Cholesterol lowering medication. Anyone here have to take any?

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My doctor kept me away from the statins (lipitor, etc..) due to their effect on the liver, so for a while I was on something called WelChol (works from the stomach rather than the blood), works pretty well but its 3 big pills in the morning and 3 big pills in the evening. Now there's a newer one called Zetia, one small pill once a day. Woo hoo! And you can take it in conjuction with statins even (if the statins arent quite cutting it).

Just a little info for those of you on choleserol meds..

 

[Riprorin]

I'm not big on chloesterol lowering drugs. Given a choice I'd take Zetia over the statins. I'd be concerned about what else Zetia absorbs besides chloesterol like vitamins and nutrients.

The statins not only inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver but they also inhibit the sysnthesis of CoQ10 and also interfere with metabloic pathways of some hormones. Personally, I wouldn't take them.

Hve you tried diet and excercise?

Through a combination of diet, excercise, and supplements I lowered my LDL by 30%, my triglycerides by 500% and raised my HDL by 200%.

Make sure to look at your HDL/triglyceride ratio. From what I've read, that's one of the biggest risk factors.

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
I'm not big on chloesterol lowering drugs. Given a choice I'd take Zetia over the statins. I'd be concerned about what else Zetia absorbs besides chloesterol like vitamins and nutrients.

The statins not only inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver but they also inhibit the sysnthesis of CoQ10 and also interfere with metabloic pathways of some hormones. Personally, I wouldn't take them.

Hve you tried diet and excercise?

Through a combination of diet, excercise, and supplements I lowered my LDL by 30%, my triglycerides by 500% and raised my HDL by 200%.

Make sure to look at your HDL/triglyceride ratio. From what I've read, that's one of the biggest risk factors.

With diet and exercise I've gotten it down from 280 total to 240 total, still too high, so thats why the meds were added. As you stated, I refuse to take statins, so this was a good comprimise.

 

[Riprorin]

What are your individual values?

Also, have your tried inositiol hexaniacinate (flush free niacin) or pathethine? They'll knock your cholesterol number down. Supplementing with fish oil, garlic, and a good multivitamin will likely help some too.

I would try those before Zetia as Zetia is likely to absorb some vitamins too.

 

[aircooled]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
What are your individual values?

can't remember off the top of my head, got my paperwork at home. HDL was good though, LDL was way high. Triglycerides were also good. Just battling the LDL mainly.

 

[Riprorin]

That's my case too.

I'm borderline for LDL. HDL is 75 and triglycerides are 35 so I'm in great shape there.

There are two forms of LDL. One is small and dense and the other is large and fluffy. The dense form is the bad one. I'm not sure if there are tests or not to determent which morhology you have. If you have the fluffy one, you may be okay even if the number is high.

What you also want to avoid in oxidation of the LDL which makes it more likely to form plaque. The supplements help with that.

Here are some recommendations from health notes:

High Cholesterol

 

[aircooled]

Thanks for the info.

I know a lady at work that naturally has high cholesterol (runs in her family) total of over 300 with good diet and daily exercise and normal weight. She refuses to take meds as her entire family (on her moms side) has a total cholesterol over 300 and all seem to live a normal life-span.

 

[Riprorin]

Yes, 80% of cholesterol is produced by the liver. That's why trying to control cholesterol by reducing the intake of cholesterol is futile.

Sounds like you're doing a great job.

If I were you I would just add some vita-nutirents and forget the drugs.

Dr. Atkins' Vita-Nutrient Solution book is a great resource.

Good luck!