I took niacin for 20 yrs. I am now 67 and have tried two different popular statins( lipitor and crestor which did lower LDL about 50 pts but also lowered HDL). I could not tolerate either statin because of personality changes ie: anger and irritability all the time and severe cognitive issues with memory, reasoning and being able to focus. After stopping each statin, it has taken me longer to get back to normal mentally.
Ever since I started taking Zetia and Fenofibrate together as recommended by my DR, I have put on pounds, am more bloated around the belly,a nd have persistent chest pains. I noticed this has occurred ever since I have been on cholesterol lowering meds, but is more noticeable in the past year with the new combination of drugs. I mentioned this to my DR and he said I need the drugs because of my High Cholesterol. What do you think?
High cholesterol runs in my family so even with diet and exercise my numbers are still a little high. I started getting heart palpitations a few years ago and after a lot of testing was told they were harmless PVC's/PAC's. Well, I stoped taking my Tricor and Zocor for a few months and my heart palps were gone. The problem is that my cholesterol numbers went back up. I started back on the statins and low and behold the palps returned.
Statins work in the liver and every commercial I have seen advises not to take if you have liver problems. Zetia works in the intestines.
Was the Zetia working?
If my memory serves me correctly, MikeS is taking statins and he had a TP. He is far more knowledgeable on the subject than I am and hopefully he will see this post and give his input.
Zetia is part of a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors.
AST on upper end of normal at 40. The doctor said to stop the Lipitor...but stay on the Zetia...... and retest in 1-1/2 weeks which he did this past Sept. 30th. His ALP came down to normal at 91, his ALT stayed the same at 79, his AST stayed relatively the same at 42, but his GGTP went quite high at 240. The doctor's office called and told him to come in next week.
I’m a active 68 yr. old women, that has tried 3 different statins. Everyone gave me muscle problems. Then my GP put me on Zetia. Said it would be different. After two months on it, it was worst than the statins. Woke up one morning, couldn’t close my hand. My fingers were so swollen and my both thumb joints would not bend. When I tried to bend them they clicked and was very painful.
I finally went to a specialist in Baltimore who read my history which showed all the meds I was taking and he noticed that I was taking Zetia and told me that he believed Zetia caused chronic coughing in some people; so he looked it up on his computer and sure enough, that was one of the warnings. I stopped the Zetia and the coughing disappeared completely within a couple of weeks. The point here is that medicines, while helping one problem, frequently can cause another.
if you can try the slo release formula and make sure you take with food.. I use and research a lot of alternate treatments.. Niacin has the propensity to flare up causing those exacerbated feelings also your scalp may feel like its on fire too.. You should be ok and if it doesn't go away seek medical treatment ..
I just got off of zetia and welchol. I could not take statins. I tried them all. Used to take Niaspan and fenofibrate but they took me off cause both cause problems in some and had not 'reduced the incidence of cardiac events'. I think they have concluded that neither do Zetia, except when used with a statin, so it is the statin doing the work. I also think Welchol has been shown to not reduce cardiac events too. not sure. I am on Repatha. Third bi weekly shot.
I am 32 yrs old and weights 131 lbs at 5' 3 ". Despite controling my diet and doing karate 3 hrs per week I have high cholesterol (287) and high triclyceride (250). I am at a lost and don't know how best to control it. At these levels I feel dizzy and lethargic. Please advise.
Did you have a question on adult type 2 diabetes?
So much depends on your history. If you have no CAD and 2 or less risk factors for CAD, these are OK, but not great. You really need to increase your HDL as it should be over 40 for a male your age. Since you are young I assume you have no heart disease, but if you do or have many risk factors then the AHA recommends and LDL under 100.
The good news, HDL is easy to increase.
Call it mind over matter or whatever but I started taking Niacin and inositol last week. I have felt a steady improvement in my mood and anxiety levels each day.
I have been taking a B Complex, 100 mg everyday for the past 2 months. The Niacin I take is 400 mg so that is a 500 mg/day dose. Yesterday I bumped up to 400 mg in the AM and 400 at night. There is definely an improvement that I feel. i am not 100% yet but I feel better than I did a week ago.
Niacin in most people causes the face to flush/blush. No flush Niacin is readily available OTC. A word of caution, however, Niacin is a B3 and B3's are known to elevate blood sugars. Test your bs often and on a regular basis.
using statin drugs) because Niacin also raises HDL and cuts LPa and triglycerides (while statins only cut LDL). I have been on this regimen since 2003 and the effect on my cholesterol/triglycerides and LPa has been more than as hoped for. Just as with statin drugs, it is necessary to get regular blood tests (ideally every 6 months) to ensure there is no liver damage.
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