How To Lower Your High Cholesterol With Statin Drug?

[castaway]

It has been 2 months that my father's level of cholesterol is high. He has been eating healthy meals and has been exercising a lot but nothing happened, instead the level has risen a bit more. One of his friends told him to take statin drug. While searching on the net I came through this:

Some people can successfully manage high cholesterol through lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. However, for other people, diet and exercise do not lower LDL cholesterol, the type primarily responsible for health problems, enough. When this is the case, doctors will often recommend adding a medication to the diet and exercise program.

Much of the cholesterol in our blood is made within our bodies, by the liver. Whether you have high cholesterol may depend, in part, on your family history. So even if you are in otherwise excellent health, you could still be at risk from high cholesterol due to your genetic makeup.

That's where CRESTOR comes in. Along with a healthy diet, it can lower the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver. CRESTOR http://www.drugdelivery.ca/s3991-s-CRESTOR.aspx comes in a once-a-day tablet form, in four different strengths. Since it was introduced, over [number dynamically generated by AZ Web] prescriptions for CRESTOR have been written worldwide to help patients get their cholesterol right.

Has anyone used it?? Please give me some advice...

Edited July 4, 2007 by castaway

[sbk]

Moved to health forum where there should be a better response

// MOVED

[Old Man River]

There are many statin drugs on the market and from my experience, they are effective.

[JAS21]

It has been 2 months that my father's level of cholesterol is high. He has been eating healthy meals and has been exercising a lot but nothing happened, instead the level has risen a bit more. One of his friends told him to take statin drug. While searching on the net I came through this:

Some people can successfully manage high cholesterol through lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. However, for other people, diet and exercise do not lower LDL cholesterol, the type primarily responsible for health problems, enough. When this is the case, doctors will often recommend adding a medication to the diet and exercise program.

Much of the cholesterol in our blood is made within our bodies, by the liver. Whether you have high cholesterol may depend, in part, on your family history. So even if you are in otherwise excellent health, you could still be at risk from high cholesterol due to your genetic makeup.

That's where CRESTOR comes in. Along with a healthy diet, it can lower the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver. CRESTOR http://www.drugdelivery.ca/s3991-s-CRESTOR.aspx comes in a once-a-day tablet form, in four different strengths. Since it was introduced, over [number dynamically generated by AZ Web] prescriptions for CRESTOR have been written worldwide to help patients get their cholesterol right.

Has anyone used it?? Please give me some advice...

I am no expert!! I have been on statins since 1993..prescribed by my UK doctor following a bypass. I tried all the exercise, diet etc and it didn't work for me.

I assume that he has just found out that his cholesterol level is high. Some people have no problem with raised levels, it depends on family history and your circumstances. If hes 50 its a different matter to that if he is say 80.

World wide guide lines for cholesterol levels have fallen over the years. The LDL level is important for people, like myself, who have a bad history. Sorry but it is not a laymans topic!

He needs to get good medical advice. Find a heart consultant that you can trust. Read up on the internet as much as you can before hand but make sure that you understand what is said. Its not all relevant.

Crestor,as i read, appears TO BE ONE OF MANY MANY STATINS. They will all lower cholesterol levels, the dose needs to be advised. GET SOME PROPER ADVICE IS THE BEST OPTION.

[billp]

I take a statin drug - atorvastatin, which trades under the names Lipitor or Sortis - one of the most-commonly prescribed drugs in the world, the 3rd generation of this class of drugs for familial hyperlipidemia - congenitally high cholesterol. It's helped to reduce my cholesterol levels from life-threatening to low-normal. Previously I took Zocor (simvastatin) which is now off-patent which makes it cheaper if that's a factor, but Lipitor is a newer generation and more effective.

In the last few years I also started to take ezetimibe (Zetia, Ezetrol) a newer class of drugs which hinders reabsorption of cholesterol by the bowels after it's been ejected by the liver. That particularly affects LDL "bad" cholesterol and in my case has helped change the ratio of my HDL "good" cholesterol to LDL from borderline to textbook perfect. None of these drugs are effective alone. You also still have to watch your diet, keep your weight down and exercise. And only a doctor can prescribe which drug you should be using, in what dosage, and closely monitor your blood and liver values.

