Has anyone taken cholesterol drug, lipitor, to reduce their cholesterol level?

I just found out my latest cholesterol test from my blood test that my cholesterol level is 3.70 millimole/L. My previous cholesterol level was 2.75. Although my family doctor said my level is still low. I am concerned that it has risen above the 3.0 millimole mark.


I want to know from your personal experience from using cholesterol drug. Does it reduce your cholesterol?

Is there any liver damage?

I don't have experience with it. How about going to a dietist? He/she may be able to give you some very good tips and suggestions, besides taking meds..

I just started Vytorin....My level dropped from 263 to 148 in less than 90 days. I did not change my diet or exercise program. I just had it rechecked and it had spiked up to 152.

All medicines have the potential of trashing your liver. The epilepsy meds I take require 6 month complete blood tests and liver function tests. I've been fine on it for 25 years.

Not sure if that helps any.

Hi Picard,

I controlled my moderate to high cholesterol level by diet for a long time as I was low risk (non-smoker, middle age, moderate BMI, normal BP) but after a brief scare where I thought I had a heart attack (turned out to be pinched nerves in my spine), the ECG (?) showed a past "blip" so I went on Lipitor (20mg/day). I have had my cholesterol levels checked a couple of times in the past 2 years since then and my levels are now even better than before.

No side-effects that I have noticed, except for a strange obsession with Personal Survival Kit containers?

Good Luck,

Mike

Lipitor is a "statin" drug; right now the "best" available. Yes, it can cause liver problems, but they're very rare. A more common complication is muscle pains (myopathy). It happened to my grandmother (who is 84). Stopping the med and taking steroids for a few weeks should resolve it.

Oatmeal, excercise, low-fat diet, hi-fiber should help adjust your cholesterol level without drugs. However, it may not be enough.

Don't worry, that's a chronic condition :laugh]

I already on a low cholesterol diet but I want to reduce the cholesterol a bit drastically.

Hi Picard,

Taken Lipitor? Yeah, since the early 90's
My cholesterol was in the high 290's.
Diet, exercise, all the rest got me down to about 260. (bad genes)
One Lipitor a day (10mg) got me to 160, a hundred point drop.
No side effects yet...but a friend at work did have to stop because of some "problems" and was given a non-statin.

I take Lipitor, dropped my cholesterol level like a rock. I have my cholesterol and liver function checked every six months. No side effects to speak of. Taking steriods, on the other hand, scares the crap outta me...

I take a statin every day. I prescribe them almost every day. (no one is immune to genetics). It is worth trying daily oatmeal, a diet rich in phytosterols (http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/cholesterol-low.php) & daily aerobic exercise, BUT, if that doesn't get you to goal, consider a statin. While all drugs can have side-effects, the statins as a class, have a very benign profile, esp. considering how much they lower risk of non-fatal & fatal MI (plus many other potential benefits that aren't official). If you develop muscle (not joint) aches or elevated liver enzymes, usually stopping the statin is sufficient, rarely is specific treatment required. Trying another statin is reasonable after things return to normal. Unfortunately this is trial and error,& may require trying several statins until one is found that you can tolerate