I posted on this board a couple weeks ago about my concerns about taking statins and now I have a problem and would appreciate any input or help you could give me. I will explain.

My cholesterol readings are as follows:
Cholesterol Total: 242 (normal 0-99)
triglycerides: 164 ( normal max. 149)
HDL: 58 (normal 40-59)
VLDL: 33 (normal 5-40)
LDL: 151 (max 99)

Well as you can see the LDL is out of sight and my total and trig. and I was all set to take Lipitor, but my insurance won't pay for it and will only pay for Vytorin or Crestor. I scared because both these drugs raise good cholesterol and I heard that can cause a stroke or heart attack. Im at my wits end about this cholesterol stuff and I don't know what to do. Which would be the best Vytorin or Crestor or does it really matter? Thanks a bunch to those that will help me. Thanks..barb

barb,
If I were you, I would try the Vytorin becasue it is a low dose of a less potent statin. It gets very good results because it is a compound drug (simvastatin + ezetimibe.)
I think it less likely to cause you problems than Crestor.

Thank you very much for your help...:) barb

Im sorry about my posting of normal whole cholesterol being 0-99 lol, it was suppose to be 100-199....typed it wrong...barb:dizzy:

Just to clear things up, that was a typo that wv made.

Tony,
U.S. and British target values are fairly close.

BUT, if that current range of HDL
Normal range in men: 0.7 to 1.6 mM (27 to 62mg/dl).
is still in effect, it should be revised. An HDL of 27 might be "normal" as in "frequent" but it is a dangerous killer! Even a level of 40 is something any man should try to improve.