Usually doctors will try for several months to get the cholesterol values in order with diet and exercise before prescribing any medication.

Edited July 4, 2007 by billp

[Luckydog]

I find that Fluvastatin (Lescol) 20mg works well but it makes my left ankle swell a bit?

[JAS21]

I take a statin drug - atorvastatin, which trades under the names Lipitor or Sortis - one of the most-commonly prescribed drugs in the world, the 3rd generation of this class of drugs for familial hyperlipidemia - congenitally high cholesterol. It's helped to reduce my cholesterol levels from life-threatening to low-normal. Previously I took Zocor (simvastatin) which is now off-patent which makes it cheaper if that's a factor, but Lipitor is a newer generation and more effective.

In the last few years I also started to take ezetimibe (Zetia, Ezetrol) a newer class of drugs which hinders reabsorption of cholesterol by the bowels after it's been ejected by the liver. That particularly affects LDL "bad" cholesterol and in my case has helped change the ratio of my HDL "good" cholesterol to LDL from borderline to textbook perfect. None of these drugs are effective alone. You also still have to watch your diet, keep your weight down and exercise. And only a doctor can prescribe which drug you should be using, in what dosage, and closely monitor your blood and liver values.

Usually doctors will try for several months to get the cholesterol values in order with diet and exercise before prescribing any medication.

Actually I also take ezetimibe 10mg and Simvatsatin 40mg, my LDL is below 2 and total Cholesterol very low, however these levels are probably not required for the majority of people. Six monthly liver function tests are required by statin takers....

[JetsetBkk]

I find that Fluvastatin (Lescol) 20mg works well but it makes my left ankle swell a bit?

A common problem unfortunately (either ankle/foot, not just the left) but you can take another drug to combat that. I think it's a problem with water retention, and the other drug (DCT?) lessens retention and increases urination. Have a talk with your doctor.

[Pundi64]

Also along with Statin Drugs, you might try taking a tablespoon, or one large mouthfull of "APPLE CIDER VINEGER" this has a great effect on cholesterol, but bad effect on the taste buds. Hold nose while ingesting, cuts the taste.

Seriously, it really work-

[sfokevin]

Is anyone taking Lipitor?... How much do you pay for it in Thailand? What MG do you take and can you get the Generic form of it there yet?

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Is anyone taking Lipitor?... How much do you pay for it in Thailand? What MG do you take and can you get the Generic form of it there yet?

I used to take Lipitor 20 mg at baht 60/pill, one a day.  Then switched a couple years ago to Bestatin 20 mg at baht 5.5/pill (baht 165 for a box of 30), one a day.  Seems to work OK.  Total cholesterol was 203 end of May, TriGs, LDL, HDL, etc, with in tolerances, and ratios fine.

203 is a wee bit high, 180 as a top would be better, but sure a  lot better than the 300++s I used to get 20 years back!

Mac

[Old Man River]

Is anyone taking Lipitor?... How much do you pay for it in Thailand? What MG do you take and can you get the Generic form of it there yet?

I used to take Lipitor 20 mg at baht 60/pill, one a day. Then switched a couple years ago to Bestatin 20 mg at baht 5.5/pill (baht 165 for a box of 30), one a day. Seems to work OK. Total cholesterol was 203 end of May, TriGs, LDL, HDL, etc, with in tolerances, and ratios fine.

203 is a wee bit high, 180 as a top would be better, but sure a lot better than the 300++s I used to get 20 years back!

Mac

What was your cholesterol count when you took Lipitor? Mine is now in the 150's with Lipitor and it has never been this low. If, for you, the count is roughly the same with Bestatin as it was with Lipitor, then it is worth the savings. Otherwise, well, remember there are no pockets in shrouds.

[Mobi]

Is anyone taking Lipitor?... How much do you pay for it in Thailand? What MG do you take and can you get the Generic form of it there yet?

I used to take Lipitor 20 mg at baht 60/pill, one a day. Then switched a couple years ago to Bestatin 20 mg at baht 5.5/pill (baht 165 for a box of 30), one a day. Seems to work OK. Total cholesterol was 203 end of May, TriGs, LDL, HDL, etc, with in tolerances, and ratios fine.

