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Can Atorvastatin Be Taken For Hypercholesterolemia?
Question: Hello, I am a 41 year old male and was diagnosed with high cholesterol around 6-7 years ago. I have no other complications. After changing my diet, exercise etc my cholesterol would not come down, so I got referred to a clinical pathologist for genetic testing etc. Since then I was diagnosed with polygenic hypercholesterolemia last week, and was asked to be put on 10mg atorvastatin once daily and vitamin d supplement. My total cholesterol was 7.8mmol/L my vitamin d levels were 28nmol/L, in my last clinic visit.
Since then I have been reading many articles about the side effects of atorvastatin, I am very health conscious person and my main concern is atorvastatin can give you type 2 diabetes up to 46% chance according to recent researches/studies and muscle/liver problems. I want to take this medication as a preventative measure, as high cholesterol is not an illness but I’m worried other complications/illnesses will develop due to me taking the statin. I have also ordered ubiquinol 100mg as the statin depletes this from your body, so I will take that as a supplement.
Can someone please advise me if this is the best route to my high cholesterol. I have been taking atorvastatin for 4 days now and I feel really tired and cold and achy, I will continue to take for another week or so then see what I need to do.
Many Thanks
XXXXXXX
Since then I have been reading many articles about the side effects of atorvastatin, I am very health conscious person and my main concern is atorvastatin can give you type 2 diabetes up to 46% chance according to recent researches/studies and muscle/liver problems. I want to take this medication as a preventative measure, as high cholesterol is not an illness but I’m worried other complications/illnesses will develop due to me taking the statin. I have also ordered ubiquinol 100mg as the statin depletes this from your body, so I will take that as a supplement.
Can someone please advise me if this is the best route to my high cholesterol. I have been taking atorvastatin for 4 days now and I feel really tired and cold and achy, I will continue to take for another week or so then see what I need to do.
Many Thanks
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Discussion follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome and thanks for your query.
In deciding whether to treat a condition or not is based on risk vs versus. If the benefit does not outweigh the risks, one should not consider treatment.
You can check the risk of a heart attack or stroke by the high cholesterol at the UK national health service associated web site www.qrisk.org and see the benefit of reducing the TC/ HDL ratio to 3 .
One should always be aware of the complications that can be caused by statin and check ALT ( SGPT) and CK to the liver and muscle complication.
If you have a family history of diabetes, it would be good to check the blood sugar also time to time and take corrective measures.
Do get back to me if you have more queries
Discussion follows
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome and thanks for your query.
In deciding whether to treat a condition or not is based on risk vs versus. If the benefit does not outweigh the risks, one should not consider treatment.
You can check the risk of a heart attack or stroke by the high cholesterol at the UK national health service associated web site www.qrisk.org and see the benefit of reducing the TC/ HDL ratio to 3 .
One should always be aware of the complications that can be caused by statin and check ALT ( SGPT) and CK to the liver and muscle complication.
If you have a family history of diabetes, it would be good to check the blood sugar also time to time and take corrective measures.
Do get back to me if you have more queries
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your reply Doctor.
My total cholesterol is 7.8mmol out of which around 5mmol is LDL (bad cholesterol). My risk factor is only 4-5% according to the calculator.
There is no family history of high cholesterol, heart problems or diabetes, but I have read many patient reviews that using statins can proceed to type 2 diabetes, which is a worry to me. Have you had any patients progressing onto type 2 diabetes by using statins.
Many Thanks XXXXXXX
My total cholesterol is 7.8mmol out of which around 5mmol is LDL (bad cholesterol). My risk factor is only 4-5% according to the calculator.
There is no family history of high cholesterol, heart problems or diabetes, but I have read many patient reviews that using statins can proceed to type 2 diabetes, which is a worry to me. Have you had any patients progressing onto type 2 diabetes by using statins.
Many Thanks XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Statin is less likely to cause diabetes if there is no family history.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Diabetes is basically a genetic disease and there are many precipitating factors like unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of exercise and stress. Statin may be one of the precipitating factor, though not universally recognised yet.
I check the blood sugar periodically in people who are on statin.
I have not had any patient without a family history of diabetes developing diabetes, while on statin.
What was your HDL ( Good Cholesterol)?. For risk assessment, it is the value of Total Cholesterol divided by HDL that is used. Normal should be 4 or less.
If you want me to monitor you, I can do it remotely through my personal web site.
Best wishes,
Dr. Noble Zachariah
Statin is less likely to cause diabetes if there is no family history.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.
Diabetes is basically a genetic disease and there are many precipitating factors like unhealthy diet, obesity, lack of exercise and stress. Statin may be one of the precipitating factor, though not universally recognised yet.
I check the blood sugar periodically in people who are on statin.
I have not had any patient without a family history of diabetes developing diabetes, while on statin.
What was your HDL ( Good Cholesterol)?. For risk assessment, it is the value of Total Cholesterol divided by HDL that is used. Normal should be 4 or less.
If you want me to monitor you, I can do it remotely through my personal web site.
Best wishes,
Dr. Noble Zachariah
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply Doctor. I would like to be monitored by you remotely from your personal website, that will be very appreciated, as I seem to be stressing too much about statins.
There is no family tree history of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, even my parents and brothers cholesterol is normal, only mines is elevated.
I think my HDL was around 1.5mmol, but I can get all my cholesterol figures from the surgery tomorrow and any other information you need.
