What to do Next.

[Aliwally]

The present state of my cholesterol saga is that I have been taking pravastatin 20mg for about six weeks. I have been OK with it, just a couple of very painful cramps and a bit of muscle twitching at night.

Latest results are TC 6.5, LDL 4.1, trigs 0.84 and HDL 2. I know this will not be good enough for the lipid clinic and they will want me to increase it to 40mg, but I know I will get side effects.

The "statin sceptic" GP has " actioned " these results whatever that means, but I can't ask him as he is on holiday.

Further complication is I am going on holiday in about 6 weeks to Yellowstone Park so expect to be fairly active at high altitude and don't want muscle cramps.

I feel like I am caught between the GP and the lipid clinic.. they did suggest adding ezitimbe and I would rather this than 40mg of pravastatin.

Just interested in what other people would do in my situation.

[smithy]

Really can't help Ali, I take Atorvastatin at 80mg and do not get any side effects....Lucky me. TC now down to 3.? and GP V Happy with that.

Good luck anyway

[Seahorse]

Hi Aliwally, As you know you can't tolerate 40mg statins then if I were you I think I would add in the ezetimibe. Would wait til after my holiday though!

[DakCB-UK in reply to Seahorse]

I agree with this.

Not sure what I'd do if the 20mg cramps are what you want to avoid.

[Aliwally]

Thanks . I've actually just looked up ezetimibe on Wikki (OK, I know not the best place) and it's telling me that in two trials it actually increased arterial wall thickness and there was no improved clinical outcome.

Going off that now!

[deepblue]

HI Aliwally,

I have read things about Ezetimibe not having much effect (confirmed by my GP). Could you try another statin?My GP was saying that Rosuvastatin has less side effects due to smaller dose needed, mind you I havent plucked up the courage to try it yet. Trouble is its very expensive and think some other members on here have had side effects.

My sister's cholesterol levels are similar to your current ones (except she has bad ldl/hdl ratio and her gp hasnt put her on anything. Your hdl/ldl ratio is far better.

I am off to Yellowstone too! In 2 weeks time going to Las Vegas, Grand Canyon,Lake Powell,Yellowstone,Grand Tetons, Salt Lake,Lake Tahoe,Yosemite,Death Valley and back to Vegas. Happy Holidays!

[Seahorse]

My consultant added ezetimibe to my 40mg statin a couple of years ago. Although I had no additional side effects it made not a blind bit of difference to my cholesterol levels so I stopped taking it. Several times since the consultant has pressed me to restart it - I have no intention of doing this as why would I take a drug that has no effect for me?

[Aliwally]

Thanks, Seahorse, that's really useful. It was the ENHANCE drug trial that showed that ezetimibe plus simvastatin was no better than simvastatin alone and this was in people with FH . Sorry, I'm a bit of a drug trial anorak!

I'm sure I remember reading that some PCT's also will not fund it as it's expensive and not shown to be that effective.

[jeanne12]

STATINS!!

Try Lipantil Micro 200mg capsules.(fenofibrate)

They work for me no side effects and they are not a statin.My cholesterol

Is 3.2 and always low obviously you still have to watch what you eat but they're great. Good luck.

[Aliwally]

Thank you for your helpful advice. I have been taking Q10 when taking statins, but only 60mg, so that is probably not enough. I also take a vitamin D supplement whenever I remember and try and get out in the sun..but that has been a bit difficult this summer!

The main point is that I don't have these problems when I don't take statins. My "statin sceptic" GP tells me to tell the lipid clinic that the side effects for me are intolerable and I'm not taking them. Discuss!