Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For High LDL Levels
Question: Recent blood test: 290 Choles; 135 Trigly, 78 HDL, 185 LDL, CHOLES/HDLipoprotein 3.7 & CHOLES/NON-DHL of 212. I am physically active and eat pretty good and have had no obvious problems. My new doctor reviewed my records, which included a 2008 xray showing significant calcium and plaque in my Aorta. she put me on 40mg Atorvastatin which I took for 3 days, with her ok I am now taking 1/2 pill each night for the past 2 nights. I've said I would try this for a month but DO NOT want to suffer any long term effects from this experiment; what are the odds that taking 20mg for another 3 weeks will cause ongoing long term problems in what feels to me to be a well functioning body?
Brief Answer:
Can start with low dose Atorvastatin (10mg), which is quite safe
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
In your case I would start with low dose (10 mg) for 2 or 3 months and then decide whether there is necessity to increase the dose upon repeated test results.
You have good triglyceride level, which comes from your healthy lifestyle. But you have high LDL levels.
In young age when there is no risk and/or evidence of atherosclerosis I wouldn't prescribe statin to patient with such cholesterol and healthy lifestyle. But in your case when you have calcium plaque in aorta, there is a risk for stroke or heart attack, as such plaques can be found in other arteries as well.
As long as you don't have any symptoms and have healthy lifestyle, low dose statin can be enough to control your cholesterol levels.
As you know statins usually prescribed for very long period, most often lifelong. As any medication they also has side effects, such as tiredness,weakness, digestive system problems or liver enzymes' level increase. But these side effects are quite rare, especially with Atorvastatin. If the patient is under control of his/her physician, he/she can refer to the doctor when there is some adverse effect. In this case the medication is stopped and usually adverse event disappears after short time.
So I think there is nothing to worry. You always can stop the medication in case of an adverse event (which are rare) and most probably there will be no serious deterioration of your health.
Hope I could help you
Wishing you good health
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
Can start with low dose Atorvastatin (10mg), which is quite safe
Detailed Answer:
Dear Mrs,
In your case I would start with low dose (10 mg) for 2 or 3 months and then decide whether there is necessity to increase the dose upon repeated test results.
You have good triglyceride level, which comes from your healthy lifestyle. But you have high LDL levels.
In young age when there is no risk and/or evidence of atherosclerosis I wouldn't prescribe statin to patient with such cholesterol and healthy lifestyle. But in your case when you have calcium plaque in aorta, there is a risk for stroke or heart attack, as such plaques can be found in other arteries as well.
As long as you don't have any symptoms and have healthy lifestyle, low dose statin can be enough to control your cholesterol levels.
As you know statins usually prescribed for very long period, most often lifelong. As any medication they also has side effects, such as tiredness,weakness, digestive system problems or liver enzymes' level increase. But these side effects are quite rare, especially with Atorvastatin. If the patient is under control of his/her physician, he/she can refer to the doctor when there is some adverse effect. In this case the medication is stopped and usually adverse event disappears after short time.
So I think there is nothing to worry. You always can stop the medication in case of an adverse event (which are rare) and most probably there will be no serious deterioration of your health.
Hope I could help you
Wishing you good health
In case of further questions don't hesitate to ask
Regards,
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
