Hello,

I am a 30 yr. old female that has been diagnosed with high cholesterol. My doctor has prescribed a cholesterol lowering medication to take for the rest of my life. I am really scared to start taking these meds, I have been reading about all of the side effects of the statin drugs. This over the counter cholesterol lowering med was brought to my attention: Policosanol- made from some sort of wax from sugar cane and bees wax.

I have just started to do a little research on it. I was wondering if anyone here has heard of it or if anyone is taking it?

Any input would be great.

Thanks

There is a lot of information in this thread:

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=61561&highlight=Policosanol

However if you go back to the "High Cholesterol Board" and put Policosanol in the "Search this board" field you will find more.

For what it is worth, I tried it for about 3 months (10mg per day, which was the recommended dose on the brand I bought) and it did little for me. Some take 20mg per day, but I decided to try red yeast rice instead. The result has been a significant drop in my numbers, but it is a statin just in lower dosage than Zocor etc.

Thanks for your reply. I will check out the other threads.

Shellbell,

I'm waiting for some definitive studies on policosanol and my interest has been peaked for quite some time.
Unfortunately, the stuff isn't cheap and I'm already spending a Kings ransom (well a Jack's anyway) on supplements and pharmaceuticals.

People on the boards here are split...so I'll wait on it (waiting on pantethine for the same reason as well.)

Shellbell,

I'm waiting for some definitive studies on policosanol and my interest has been peaked for quite some time.
Unfortunately, the stuff isn't cheap and I'm already spending a Kings ransom (well a Jack's anyway) on supplements and pharmaceuticals.

People on the boards here are split...so I'll wait on it (waiting on pantethine for the same reason as well.)

zip2play,

I have heard that it is very inexpensive. How much do you think it is?

shellbell,
I must have been having a "senior moment"....you're right, it's not very expensive.

Anyhoo, there have been several discussions in this forum during 2003 that you will find interesting. Use the HealthBoards SEARCH function for policosanol in the High Cholesterol Forum for the past year.

:) Hello,

I am a 30 yr. old female that has been diagnosed with high cholesterol. My doctor has prescribed a cholesterol lowering medication to take for the rest of my life. I am really scared to start taking these meds, I have been reading about all of the side effects of the statin drugs. This over the counter cholesterol lowering med was brought to my attention: Policosanol- made from some sort of wax from sugar cane and bees wax.

I have just started to do a little research on it. I was wondering if anyone here has heard of it or if anyone is taking it?

Any input would be great.

Thanks
:) I read about this , policosano in the magazine, First for women and in the magazine, Woman's Work. Every week Woman's World give info on women's health. Policosano can be purchased at Wal-Mart for about $20 bucks. Also I read that 2 sweet potatoes a week will drop ldl. I am trying this with my diet because all the statin i've tried work ok, but the side effects are wild.

Hello,

I am a 30 yr. old female that has been diagnosed with high cholesterol. My doctor has prescribed a cholesterol lowering medication to take for the rest of my life. I am really scared to start taking these meds, I have been reading about all of the side effects of the statin drugs. This over the counter cholesterol lowering med was brought to my attention: Policosanol- made from some sort of wax from sugar cane and bees wax.

I have just started to do a little research on it. I was wondering if anyone here has heard of it or if anyone is taking it?

Any input would be great.

Thanks

Yes my wife has used it for over a year with good results. But you got to watch where you buy it as they are not all made the same as we have found out. It does come from sugar cane and red rice wax not bees wax that I know of. It is not a statin at all.
We got ours from the Hoffman Center in NY and it is on the net for the address. It is a little more expensive than others. I see Wal Mart now is selling it for way less than the Dr Hoffman center does. We are going to try that. As it will save us 40 bucks per bottle.
Big Al