203 is a wee bit high, 180 as a top would be better, but sure a lot better than the 300++s I used to get 20 years back!

Mac

Ditto.

I also used to take Lipitor, and my Diabetic specialist in Harley Street switched me to Simvastatin 40Mg (Bestatin) some years back - price wasn't an issue.

My cholesterol has been low ever since - and in Thailand it's much cheaper than Lipitor. (I pay 10.5 Baht per 40 Mg tab)

[robhudd]

You can also try regular intake of things like wheatgrass and barleygrass. You can buy them in powdered form and if you take them 2 or 3 times a day they can help reduce cholesterol. Of course this is not scientifically backed up but has been known to help a good many people.

[ProThaiExpat]

When my annual lab tests, which I do on my own and read the normal range as an indication as to whether I need to see a doctor revealed that my cholesterol had risen from its 30 year 220 level but with incredibly high HDL component to 270 I self medicated on Lipitor 10 mg. which I had heard of a lot.

My cholesterol dropped to 170 and stayed that way for a year while I lived in Oz. Returning to Thailand, I didn't like the 50 baht a pill I was paying for Lipitor, so I followed advice from lopuri3 and switched to Bestatin as 3 bhat a pill. Cholesterol at last testing remains at 170.

[steelepulse]

When my annual lab tests, which I do on my own and read the normal range as an indication as to whether I need to see a doctor revealed that my cholesterol had risen from its 30 year 220 level but with incredibly high HDL component to 270 I self medicated on Lipitor 10 mg. which I had heard of a lot.

My cholesterol dropped to 170 and stayed that way for a year while I lived in Oz. Returning to Thailand, I didn't like the 50 baht a pill I was paying for Lipitor, so I followed advice from lopuri3 and switched to Bestatin as 3 bhat a pill. Cholesterol at last testing remains at 170.

Do you need a prescription for Bestatin, or can you get it over the counter at the bigger pharmacies?

[duratanium]

After a heart op on 2 main arteries last year that almost resulted in a heart attack, I have been on Statins to reduce cholesterol.

It seems that some of us do produce too much cholesterol and diet has limited efficiency in combatting your levels in this case. Although it is common sense to eat a sensible diet.

A simple starvation blood test will show cholesterol levels and from there they can calculate the amount of statins to prescribe.

I have had several blood tests in the last year. Originally with a level of 8.9 cholesterol it went down to 4.5 in 6 mths, only to rise slightly again, so they increased the levels of statins and now my level is down to 4.0 again. (The charts used by the doctor showed only one chart level above my reading and that was heart attack level - so do not equate the 8.9 to some other levels in other posts as they are different)

It is worth remembering how many people die from clogged up veins / arteries due to cholesterol and now we have this drug that works. You do have to take the drug for life if you produce excessive cholesterol from your liver but that is better than dying.

Also worth remembering is that if your cholesterol is too low, that can kill you also - so care is needed in the amount of statins taken.

Finally.... the other really GOOD thing about lower cholesterol is that I am back to my horny old self and wake every morning again now with a full erection - erectile disfunction often being an effect of veins clogged with cholesterol - and my sex life is wonderful again, sometime being able to perform 3 times a day but usually once a day and at 52 years old, I am happy enough with that - so is the g/f

That is a blessing after the problems I suffered with erectile disfunction caused by cholesterol before I was placed on statins.

The above is a personal observation/experience and I HTH along with all the other advice here.

Edited July 17, 2007 by duratanium

[ProThaiExpat]

steelepulse: Most certainly Bestatin is a generic and available over the counter from any pharmacy. The blessing of being a health activist in Thailand is that so many important drugs are available over the counter and also most have generics.

During my hospitalization, I had no control over the doctor ordered drugs but I stayed on my regular meds which I took into the hospital with me. When I left the hospital, I researched the meds I was given by the hospital and found out their medical description. Then I searched for generics with the same chemical description and then supplanted them with generics at tremendous savings.

