Cutting pill in half? - High Cholesterol Message Board

Cin4676 · 03-18-2006, 04:35 PM

My mother's heart doctor changed her Lipitor from 40 to 80 mg last July and I was shocked when she told me they haven't done any blood work on her since then. To me, that is rediculous. She is 70 this year and has had the procedure to unblock her arteries last year. She would like to go back down to the 40 mg without arguing with her doctor. She decided to cut her pills in half. I think it would be too hard for her to take one every other day. Does anyone know if it's ok to do this with statins?

JJ · 03-18-2006, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy in Fla

My mother's heart doctor changed her Lipitor from 40 to 80 mg last July and I was shocked when she told me they haven't done any blood work on her since then. To me, that is rediculous. She is 70 this year and has had the procedure to unblock her arteries last year. She would like to go back down to the 40 mg without arguing with her doctor. She decided to cut her pills in half. I think it would be too hard for her to take one every other day. Does anyone know if it's ok to do this with statins?

Did the dr. say why he upped it to 80, as that is a mighty big doseage. Do U happen to know what her numbers are. My husband had the arteries cleaned back in 1994, and they had him on 10mgs. for a few years. Once they upped it to 80mgs and the guy got so sick it was pathedic. I called his cardio guy and he told me to knock him right back down to 20 for a week, then when he saw him during that week, reduced it back to 10 mgs. Some drs. are a lil too aggressive with meds.

Many folks on here have been splitting their pills, and I agree with you, she definitely needs new bloodwork, that is totally ridiculous to let it go that long.

Cin4676 · 03-18-2006, 10:05 PM

She has been on cholesterol meds for several years and I remember the numbers were high but I don't know exactly how high. The doctors had her on other meds but they were'nt lowering the numbers enough. Her doctor then decided to put her on 40 mg of lipitor and it was keeping her at a good level. The only reason she was put on the high dosage was because of the clogged arteries. This was not done by her regular doctor, but by the cardiologist. It didn't sound like it had anything to do with her cholesterol numbers. Neither doctor has done any blood work on her since then.

JJ · 03-18-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindy in Fla

She has been on cholesterol meds for several years and I remember the numbers were high but I don't know exactly how high. The doctors had her on other meds but they were'nt lowering the numbers enough. Her doctor then decided to put her on 40 mg of lipitor and it was keeping her at a good level. The only reason she was put on the high dosage was because of the clogged arteries. This was not done by her regular doctor, but by the cardiologist. It didn't sound like it had anything to do with her cholesterol numbers. Neither doctor has done any blood work on her since then.

Sounds like they are upping her statins to keep the arteries clean, but still, 80 is really alot. Like I said, hubby started off with 10, then 20 after his artery cleaning and it did well, but he has always had a Trig problem, so his reg. dr. decied to keep pushing the doseage up. After the 80 dose is when he got very stomach sick and I called the cardio guy. Dr. was upset he was put on 80 for Trigs, as he said Lipitor isn't that great for Trigs and his cholesterol numbers were fine, so he got him back down to the 10.

I would definitely ask each dr. if they are aware she has had no bloodwork done in so long, one might think the other is doing it, and noone is, not a very good idea. If it were me, I would call the offices of both drs. monday and ask why she hasn't been tested.

Good luck....

Cin4676 · 03-18-2006, 11:37 PM

That same thought crossed my mind.....each doctor thinking the other is checking her blood but you have to wonder how this doctor keeps refilling the script without even asking. We live quite a ways from each other but I have already convinced her to contact her doctor. I don't think she even realized how bad it was that they weren't checking her until we talked about it. Thanks for your help JJ! Oh, and p.s.....that dosage seems much too high to me also.