In Reply to: Lipitor and alcohol posted by Greg R on August 02, 2000 at 19:35:30:
At your age, you should be concerned about taking a statin drug. But recent studies say that you should also be concerned about your numbers. We are all faced with choices in our lives, and we are ultimatly the ones who make those choices. If your doctor won't release the lab results; then there are two things that you need to do, first is to threaten to take your business elsewhere since he is the one working for you, and if that doesn't have the desired effect on his attitude, then leave and find a new doctor. Second, call the lab that did the blood workup and ask for copies of the work report. I have had to resort to this a number of times, to the point that I request copies of all lab work sent to my house by either mail or fax. In fact, I now write that condition on all consent forms when I go to the local lab.
The choice you make about taking lipitor, losing weight, or even whether or not to take steps towards lowering cholesterol is your own to make. But here are a few facts that you should know: DO NOT DRINK WHATSOEVER WHILE TAKING LIPITOR!!!! The package insert for this drug states plainly (?) to avoid alcohol use while taking this drug. Second, lipitor is too strong a medication, even in it's lowest dose, to start a statin therapy regimen with for most people. This is where most unpleasant side effects begin. Instead, start with one of the milder drugs, and over a period of years work slowly until you reach a target with the medication. This is the best way to approach statin therapy, and in my mind at least, the safest in terms of avoiding unpleasant reactions.
Good luck, and try to make your doctor work for you. If not, then by all means find a new one.