I long ago disregarded the fear tactics used by brand name drug manufactures that generics are not as effective as their brand name drugs and may even hurt the consumer.

An example was the pain meds they gave me manufactured in the U.S. I merely looked on the foil container they came with and found them to be made up of 35 mg of Tramadol and 350 mg of paracetamol. My local pharmacy had generic tramadol in 50mg size and I had many paracetamol 500mg at home so away I went and saved 50 baht a pill every time it took them and that was the U.S. drug at pharmacy prices. If I compared my generic approach to the hospital price for the drug the disparity was even greater.

[billp]

According to my research, bestatin is not simvastatin at all, but an aminopeptidase inhibitor - nothing to do with cholesterol. Or is it a British or Australian trade name for generic simvastatin (aka Zocor)?

In any case, if the generic works for you... but as I tried to point out in my earlier post, the patents on zocor/simvastatin have now run out, so that's why these generics are now available at a lower cost. And you have the benefit of a drug that's tried and true over many years. However, Lipitor (aka Sortis, aka atorvastatin, aka Torvast) is one of the 3rd generation drugs which offers increased protection in lowering LDL and bolstering the ratio of HDL, among other things. It's newer, more effective and that's why it's more expensive. It costs the drug companies billions to develop and test these drugs.

ProThaiExpat, I'm no doctor, but personally I don't like the sound of this "self-medicating." Are you a physician or a pharmacist? Of course you're aware that while you're taking these powerful drugs, your liver and kidney values have to be closely monitored. An annual cholesterol test is not sufficient.

Edited July 19, 2007 by billp

[ProThaiExpat]

The manufacturer of Lipitor took a very big hit in profits this quarter, its the drug company thats name starts with a Pf and ends with a "ser", reportedly due to a great reduction in the demand for Lipitor, probably as a result of the availability of generic equivalents. Their propaganda for long patent periods is always based on the argument that they spend so much on research that they need to get the money back in high profits or there would be no more breakthroughs in meds. Their balance sheets and their profits augur well for their success in this regard.They never mention that a great deal of their research, that they profit from, is taken wholesale from U.S. Government research, which is free to them.

billp: I am sorry that you are sorry that not everyone thinks as you do about the physicians role in ones health care and their propagada that we all need constant medical attention by a physician. The AMA lobby has been so successful in monopolizing the dispensing of medicine through laws that require prescriptions from physicians in the U.S.,for even the most benign medicine. The proof is in the U.S. having the most expensive health care in the world. Since you evidently did not read carefully my posts regarding the monitoring that I get regarding my health, your concern is unfounded. So you don't have to hurry off and look at my posts, I was hospitalized less that six months ago and received every lab test that the hospital could give me to improve their profits and both the orthopedist and the internistk that monitored my care, found not untoward effects of my "self medication" and encouraged me to continue treating myself, as it was most effective in keeping my cholesterol and my blood pressure so well under control, with minimum strength meds, that I prescribed for myself.

So you don't continue to worry about me, two of my best friends are pharmacists and I spent 35 years of my professional life dealing with medicine and doctors on a daily basis. I listened and learned and with the internet and lab reports that clearly indicate the normal range of the findings shown and all the side effects, no matter how remote clearly warning all who read about drugs, I avoid physicians for monitoring purposes. A blood pressure monitor at home for all those with hypertension has been my advice in many posts and what can a physician add to that information if your pressure is normal or below normal. A standard chem 10 panel of lab work once a year, assuming you have been normal in all prior tests over the years on your present medical regime is enough in my view. Start a new drug, have a lab test, if the literature warns of side effects or organ involvement. Any doubts, walk in to any hospital clinic in Thailand where there is a specialist in for any area to review your status and meds. What could be simpler. I approach physicians as a tool to be used, not as a patient for them to use.

[lopburi3]

According to my research, bestatin is not simvastatin at all, but an aminopeptidase inhibitor - nothing to do with cholesterol. Or is it a British or Australian trade name for generic simvastatin (aka Zocor)?

Bestatin is the brand name for simvastatin made by Berlin Pharm (Thailand).

[Mobi]

ProThaiExpat, I couldn't agree with you more.

