Newbie needs help

[MovieMkr00]

Omega diet sounds good, I'll check it out. Liver ensyme test? never had one. But I did take only one statin pill. I decided not to take anymore, and try to do things by eating right and excercising. I am however going to go get another CT scan, or I am going to try and get a CT Angiogram as well which is what I want the most. After that I will feel alot more comfortable and less stressed.

[Uff-Da!]

A liver enzyme test is just a simple blood test. If your doctor ran a series of blood tests before putting you on the Lipitor, it may have already been included in the series. Look for AST and ALT on your copy of the lab results. If a doctor knows these tests are needed, they normally just order them at the same time as the lipid blood profile. I know in years past, my doctors have included those tests just as part of my routine annual physical. If you didn't get a copy of your lab results, you might call the doctor's office and ask them to mail you a copy.

Someone else please tell me if there are different lab tests which might have been used instead. I'm no health professional and am only familiar with the tests the doctor has ordered for me. I assumed that since statins have the potential for damaging the liver just as does niacin, that doctors would normally order some kind of test to make sure the liver is in good condition before they start. Maybe I'm wrong.

[ZippyDawg]

Prior to starting statin (or niacin) therapy your doctor should have run blood tests to see if your liver enzymes were elevated. These blood tests should also be repeated at regular intervals after starting statin or niacin therapy.

From the Lipitor prescribing information:

It is recommended that liver function tests be performed prior to and at 12 weeks following both the initiation of therapy and any elevation of dose, and periodically (eg, semiannually) thereafter. Liver enzyme changes generally occur in the first 3 months of treatment with atorvastatin. Patients who develop increased transaminase levels should be monitored until the abnormalities resolve. Should an increase in ALT or AST of >3 times ULN persist, reduction of dose or withdrawal of atorvastatin is recommended.

Atorvastatin should be used with caution in patients who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of liver disease. Active liver disease or unexplained persistent transaminase elevations are contraindications to the use of atorvastatin (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).

[MovieMkr00]

Thanks, love all the info. I am going to get my records and blood results sent to a place here in town that is supposed to have the best cardiologist where I live. I am going to schedule an appointment and have them review it and do other tests if necessary. I am going to talk to him about not taking the lovastatin which is 40mg once a day by the way. I have only taken one pill and have not taken another since.

I will make sure that a liver enzyme test done, and anything else you guys recomend.