Has anyone taken fish oils on prescription for high cholesterol?

[ren105]

Recent blood tests show my cholesterol to be over 8. The GP recommended I take statins to lower it but statins can have nasty side effects. Has anyone taken prescription fish oils to combat high cholesterol pr anything else that worked.

[greygoose]

Hi Ren105, I take it you are hypo? High cholesterol is a symptom of low thyroid and should lower when you are properly treated with thyroid hormone replacment.

You are perfectly right not to take statins!

Grey x

[ren105]

Thanks for your reoly. Yes I am hypo. I will have thyroid blood levels checked asap Thanks again!!!

Ren 105

[shaws Administrator in reply to ren105]

I have read bad reports from America about statins. The fact is that we do need cholesterol and you will be surprised when you listen to this heart doctor.

Statins are making lots of money for the pharmaceutical companies.

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

another link

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

It is correct that high cholesterol is a symptom but should reduce when on optimum meds. Maybe you are undertreated, so if you can get a copy of your latest blood test results post them in a new question with the ranges (figures in brackets as labs differ) and someone will comment.

[ren105 in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws. My TSH is 2.09 (.3 - 4.2) and T4 ia 20.1 ( 9 - 23) which seems pretty good to me....no? Different GP yiesterday told me not to worry as ratio of LDs/HDLs was balanced so that lowered risk of heart disease...however have started on fish oils!!

[shaws Administrator in reply to ren105]

If you have no clinical symptoms, maybe 2.09 is o.k. for you but if you still have symptoms this is what Dr Toft of the British Thyroid Association says (he also says some need T3 added):

6 What is the correct dose of thyroxine and is there any rationale for adding in tri-iodothyronine?

The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range – 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l. Most patients will feel well in that circumstance.

But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

[ren105 in reply to shaws]

No unfortunately not free of ssymtoms at 100 mcg of thyroxine. Was on Armour last year for a year, so have had T3 and while I was euthyroid and should have felt better, was still symptomatic...very disappointing.!! However, I am in the beginning stages of Parkinson's (not taking drugs for it yet) so this is obviously complicating things!

[shaws Administrator in reply to ren105]

I am sorry you still have symptoms and this is what Dr Lowe has said:-

Dr. Lowe: No doctor can intelligently decide what a patient should do with her thyroid hormone dosage solely by the results of thyroid lab tests. We can make informed decisions about dosage only when we know the patient's clinical status and have the results of physical exam procedures. Most endocrinologists and other conventional doctors would likely disagree with me about this. But their belief that they can determine correct dosages solely by lab test results is a major reason that millions of hypothyroid patients chronically suffer from hypothyroid symptoms despite taking thyroid hormone. I wish you success in your treatment.

Re Parkinson's I am also sorry you have to contend with yet another complication and hope you are get the professionalism you deserve.

[ren105 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your input and support.

[Lilian15]

I refused to take statins (my cholesterol was 5 point something. The endocrinologist asked if I would take fish oil, so he wrote to my GP to prescribe me fish oil. I got a letter from my GP to say he could not prescribe it because the PCT said not. I mentioned this on the next endo visit, and said I could always buy some but he said that the fish oil on prescription is a much higher dose than you can buy. He said to ask again and get the pct to contact him and he will sort it. However before anything could be done he had left the hospital - very suddenly.

[ren105 in reply to Lilian15]

Went to see another GP at practice who told me while my cholesterol is high the ratio between HDLs and LDLs is good so the risk of heart disease is low. This GP didn't push the statins and while she didn't give me a priscription for fish oils, agreed to their use. She suggested I take up to 4 grams a day. Thank you for information.

[James30]

I lowered my cholesterol from 260 to 180 in 30 days (or less) by taking a 1000mg lecithin capsule with each meal and my triglycerides also came back to normal. I now use one tablespoon of the granular lecithin a day which, I think, is more effective and it tastes very good.

[ren105 in reply to James30]

Thanks James..I'm sold. Between fish oils and lecithin should be able to lower cholesterol. I'm definitely not going anywhere neear statins!!

[shaws Administrator]

This is a very important video by a heart surgeon, if you haven't already seen it.

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...