It's not often that even the top specialists tell me something that I didn't know already. That doesn't stop me consulting them from time to time and it's good to do a cross - check to make sure that my self medicating is both up to date, and meets with their agreement - which it pretty much always does. If I read about a new med, I can discuss it with them, and invariably they would say: "yes, give it a try."

I do take a great deal of medication for a number of chronic conditions so it's as well for the Docs to confirm that one isn't affecting another - for instance my prostate medication and my glaucoma eye drops also have blood pressure reducing qualities so they will affect the overall amount of medication I take to treat my hypertension. In fact the only way to properly monitor my blood pressure is to take several readings a day, and titrate the medication accordingly. My cardiac specialist is an agreement with this self treatment.

If you are prepared to research the internet, there is so much information on every condition and its treatment, that it is not impossible that you might end up knowing more than the doctors.

Reminds me of the justification some hospitals give for charging more to treat farangs than Thais. Thais still regard doctors as 'Gods', and accept what they are told without question, whereas farangs will question everything, and discuss medications and treatment that they have read about on the net. So the consultation takes much longer.

Respect your doctor, consult him, but be knowledgeable of your condition and don't accept everything blindly. It's a partnership - not a one way street.

That's MHO anyway

[Mobi]

According to my research, bestatin is not simvastatin at all, but an aminopeptidase inhibitor - nothing to do with cholesterol. Or is it a British or Australian trade name for generic simvastatin (aka Zocor)?

Bestatin is the brand name for simvastatin made by Berlin Pharm (Thailand).

Yes there have been problems where a drug is known by different names in different parts of the world. I have discovered this when I want to research a drug prescribed locally. Quite often the American brand name ( Or English, or Japanese) is completely different, and there are even instances where the same name is in fact a different drug in different parts of the world. If you know the chemical name of the drug, the internet will tell you all the various brand names it is marketed under throughout the world.

[waldpyk]

You can also try regular intake of things like wheatgrass and barleygrass. You can buy them in powdered form and if you take them 2 or 3 times a day they can help reduce cholesterol. Of course this is not scientifically backed up but has been known to help a good many people.

well actually there is

Am journal clinical nutricion 1999 : an article by Bourdon c.s

and Arndt in Cereal foods world : the future of barley 2005

[ProThaiExpat]

Mobi: Well said. In addition to what I posted of my personal history, when I was with one large corporation years ago who provided an annual three day exhaustive physical with many specialists contributing, during an exit interview one year, the "summary physician" I had drawn, said I was in perfect health and they would see me next year.

When I pointed out the mildly elevated blood pressure in my chart, his reply was "Don't worry about it, we will take good care of you". This was at a time just after the U.S. Veterans Administration's extremely broad based study on the effect of early blood pressure control on long term health had been published in the AMA Journal. Having read it, I knew he was not knowledgeable on the subject, after all he was a gastro-enterologist. I asked him for my chart, marched upstairs to the cardiologist, who had participated in my evaluation and asked him what he thought.

His reply was the he would start treating my blood pressure immediately, even though slightly elevated, as the VA study conclusively established that early intervention in blood pressure control diminished substantially the risk of heart attack and stroke in later life. I was 31 at the time. He started titrating me to find an ideal drug for me and it ended up to be a beta blocker after about a year of experimenting. By the way, I had been hospitalized in Moffit Hospital in San Francisco for evaluation of my high blood pressure a few years before, as I was lucky enough to know a cardiologist who got me into their free study on elevated blood pressure. You can imagine the tests they gave me on an inpatient basis, including renal angiography. The ultimate conclusion was essential hypertension, probably brought on by a high salt diet in Japan where I had spent many years. I have dedicated myself to being very knowledgeable of my medical condition and take nothing nor allow anything to be given me that I don't know all I can find out about it including cross-examining the physician who wants me to take it.

