Going from 20 to 80mg Lipitor.....Lenin are you our there? - High Cholesterol Message Board

wayover20 · 07-12-2007, 04:09 PM

Hello, I haven't posted in a while but I am 50yrs young female with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Oh yea, and I've just completed surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer. Although I'm sick and tired of doctors, I had to go see my primary for a routine check and he found my (sorry I don't have all the numbers) cholesterol was 250, down from 271 six months ago.

I've been on lipitor 20mg daily but today he increased the dose to 80mg and I'm wondering is that "ok"? The doctor said "we have to get that number down" and that's the best way. I told him I've been really changing my diet by eating alot of fresh fruits and veggies, little red meat, no sodas or sweets. Also, as soon as this fatigue goes away from the chemo, I have a treadmill waiting on me.

This cancer scare was a big one---life changing--and I am determined to take care of myself from now on. I am about 50 pounds overweight and I'm hoping with these changes I can get rid of the BP med (benicar that works great) as well as the lipitor...is that a reasonable goal?

I'm really concerned about going from 20 to 80mg all at once. He wants to see me again in 1 month.
Thanks, Pat

Guy1_USA · 07-12-2007, 04:58 PM

I wouldn't do it... it's bad enough you are taking 20. While 250 isn't good... it doesn't warrent a dramtic increase in Meds.

Lenin takes Lipitor and niacin... and seems to be good with that. I reduced my total cholesterol over the last year from 328 to 195 with Niaspan... something even the statins couldn't do for me.

If you take statins, keep as low a dose as you can stand. Try Lenin's cocktail... seems to work for him... or try Niaspan (just niacin... which is Vitamin B-3).

Good luck.

PS... don't jump to 80... that's crazy talk.

flowergirl2day · 07-12-2007, 06:08 PM

Hi,

Venture man is right. You should be given a chance to lose weight, make adjustments to your diet, get plenty of exercise (if you are feeling up to it now.) Your body has been through a LOT of assaults already. Unless you are at an immediate and very high risk of a cardiovascular event, I don't see what your doctor's reasoning is. You need a break from the drugs, your system needs to be purged of them. You can get your cholesterol reduced on your existing dose of Lipitor, exercise, plus lifestyle changes.

Good luck!

Flowergirl

Mark1e · 07-12-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wayover20

..... I've just completed surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer. .....

The other thing to consider is that both cholesterol and ubiquinone are powerful antioxidants. Amongst other things, they enable your body to fight against cancer. So,bearing in mind your medical history, do you really want to use Lipitor to inhibit you liver's production of these substances? Total cholesterol of 250 really isn't that high. And, according to the nursing study, the use of statins by women provides no overall mortality benefit anyway.

Mark

mmvic · 07-12-2007, 10:02 PM

High cholesterol in older young women, and for that matter men, has shown little or no correlation to cardiac events or increased life span based on the Framingham study. Your doctor needs to do some reading. Taking statins after recent cancer treatment and chemo is assinine and your doctor borders on criminal. Get another doctor and opinion.