Lipitor/Tricor - Need advice - High Cholesterol Message Board

Granny Fran · 01-23-2007, 09:02 PM

Hi, it's been a while since I've posted. I got my latest results today, and I'm beginning to feel like a yo-yo. If I get the chol down, the tris go up, and if the tris go down, the chol goes up. It's overall a lot better than last April when this all started, but now my doc has prescribed both Lipitor (10 mg), and Tricor 145mg) together. I see my doc Thursday morning, and need to know what to ask. I've read about using a fibrate and statin together, and when I asked his nurse if it was dangerous together, she just said "He wouldn't prescribe it if it was dangerous".

I have not had any problems being on lipitor or tricor by them selves, but what is the increase in risk by taking both? I've changed my diet drastically- reduced bad carbs, cut out sugar, reduced sat fat and tran fat, lost the weight I need to, increased my exercise, vegies/fruit and don't use any prepared foods at all. I even eat oatmeal with cinnamon (and I hate oatmeal). I'm 5'5", 135 lbs, age 53.

My family history of CAD is horrible - father and brother both died at age 56, father's first heart attack at 35. Both grandfathers - stroke. I had an angio in Sept., and it was CLEAR. Am I really at risk, and do I really need these meds? What should I ask my doc? And is there anything else I can do?
Med
History - Started the Lopid in Apr, 06:

.........................Apr,06.....Jul, 06.....Oct, 06...Jan, 07
Total Chol.345........345........278.......... 183.......242
Triglycerides...........422........221.. ........480.......251
HDL........................39.........57 ............42.........44
LDL.......................204........177 ..........N/A.......148

I as on Lopid 600 mg between Apr, 06 and Jul 06. In Jul, they switched me to Liitor 10mg. In Oct. they swtched me to Tricor, 145 mg.

I also take magnesium and CO10.

This sucks!

Lenin · 01-24-2007, 07:44 AM

Fran,

I know it's hard to format these columns, so I can't quite understand which drug was giving you which result.
What drug were you taking for each test date?

Lipitor and Tricor together should be tolerable for most people. Perhaps an UPPING of the Liipitor to 20 mg. might be necessary.
That Oct. 06 reading is the most confusing curve...best total cholesterol, worst triglycerides and uncalculatable LDL???

HubbleRules · 01-24-2007, 09:38 AM

Fran,

What you need to watch for is any sudden, chronic muscle-pain that cannot be explained (by recent overexertion, an injury...). If you experience this, contact your doctor - it could be statin-induced myopathy. It could get worse if you continue the drugs.

The chances of muscle problems on this combination is several times greater than when on Lipitor or Tricor alone. The chances are still remote that you will develope problems, but you should be aware of the symptoms to watch for just in case.

Both your cholesterol and triglyceride numbers are too high. Neither drug alone will tackle both. Statins do well at lowering LDL. Fibrates do well at lowering triglycerides.

Good luck!

HubbleRules

Granny Fran · 01-24-2007, 03:24 PM

Thank you both, I feel better already. I should know better than to read the horror stories on the internet.

Lenin, I edited the original post for the dates on the meds. The july test I was on Lopid, and the Oct test I was on just the Lipitor, which probably explains why the trigs went back up. That's when they switched me to Tricor. We'll see how the next test comes out while taking both Lipitor and Tricor.

It's kind of discouraging though because I've tried so hard to eat right, get good exercise, do what I was told to do, but still can't seem to get them down without meds.

Hubble, thanks for the info on what to watch for. Is the pain constant or does it come and go or get more frequent gradually?

HubbleRules · 01-24-2007, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granny Fran

Hubble, thanks for the info on what to watch for. Is the pain constant or does it come and go or get more frequent gradually?

Fran,

I can only speak of my own personal experience.

I was put on Tricor (145mg) in addition to Lipitor (10mg), which I had been on for years, and within about a month I started getting muscle aches in both arms. At first I thought I was just sleeping in a funny position, but the pain persisted and slowly got progressively worse.

I didn't know much about statin side-effects at the time, so I didn't realize what was happening. After about a month, my pain was much worse, and I had profound weakness and exercise intolerance also. I could barely lift my laptop PC due to the pain in my arms.

When I researched on the internet and found the warnings about combining statins and fibrates, I stopped taking both meds immediately. I was off them for over a year before I noticed any significant improvement.

I'm fully recovered now.

I would recommend (strongly) that you continue the CoQ10 (at least 100mg/day) while on these meds. It is extra insurance against muscle problems.

HubbleRules