opinions sought-Do I need statin?

[jkhh]

I just received my most recent labs and would like some input (test date 9/15/06); Chol 255 mg/dl (ref range 100-199), Trig 169 (ref range 20-200), HDL 39 (ref range 0-45), LDL 182 (ref range 0-159). I use fish oil 3 grams per day, occasional glass of red wine, multi-vitamin, Vitamin C & E, wheat germ, flax seed (powder), oatmeal daily. My prior results with 5 mg Crestor; Chol 155, Trig 162, HDL 36, LDL 87. Obviously, the Crestor is potent (even at 5 mg) and works, however, I would like opinions on whether I need to worry about it at all. I am age 39, male 6' 195 lbs with not a high amount of heart disease in my family, but not uncommon. I have a doctor's appt. this week and am certain he will consider me going back on the Crestor. If so, I will definitely use COQ-10!

Thanks for any input!

[20withacne]

What other risk factors do you have? Smoker? Diabetes? Your HDL is a little low, TG slightly elevated, and LDL on the high side. Your DR should rec diet and exercise first. If that does not work you need a statin. What about Lipitor? Crestor has high side effects and not good outcomes data.

[Lenin]

Judge,

Your cholesterol/HDL ratio is a fairlly dismal 6.5 which is a high risk situation.

For those with little or no risk factors LDL should not be above 160 and yours is 182 WHILE doing all you can to lower your numbers with diet. Your low HDL is a risk factor all on its own. You can view 40 as a bare minimum.

If you had any first degree relatives (parents or grandparents) have an MI or heart disease before 65 or you've recently smoked I'd definitely medicate, otherwise. At 6' and 195 I doubt that you will get much help from weight loss.

You can TRY to cut most of the fat from your diet (<20% fat.) You can consider 5 or 10 mg. of a weaker statin like simvastatin.

But ultimately as you approach 45 (another risk factor) you will be wise to intervene with drugs if you can't get an LDL below 160...and 130 is far better.

Of course, you cannot remove from your judgement scales whether or not that first trial of Crestor caused you any probelms or not...that's a fairly weighty consideration.

[jkhh]

Lenin and 20,

Thank you both. I don't smoke or have any other real risk factors. I do exercise but have slacked off this summer with doing yardwork, etc. Does Lipitor have the same side effect concerns as Crestor? I did try Lescol XL for 3 months and it didn't bring my total below 200 so my doctor switched me back to Crestor. It's hard to argue with Crestor's number reduction, however, I do worry about the side effects. I ordered some more COQ10 y'day in the event I go back on the Crestor or maybe will take it anyway!

Have a nice day

[Lenin]

If I had to rate them, I'd say Crestor> Lipitor(atorvastatin)> Zocor (simvastatin) in strength and all are stronger than the Lescol (fluvastatin.) Yes, all four being statins, they will share the same KINDS of side-effect concerns but not everyone suffers any of them. I have been on Lipitor for 8 years with no trouble at all...other than a pinched pocket. My partner has taken 20 mg. simavastatin at least 5 years now without problems.

I would think the Lipitor at 10 mg. will work at least as well as the 5 mg. Crestor but maybe 5 mg. Lipitor will still get you what you want. Trial and error will tell the tale.

Remember, all size pills cost the same, so a 20 mg. spit in half cuts your costs in half and in quarters down to 25%