Quit Lipitor - Cholesterol sky high

[homeboymi]

Lenin,

I am not overweight (I'm skinny) and my diet is low fat, low cholesterol. I walk 6 miles every morning and stay away from restraurants. Since I quit Lipitor on Dec 1st I started CoQ10 and Omega 3 Fish Oil. I'm on no medication at all and never was other than the Lipitor.

Maybe I shouldn't blame Lipitor for my high cholesterol now but I felt a heck of a lot better before I took it. I'm astounded how much my LDLs and total cholesterol jumped.

I've watched these posts for 4 months and you and NHOME are on opposite ends of the spectrum. I value both of your opinions and I will weigh your advise. For now I think I will stay statin free and see if my chemistry adjusts by itself.

Thank you.

[HubbleRules]

Homeboymi,

Has your muscle weakness gone away since dropping the Lipitor?

Not everyone can tolerate statins - and it can take a while for the symptoms to go away.

Stay on the Omega-3 fish oil and CoQ10 and see how you feel in a few more months. Both of these supplements are good for you -regardless of your cholesterol level.

I had been on Lipitor for over 7 years before I had a very bad bout of muscle pain and weakness - and it took me over a year off of Lipitor to fully recover. I reluctantly went back on statins about 4 months ago after giving natural remedies and diet a good chance to lower my numbers - without very good results.

Your current LDL numbers are relatively high - but your HDL is good and your triglycerides are not bad. By the way, I'm one of those who doesn't buy into the current cholesterol guidelines - there's far too much financial conflict of interest in the system for me to have blind faith in it.

HubblRules

[NHone]

I believe the Spiro.. is a potassium sparing diuretic. Still need to have blood test with that to see your body is not holding too much potassium. I have seen it suggested (and told by Dr. Mildred Seelig, who was the world's leading magnesium specialist) that people taking clacium channel blockers should not be taking calcium supplements. They kind of contradict each other. You don't want to block the calcium channels (somewhat) while adding more to the system. Even though you are young (same age as I am)...you might what to consult a "certified geriactric pharmacist" on your medications. You can find a list of them in your area by looking them up. They have a considerable amount more of education to obtain this certification. They are a real doctor, with their degree in pharmacy. They really helped my mother, and also did agree that the doubling of her diltiazem along with her statin was the cause of her condition worsening. I am at least skilled in observation testing, and the cause and effect came in the same time frame. The beta blockers are known to raise blood sugars (and can raise trigs)....however coreg (beta blocker) has been shown not to raise blood sugars. Spectracell in Houston can do the intracellular magnesium test, as well as a complete intracellular panel, including cholesterol with is broken down much more than the normal cholesterol panels. Insurance will cover these tests. You doctore writes the prescription for the tests and you local lab draws the blood. The samples are then sent to spectracell. The test also included homocystine, lp(a), fibrogen, CoQ10, and many other things. Still stains in women are NOT shown to increase longevity. I don't care where other people get their information, but the Statin STudy at UCSD (and NIH (government) funded study) has combed through every statin trial and study. This is their conclusion. It is from the data submitted to form all of the touted "benefits" that the drug companies claim. While it is true in women there were less cardio events, there were more cancer deaths that canceled out the the longevity factor. In this information also it showed that people over 65 had increased longevity with higher cholesterol levels....this included LDL. You might remember that a drug company was about to go for final FDA approval for a medication that raised HDL....well that blew up in their face because of the additional heart attacks it caused. Messing with cholesterol with medication is a risky business... It is a fine balance in your body and requires many factors. Just lowering (or raising) cholesterol with medication causes a disruption in that pathway. Did you ever notice what road constrution does to the flow of traffic? You body is much like that, but a highway of chemical reactions. You might want to up the Coq10 a bit. ALso make sure you are taking fish oil for the omega 3's. Good luck.... oh one more thing, if your cardio guy ever tries to give you amiodarone for your heart... just note that the FDA has issued a warning saying it is to be the medication of ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT. IT is REQUIRED by law that the doctor give you this information in writting. It also depletes Coq10. Another one of those helpful drugs that depletes a required substance in your body...and which doctors pay no attention to.

[flowergirl2day]

[QUOTE=NHone;2937812]much potassium.

I believe the Spiro.. is a potassium sparing diuretic. Still need to have blood test with that to see your body is not holding too

I believe in potassium-sparing Spironolactone, too, sort of...when NOT combined with Altace, which builds up one's potassium levels! Most of us know how very dangerous high levels of the stuff can be and what the consequences are. Unfortunately for me, I am on both! I have worried about this for months! Somehow, regular blood tests have failed to reassure me.

Thanks for all of your valuable tips. I am very new to this; I had not thought or worried about my health at all over the years. (Big mistake!) I now find myself facing not just one, but several issues.

I'll start with learning about the statins' interaction with other drugs and go over their listed possible side effects again. Wonder what the unlisted side effects of statins are - if any?

[homeboymi]

Hubble Rules,

Thank you for the advice. It took 3 months for my muscle weakness to subside a little. I got down and tried to do pushups on March 1st, 3months after I quit Lipitor. I could only do ONE! I am up to 10 now. I'm feeling much better and don't even want to think about doing this to my body again.

My Doctor suggested I try Red Yeast Rice. As I was leaving the receptionist desk, he mention I should quit this too if I felt muscle aches. I ******d it and have decided to forgo that. Seems it is just a very mild statin.

I am taking 1,000 Omega 3 Fish Oil daily and 100mg of COQ10. I weigh 170 pounds. Do you think that is enough? With total cholesterol of 315 now it doesn't seem to be doing any good.

Thanks for your reply