Do you have your own medical practice and what statins do you normally prescribe. I am on 10mg atorvastatin and was told it was a high dose even at 10mg and highly potent. Maybe I can take it for a month then check my blood levels again.
It is a bit reassuring for you to say that non of your patients have developed diabetes maybe I'm worrying too much as I am a very health conscious person.
Many Thanks XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
There is no family tree history of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol, even my parents and brothers cholesterol is normal, only mines is elevated.
I think my HDL was around 1.5mmol, but I can get all my cholesterol figures from the surgery tomorrow and any other information you need.
Do you have your own medical practice and what statins do you normally prescribe. I am on 10mg atorvastatin and was told it was a high dose even at 10mg and highly potent. Maybe I can take it for a month then check my blood levels again.
It is a bit reassuring for you to say that non of your patients have developed diabetes maybe I'm worrying too much as I am a very health conscious person.
Many Thanks XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
Atorvastatin is a good one and can be prescribed upto 80mg per day. I don't use such high dose and my dose for prevention of heart disease is 10mg most often. It is not the dose but to reach the target level and ratio that is important . If you want to be monitored, please click on http://www.drnoblezachariah.com/home/health-monitoring
and register yourself for remote monitoring .
You are also able to ask me queries and even have a video consultation. You will get a free electronic medical record in which you can store all your health data, tests, ECGs etc. It's password protected and you can access it anytime from anywhere in the world.
Have a great day and good health.
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
Atorvastatin is a good one and can be prescribed upto 80mg per day. I don't use such high dose and my dose for prevention of heart disease is 10mg most often. It is not the dose but to reach the target level and ratio that is important . If you want to be monitored, please click on http://www.drnoblezachariah.com/home/health-monitoring
and register yourself for remote monitoring .
You are also able to ask me queries and even have a video consultation. You will get a free electronic medical record in which you can store all your health data, tests, ECGs etc. It's password protected and you can access it anytime from anywhere in the world.
Have a great day and good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
many thanks again, do your patients tolerate atorvastatin quite well? what are the common side effects your patients report so I know what to look out for.
I would like to have a video consultation sometime, what times are you available for that.
Many Thanks XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
I would like to have a video consultation sometime, what times are you available for that.
Many Thanks XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Yes
Detailed Answer:
Vast majority of the patients tolerate 10mg of atorvastatin. Muscle pain and liver enzyme elevation are the common side effects.
Please check out the timing on the website. The times are Arab time which is GMT + 3 hours
Yes
Detailed Answer:
Vast majority of the patients tolerate 10mg of atorvastatin. Muscle pain and liver enzyme elevation are the common side effects.
Please check out the timing on the website. The times are Arab time which is GMT + 3 hours
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor, just to let you know I have been taking atorvastatin for 5 days now and today I can feel my hands ache and muscles seem very tired as if you are about to get a flu, do these symptoms usually go away.
I also forgot to mention, I also have arcus in my eyes and cholesterol deposits around my lining of the eye does this normally go away once the tablets start working.
Many Thanks again.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
I also forgot to mention, I also have arcus in my eyes and cholesterol deposits around my lining of the eye does this normally go away once the tablets start working.
Many Thanks again.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Check for muscle inflammation
Detailed Answer:
If you feel that your aches are due to the muscle inflammation which can occur as a side effect of atorvastatin, you can resolve the issue by checking the blood for CK ( creatinine kinase). If it is elevated, it is due to the muscle inflammation and you have to stop it.
The arcus is due to the cholesterol already deposited.
By lowering the blood cholesterol you may be able to prevent further deposits.
It is usually not reversible.
Check for muscle inflammation
Detailed Answer:
If you feel that your aches are due to the muscle inflammation which can occur as a side effect of atorvastatin, you can resolve the issue by checking the blood for CK ( creatinine kinase). If it is elevated, it is due to the muscle inflammation and you have to stop it.
The arcus is due to the cholesterol already deposited.
By lowering the blood cholesterol you may be able to prevent further deposits.
It is usually not reversible.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello Doctor,
I called up the surgery today and got a breakdown of my total cholesterol.
Total cholesterol was 7.8mmol
Non fasting triglycerides 5.3
HDL 1.1
They had no LDL figures.
Does this make sense, no LDL numbers
Thanks XXXXXXX
I called up the surgery today and got a breakdown of my total cholesterol.
Total cholesterol was 7.8mmol
Non fasting triglycerides 5.3
HDL 1.1
They had no LDL figures.
Does this make sense, no LDL numbers
Thanks XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Risk benefit ratio in favor of treatment.
Detailed Answer:
LDL value is calculated often and as per Friedwald formula your LDL is about 4.25 mmol/l. Ideally TG should havebeen done fasting and that will have a small change in the LDL value.
This is a high value and your TC /HDL ratio is 7. This gives you a high risk for coronary artery disease.
So it is better to take care to reduce the risk and prevent a cardiovascular event.
Risk benefit ratio in favor of treatment.
Detailed Answer:
LDL value is calculated often and as per Friedwald formula your LDL is about 4.25 mmol/l. Ideally TG should havebeen done fasting and that will have a small change in the LDL value.
This is a high value and your TC /HDL ratio is 7. This gives you a high risk for coronary artery disease.
So it is better to take care to reduce the risk and prevent a cardiovascular event.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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