Can this be right? Cholesterol med lowered my total by 100 points?

[mskay]

I started on cholesterol meds in December with a TC of 249. Had it checked yesterday and TC was 141. My LDL dropped 100 points also. My doctor isn't in this week so the nurse had another doctor check the results. This seems like a huge jump to me. A good jump but kind of unbelieveable. I'm taking vytorin. Any experience with this?

 

[JunieJay]

Whoa! That is fantastic!

No experience here, but I'm very happy for you.

 

[Frantasmic]

If you are taking a statin, yes, you can expect a drop that quickly.

I went from 249 last year to 160 my last time I had blood work done.

 

[Honu]

Yep. My cholestrol is under 200, but because of other chronic illnesses I take Zocor & Zetia (which are the 2 drugs in Vytorin). They bring me down about 80 points.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I don't know anything about Vytorin, but 100 points is not unheard of. Congrats to you!

 

[bettydau]

I went down 54 points on Zocor, but am below 200 now so thrilled. Both Lipitor & Prevacol caused muscle pain for me, but this one's fine now for 6 months.

 

[Micca]

It's good to hear this stuff works. Congratulations

 

[minkydog]

DH started off at 260 and now, 4yrs later, his cholesteral is 123!~ Those statins are darn near miracle drugs

 

[zagafi]

Yep Vytorin dropped mine like a hot rock! In 30 days, it was down significantly!

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

wow that is impressive..I had a drop from 240 in August to 170 in January which is pretty good for me but i LOVE my cholesterol medication. I am a special case though since i am only 21 and have been on meds since i was 18.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Good For You!!!!

My meds made me go from 248 to 174.....so I was happy with that!

 

[jeanelle]

Same thing happened to me. My TC was about 269 and after taking Vytorin it dropped to 144. All I can see is that is great stuff. I watched my diet for years and never could get it down. One month of the drug and no more worries.

Jeanelle

 

[JimB.]

I don't take Vytorin, but I do take Lipitor. It knocked my cholesterol from 245 to 171 in 4 weeks.

Good stuff!!

 

[minnieandmickeymouse]

Do any of these meds cause any kind of bad side effects?

I really should be taking a cholesterol medication, but have chosen not too out of fear of side effects. I tend to be very sensitive to medications.

 

[Jpgirl]

That's great-I hope you continue to do well. In response to the above question-yes these meds have serious side effects. One is to the liver-my mom was on the clinicals for Zocor and had to be pulled because of liver damage which was permanent. The other is muscle damage which can happen to any muscle-even the heart. All meds have side effects-everyone should be informed consumers and decide if the risks outweigh the benefits. I myself ill not go on cholesterol meds unless my ratios get really bad-right now my total is borderline high at 230 but my ratios numbers have me at very low risk (less than 1%) over the next 10 years. My doc talked to me about going on the meds till I presented her with the information I found on my numbers and the ratios that I researched and found on the American Heart Assoc. site. She then back tracked and agreed that I might not be a candidate. I'd rather manage the numbers with life style (not an option for everyone I know) than risk liver damage that can be permanent and deadly.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Do any of these meds cause any kind of bad side effects?

I really should be taking a cholesterol medication, but have chosen not too out of fear of side effects. I tend to be very sensitive to medications.

I am on Lescol because the side effects of Lipitor and Zocor were too intense for my body. Lescol achieves the same end result (actually better than the other two) and I have no side effects with it at all.

 

[mskay]

Thanks for all the experiences and insights, everyone! By the way, after LOSING 20 pounds all my cholesterol numbers went up which is what prompted the dr to put me on meds. I'm still losing weight so maybe over time, it will lower on its own without needing meds forever. Thanks again!

 

[DebbieB]

I went on Lipitor and dropped from 305 to 222 in about 6 weeks. Even when I was on WW, I could never get it below 240, my entire family has high cholesterol. Unfortunately, I gained the weight back and it shot back up.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

Thanks for all the experiences and insights, everyone! By the way, after LOSING 20 pounds all my cholesterol numbers went up which is what prompted the dr to put me on meds. I'm still losing weight so maybe over time, it will lower on its own without needing meds forever. Thanks again!

Interestingly enough until i was placed on the meds the more weight i lost the higher my cholesterol went as well.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I was on Lipitor for about 12 weeks and mine went down that much.

But then I got to the place where I could hardly walk (hips) so they took me off of Lipitor and I was fine (hips).

So, I guess I'm one of the people who cannot take lipitor but while I was on it, it sure worked like a charm with my cholesterol.