Lipitor and Zocor relation to liver trouble - High Cholesterol Message Board

penybobeny · 08-15-2007, 02:00 AM

I have been put on lipitor and zocor in the past... but have had to come off of them both due to my liver levels (I have fatty liver, AKA - NASH). I have searched high and low but just about every medication to lower cholesterol has some effect on the liver and I am stumped.

I have not had an egg in years and get red meat maybe once a month... everything is low-fat and low cholesterol to the point of being little more than cardboard... yet my numbers are still extremely ugly no matter what I do.

I stay clear of herbal suppliments because I have so many medications that I have to take and so many sensitivities to things that I do not want to mess with anything that may cause trouble in other areas but I am at my wits end on what to do about this!

Does anyone know of any medications that are out there that can effectively lower cholesterol while not harming the liver...? I can always check out anything that is suggested against things that I am taking for any drug interactions and someone out there might have the name of something that I can actually take.

Thanks in advance.

Lenin · 08-15-2007, 08:42 AM

peny,

Plant Sterols and Stanols...primarily beta-sitosterol.
Think of Bencol Margerine and Minute Maid HEALTHY HEART OJ.
These substances work (at 2 grams a day) but not nearly so well as statins.
But they are worth a try...no effect on the liver.

Does you DOCTOR believe that your liver problem countermands your use of statins?

flowergirl2day · 08-15-2007, 08:47 AM

Peny,

Quote:

I have not had an egg in years and get red meat maybe once a month... everything is low-fat and low cholesterol to the point of being little more than cardboard... yet my numbers are still extremely ugly no matter what I do.

As you know, culture and genes play a key role in cholesterol production in our livers. Some people are genetically pre-disposed to manufature a lot of cholesterol. When that is the case, the dietary cholesterol intake is of little or no consequence. Others find that their metabolic reactions are not functioning properly, because they are ill or aging. This will also cause a cholesterol buildup over time. Some people are lucky and can eat anything they want and their cholesterol levels are near perfect. Their livers adjust the cholesterol production to balance out the consumption of high cholesterol foods. Most of us, though, have to watch our dietary intake of high cholesterol foods so as not to make bad things worse. Your diet leaves little, if any, room for improvement. Grains, veggies and limited animal proteins are the essential parts of a diet low in cholesterol.

The only product I can think of that may be suitable for you (or not) is the red yeast rice. Do a search of this board - you'll find many posts on the subject. See for yourself. I can't remember how/if it affects the liver.

Good luck!
Flowergirl

penybobeny · 08-15-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenin

peny,

Plant Sterols and Stanols...primarily beta-sitosterol.
Think of Bencol Margerine and Minute Maid HEALTHY HEART OJ.
These substances work (at 2 grams a day) but not nearly so well as statins.
But they are worth a try...no effect on the liver.

Does you DOCTOR believe that your liver problem countermands your use of statins?

My Dr has said nothing, but I get hard copies of all my labwork and my AST/SGOT and ALT/SGPT have both taken a dramtic rise since he put me on Zocor (SGOT went up 187 points and SGPT went up 129 points) for a 12 point difference in cholesterol in just 3 months time. When I took Lipitor in the past with a previous Dr she stopped me taking it with only a 70 point increase saying "what good is lower cholesterol if you end up needing a new liver?"

My current Dr is my soon to be old Dr because he has told me to my face that tests came back normal, and when I got my copies the lab report stated differently. (He told me my throid was fine, when my TSH was 0.12... reference range 0.35-5.50, and only 'noticed' it when I pointed it out and asked, starting me on synthroid)

I drink the OJ already, but will try out the margerine and look into the red yeast rice... heck, I even contemplated going on a strict Cheerios diet...

Here are my latest tests-

Cholesterol Total 318 (0-200)
Triglicerides 283 (0-150)
HDL Cholesterol 34 (40-60)
LDL Calculated 227.4 (1-100)
VLDL Calculated 56.6
Chol/HDL Ratio 9.4 (0-5.0)

(Ugly, huh?)

Lenin · 08-16-2007, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Cholesterol Total 318 (0-200)
Triglicerides 283 (0-150)
HDL Cholesterol 34 (40-60)
LDL Calculated 227.4 (1-100)
VLDL Calculated 56.6
Chol/HDL Ratio 9.4 (0-5.0)

(Ugly, huh?)

Yeah,
That's a mess...you gotta do something or you will have a heart attack.

Will your insurance company swallow a consult with an expert hepatologist to make SURE that you should not take a statin.

If the liver guy agrees the risk of liver disease is more significant than the serious risk of heart disease maybe you can try the last resort: the Ornish Vegan Diet with 10% fat, no meat and almost no SATURATED fat.

<What a life>

Anyhoo, remember that RYR is a statin too.

<Sound like your NEW doctor is going blind! Send him to the wastebin!

>