During my college years, I worked in a drug store as a pharmacy assistant and believe me, I became more knowledgeable about some drugs than the physicians prescribing them. The public would be shocked to know how little busy physicians know about most drugs. They rely on pharmacists to watch out for cross-contraindications and with only one course in med school on pharmacology, how could you expect them to know more. Granted specialists do know about drugs that are popular in their practices. It took my orthopedist a few sessions with me before he realized he would have to explain everything he did to me and justify his medical decisions to me. It takes a special doctor to be able to do that, one who is more interested in your welfare than in his ego. All the studies have shown that patients knowledgeable and interested in their own care get better results and better value from any health care system.

Believe me I was "back there" once, even when it came to plumbers and electricians. I often surrendered any specialty area to the "experts" until I found out that plumbers had as many cuts on their hands after working as I did and that electricians can make as many mistakes as I can. During my recent hospitalization, perhaps due to shift changes and the delegation of every patient care task to the lowest common denominator of nursing staff, by being actively engage in my own care I prevented many "mistakes" by staff that would have caused me much pain and prolonged by recovers. Examples are nursing staff never seemed to know which leg was broken, they had forgotten I had a catheter in place until I told them wasn't it about time it was removed, ad nauseum. Even my food remained at the nurses station long after it was stone cold.

I am very impressed by the Thai Government's approach to FDA matters and the open access to most drugs, monitored by pharmacists who are as good, in most cases, as any in the west. While it might appear that many pharmacists in Thailand give out drugs too liberally for almost any condition, I have noticed that the number of pills given are generally limited and are of such a widespread acceptability, that they have very little potential for harm. Many realize that nature will cure you on its own in most cases, so if a complaining sick person is given some mild and broadly accepted medicine that may really not be that effective in curing him, he still will probably get better anyway and feel a lot better during the process because he is taking his medicine prescribed by the "doctor" ,a Thai name for pharmacists.

[backflip]

Lipitor is the most widely prescribed medication in the US, perhaps the world. Another poster mentioned that Lipitor is available as a generic drug. It is not. Pfizer's financials took a hit with the introduction of generic Zoloft and Norvasc. A generic Lipitor will be available when patent protection is lost, and that should be in 2008. On another note, a poster commented that vinegar will lower cholesterol. That's simply not true.

[Mobi]

ProThaiExpat, Just as a postscript to your and my posts:

I have been admitted to some of the finest hospitals in the world- from London, to Bangkok, to New York, and have learnt from bitter experience to remain in control of my medication, and to never again surrender it to the hospital doctors. If you do this, they frequently fail to medicate you properly, often not giving you any of the drugs you handed over to them, and then doing stupid and dangerous things like putting me (a diabetic) on an unnecessary glucose drip, and watching my blood sugars go through the roof and the nurses not knowing what to do! This is spite of the fact that they have my full medical history.(This wasn't in Thailand)

The moral of the story is to be aware of your medical problems and know as much about them as you can, and don't trust any hospital or doctor - after all they are human and fallible and are often working long hours under high stress, and can make mistakes.

[ProThaiExpat]

backflip: Thanks for the spelling Lipitor's manufacturer, I was just too lazy to look it up.

I am not quibbling but when you say that Lipitor has no generic yet you mention two drugs as generics, are you saying that those two drugs are generic versions of cholesterol lowering drugs from another manufacturer, that have gone off patent? I suspect you are.

[CM-Joe]

The cholesterol thing is mainly a big cash cow for the pharma industry. Like high blood preasure it doesn't need medication. If you follow a moderate diet (plenty of raw vegetable, salads, fruits, no or only little meat and sugar, no or only little of alcohol, nicotin...) and have some exercices (30 or minutes a day) that would be much better for you. There are no side effects and you will feel much better.

An old answer, however most people (especialy Americans) prefer take medication, wich sometimes have more sideffects than benefits. But it is you life and your decission.

[ProThaiExpat]

backflip: Are Zoloft and the other drug you mention generics of drugs by other manufacturers that have gone off patent and are of similar but not exact chemical formulations of Lipitor?

Noun 1. generic drug - when the patent protection for a brand-name drug expires generic versions of the drug can be offered for sale if the FDA agrees; "generic drugs are usually cheaper than brand-name drugs"

drug - a substance that is used as a medicine or narcotic

brand-name drug, proprietary drug - a drug that has a trade name and is protected by a patent (can be produced and sold only by the company holding the patent)