Brief Answer:
side effects occur in the minority

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Lipitor is the trade name for the medication , atorvastatin.

According to medscape.com , a medical website used by doctors mainly, these are the main effects and their frequency.

(1) diarrhea - in 5 to 14 percent of persons, this means 5 to 14 people out of 100 persons who use the medication

The other 86 to 95, would not have this problem

(2)joint pain (arthralgia)- 4 to 12%-- this occurs in 4 to 12 out of 100 persons who use it

(3)nasopharyngitis( runny or congested nose, sore throat)-- occurs in 4 to 13 %---- 4 to 13 persons out of 100 who use it have this problem

(4)myalgia (muscle aches and pain)-- 3 to 8 %

(5)insomnia (difficulty sleeping) --- 1 to 5 %

(6)urinary tract infection 4- 8%-----

(7)increase in liver enzyme blood tests results--- in 2-3%, the liver itself can work okay but there is an increase in certain liver blood tests
When the medication is stopped, the liver enzyme results return to normal.

These are the main possible side effects and they occur in the minority

There are many persons who use these medications and do not experience any problems and there are others , on the other hand, who may have one or more of these effects.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

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Brief Answer:
would depend on cholesterol break down and risk factors present

Detailed Answer:
HI

Normally when a cholesterol blood test result is given, the break down is given-- the LDL, HDL, triglycerides, not just the total cholesterol

The LDL is the 'bad' cholesterol, this should be low, triglycerides are also unhealthy

HDL is the 'good cholesterol and want this to be increased.

The total would be made up of a combination of good and bad so it would be difficult to say which is high just looking at the total.

In general however, if you have other risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, increased weight, family history of heart disease or you have a history of heart disease), then I would prefer to treat sooner rather than later

If there are no risk factors, then waiting a few months to see if dietary and other lifestyle changes can help, is not a problem

Please feel free to ask anything else

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Brief Answer:
hdl and triglycerides good

Detailed Answer:
HI

The HDL and triglycerides are good.

The other values are a little too high.

If you do not have any risk factors (no heart disease, no family heart disease, no smoking, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, normal weight), then you can try lifestyle for 3 to 6 months but if you are not comfortable with this then you can ask your doctor to start medication sooner.

Ultimately the decision is yours.

If anything else is unclear, you can let me know

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