Zetia and Niaspan or Policosanol and Niaspan - High Cholesterol Message Board

jkhh · 09-22-2006, 01:26 PM

My doctor prescribed me Zetia due to elevated ALT levels and other issues with Crestor 5 mg. I had tried Niaspan but the flushing was bad. I went to pick up the Zetia today and was talking to my pharmacist. He asked me about my Total:HDL ratio which is approx. 6.5:1 (my total is 252 and HDL is 39). He said it would likely be easier for me to raise my HDL so I'm going to give the Niaspan (prescription grade Niaspan) another shot. The suggestion is to take it at night or with evening meal. Is anyone taking Niaspan/Niacin during the day (earlier)? If so, how is it going? Also, does anyone take Niaspan/Niacin along with Zetia or Policosanol? Again, if so, how are they performing for you?

jkhh · 09-22-2006, 03:08 PM

Evvo,

Thanks for the reply. Niaspan is supposed to be time released and is the sole prescription form of Niacin in the US. Still, I find it very intense at 1000 mg.

NHone · 09-22-2006, 04:41 PM

Your ALT is elevated and you doctor put you on zetia? Some doctors are just to stupid for their own good.

jkhh · 09-22-2006, 04:46 PM

I guess my ALT is considered mildly elevated at 61 (the high range with the lab is 39). Are you aware of any effect of Zetia on ALT? I was told Zetia worked in the stomach, not the liver, thus the reasoning for describing it instead of a statin.

NHone · 09-22-2006, 08:42 PM

Elevated is elevated. Yes, zetia can cause the alt to be elevated. It means you have something going wrong in you body. We have been told that Zetia works in the intestines, and not the liver....However, it is know to cause liver damage. Health Canada, (their FDA) has issued warnings on the zetia, for this reason. It also warned that zetia can cause the same problems as statins. WE are not dealing with "side effects" of the medications...but problems related to cholesterol lowering itself. Zetia is also know to stop the absorption of Coq10 and other essential vitamins. THe public test on zetia was 12 weeks before it went on the market.... Damage from cholesterol lowering medications does not always repair itself. It becomes cummulative.