in LOS, I ditched the whole lot, put up with the Tramadol withdrawal period, lost weight and got fit. I have never looked back and to be honest, I have not felt this healthy for many years prior to that regime. I preach no lessons for others from my experience in regard to other people. It works for me. but, I acknowledge that some people have much more serious and complex medical issues where medicines may be their only resort. But it still seems to me to be often a case of the doctors throwing drugs at a problem that they scarcely understand themselves, in the hope that one, or a combination, will work.  often they don't.  

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, wazzadg44 said:

Thanks for that-I will for sure see if the pharmacy here stocks it. I would have thought though they would have offered it if they stocked it. They may not.

 

All pharmacies, without exception, have Simvastatin and there are many local brands.

 

Yours  did not mention it because you asked for atorvastatin, not simvastatin.

 

These drugs are in the same class, have same action and are chemically related but are not 100% identical. 

 

Most people (but not all)  will do as well on simvastatin as they will on atorvastatin. Ask your doctor if you can switch.

[Oxx]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Most people (but not all)  will do as well on simvastatin as they will on atorvastatin. Ask your doctor if you can switch.

 

However, the patient will probably require double the dose of simvastatin over atorvastatin (e.g. 40 mg, rather than 20 mg) to have the same effect.

[Laza 45]

5 hours ago, Pilotman said:

Here is an idea that will not sit well with a few people here, control it with diet, not pills. Taking Statins doesn't mean that you attack the underlying fundamental problem, which is often diet, nutrition issues generally and lack of exercise.  Tackle these first and then worry if the situation doesn't improve.  Statins are not a magic medicine and do have their own downsides.  I speak from experience, not as a Doctor, but then again, I rarely trust doctors to know much more than I can find out on google, especially here in Thailand.    

Not good advice..  

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-31/risky-decision-nearly-cost-ian-munro-his-life/11816434

 

[Pilotman]

21 minutes ago, Laza 45 said:

Not good advice..  

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-31/risky-decision-nearly-cost-ian-munro-his-life/11816434

 

 

22 minutes ago, Laza 45 said:

Not good advice..  

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-31/risky-decision-nearly-cost-ian-munro-his-life/11816434

 

As I said, not for everyone, but a good start. Quoting one case doesn't make an impressive argument. I could equally quote my own experience, that the  medicines I was taking were not helping and exercise and diet did work, for me.   

[sfokevin]

1 hour ago, Oxx said:

 

However, the patient will probably require double the dose of simvastatin over atorvastatin (e.g. 40 mg, rather than 20 mg) to have the same effect.

That was my experience... Many years ago From the US  I was on Lipitor (20mg)... My doctor here (Dr Moran in Chiang Mai) suggested Bestatin 20mg as an alternative. After a 90 day follow up my cholesterol had risen somewhat so Dr Morgan suggested Upping to 40mg... After another 90 day my cholesterol levels moved to below slightly lower than my original Lipitor... They have remained at the same acceptable level for 6-7 years now...

 

I have luckily never had any side effects from the 10+ years of Lipitor or 6+ years of Bestatin usage... 

[DannyCarlton]

7 hours ago, sfokevin said:

I am from the US and for many years was on Lipitor 20mg... After moving here (~10 years ago) my Thai doctor suggested I switch to Bestatin 40 daily - A box of 100 cost 330 baht at any pharmacy... My cholesterol has been fine for years...

 

 

Careful with that. When I first went on statins I had to try 3 different types before I found one that didn't give me leg cramps at night. Simvaststin (yours). was the second one I tried. Finally settled for Rosuvastatin, which I've been on for many years. If the Rosuvastatin hadn't worked my GP would have tried Atorvastatin. The reason he didn't try it earlier was because it wqas the most expensive.

 

I get my meds free on the NHS and have a friend collect them and post them out to me. Could the OP not do the same?

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, DannyCarlton said:

I get my meds free on the NHS and have a friend collect them and post them out to me. Could the OP not do the same?

 

So a double criminal.  Not sure you should be admitting to such blatantly illegal action in public.  And not sure you should be encouraging others to flout the laws of both the UK and Thailand.

[DannyCarlton]

1 minute ago, Oxx said:

 

So a double criminal.  Not sure you should be admitting to such blatantly illegal action in public.  And not sure you should be encouraging others to flout the laws of both the UK and Thailand.

Not criminal at all. What planet do you live on?

[sfokevin]

1 hour ago, DannyCarlton said:

Careful with that. When I first went on statins I had to try 3 different types before I found one that didn't give me leg cramps at night. Simvaststin (yours). was the second one I tried. Finally settled for Rosuvastatin, which I've been on for many years

We are all different and may react badly to any drug... 

[DannyCarlton]

1 minute ago, sfokevin said:

We are all different and may react badly to any drug... 

True but that statement is particularly relevant to statins. Quite normal for people to have to try a number of different statins before they find the one that suits them.

[rodknock]

if you ask for a specific brand and they do not have it, they usually do not recommend another one. 

most people in pharmacy are just order takers.

i have been taking bstatin 20mg. for 15yrs.

[Laza 45]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

 

As I said, not for everyone, but a good start. Quoting one case doesn't make an impressive argument. I could equally quote my own experience, that the  medicines I was taking were not helping and exercise and diet did work, for me.   

Good diet and exercise are a good start.. but rather than seeing the article as a one off example I think it should be taken as a warning that anyone with a cholesterol problem should manage their elevated cholesterol with the supervision of a good doctor. Going it alone is risky.  Here is a good article on clinical trials on the efficacy of diet and exercise on cholesterol levels.. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1312230/

 

 

[wazzadg44]

I have tried to get a script from my doctor in Oz but he won't issue because he has not seen me for over 6 months. Maybe the law-I don't know.I do not have a doctor for my specific cholesterol problem in Thailand but I do have my cholesterol levels checked at BDMS here every 6-12 months and they have stayed the same as in Oz-that's the reason I want to stick with the Atorvastatin or the Chlovas 20mg. which is the same. I have had this problem for 20 years now and it is being managed quite nicely at this present time.

Thanks for all the feedback-very informative.