Statins work by controlling the production of cholesterol in your liver while Zetia works by preventing cholesterol to be absorbed in your digestive system.
Of the two, Crestor is the stronger of the two. In addition, recent trials have shown that adding Zetia does not improve the performance of Vytorin over Simvastatin alone.
I am a 63 years old woman. I have high cholesterol and take meds for that. 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.
I was on Zocor (Sinvastatin) for several years and then my doctor switched me to Vytorin, which has Zetia added to the Zocor, because my total Cholesterol hovered around 200 with the Zocor alone. The Vytorin brought it down to 160, but then you see studies that say, Vytorin and/or Zetia have no additional benificial effect as far as heart desease is concerned. In any event, I had to stop the Vytorin because of severe side effects and I mean severe.
'I've battled high cholesterol for a number of years and can't find the right medicine...Lipitor caused severe muscle weakness, Zetia caused all kind of digestive problems and Pravachol zapped my energy...my count actually went up 30 points while taking WelChol! My doctor is telling me that I have no other choices of medicine to lower my count (total 285, HDL 106 VLDL 21, LDL 188, Triglycerids 106.) My sister is having the same problem so I guess this problem is a family thing.
Incidentally, unrelated to GA, I started taking Zetia for cholesterol about 3 years ago and soon thereafter developed a severe chronic cough that nearly drove me crazy (and everyone around me!) I saw several doctors and was given many different medicines.
did tell me there are other reasons for heart disease that they are not fully aware of. I do take Lipitor and Zetia. My cholesterol for the last year and 1/2 has been normal. I take Plavix, Propropanal, Lisinipril/Hcg,Imdur, Lipitor and Zetia. I started taking a multi-vitamin but found it made me ill. There must be an ingredient that I cannot tolerate.
I will take Vitamin C as you suggested. I also am an anxious person. I have always been an active person that liked to work out.
I have been having some highCholesterol level for 3 years now. I was on medication in and out as I develop side effects to the statin drugs. I was on Lipitor, then on Pravachol and lastly on Crestor. None of them had problems loweting the Choesterol levels, but muscle and joint pain even with Vit D and Co Q10 as prescribed my physician. However, I came off crestor yesterday as I started feeling Dizzy. I am normally a "healthy", active energetic person.
Also, with risk factors they want the LDL (lousy) cholesterol under 70, and the HDL (happy) cholesterol should be 39 or higher, About the triglycerides -- taking Metformin for diabetes has brought mine down the lowest they've been. Plant sterols in margarine (Promise Active light), fish oil will bring your numbers down. Also weight loss. I can't tolerate the statins -- the doctor is thinking of trying me on Zetia. Good luck!
This review focuses on the roles of cholesterol in HCV infection and introduces HCV events related to cholesterol metabolism and applications for cholesterol metabolism as a therapeutic target. HCV appears to alter host lipid metabolism into its preferable state, which is clinically recognized as steatosis and hypocholesterolemia.
There are all kinds of statins out there, as ed said, you have to find out which one you tolerate. I have been on them for many years as I was unable to lower my LDL with diet and exercise alone. They have worked well and I have had no side effects, but everyone is different. Most of these can be replaced by the generic Simvastatin. It's cheap and is the basis of many of the meds out there.
I am presently taking Zetia every other day. I also take Omega 3/6, vitamin A,E. With Zetia interfere with the absorption of the benefits of these supplements and if so what can I do to get the full benefit of Zetia and the supplements, if anything.
Ar there any other supplements that should be avoided while taking Zetia?
Many thanks.
So I got something in the mail from The Mayo Clinic today. Its a 'Personalized Health Risk Profile' from the women's heart clinic there. Everything looks good except my cholesterol - holy MOLY - my LDL (bad) cholesterol is 144. Says it's supposed to be under 70! My total cholesterol is 225! Says it should be less than 180! AGH! The triglycerides and HDL (good cholesterol) are good.
Umm, could this be causing my palpitations? Or what?
If it reduces cholesterol there, it may reduce cholesterol on the heart muscle. Cholesterol builds in the arteries, valves and muscle of the heart. In order for cholesterol to stick, there has to be a sticking spot. Do you have a high level of inflammation in your body? There is a test for this. Do you have arthritis? It is great that you are eating no red meat. This will help a great deal. Do you eat lots of vegetables fresh and foods rich in omega 3?
January 24, 2012 -- A molecule embedded in the membrane of human liver cells that aids in cholesterol absorption also allows the entry of hepatitis C virus, the first step in hepatitis C infection, according to research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
Previous studies showed that cholesterol was somehow involved in HCV infection.
Being hypothyroid (I see your TSH was 6.6) will cause the lipids (ie cholesterol, triglyerides) to go up. Everytime I get TSH above 4-5, my cholesterol & trigs would go up. It's a know fact by doctors that hypothyroidism can cause an elevation of lipids.
Are you taking meds for cholesterol & did they test for it? This last TSH was 10.8 and it was the first time that my lipids did not go out of range. They went up about 20-30 points but cholesterol stayed below 200 ( it was 166).
Our doctor switched my 57-year old husband from 20 mg Zocor to 10 mg Lipitor in Dec. 2011 due to elevated LDL particles. He also takes Dutroprol 100/12.5 and 40 mg Benicar for BP, 81 mg Aspirin, and 2000 mg Metformin for Insulin Resistance. He currently weights 260 lbs. at 6' tall, down from 275, and he's continuing to lose weight by following a lower carb diet and exercising. Seven months after starting Lipitor, his GGTP tested high at 87.
that wrote the book was not making any money from what he was recommending, he said where to buy it the cheapest, he also said go to your local health food store for some things. Not everything I took was for cholesterol, some were antioxidents for general health. The magnesium was for my leg cramps which I got regularlly after our 40 to 50 mile bike rides, the cramps went away. Flexian was for my joints. My labs were drawn in the lab at my dorcor's office in the hospital.
The only problems I had was during the first couple/three weeks at home where I was super sensitive to every ache and bump thinking I was having another heart attack, even to the point of going to the hospital emergency department only to have the symptoms disappear once there. Also the blood pressure med.s were scary but again every time it was checked it was fine. I'm on Simvastatin for cholesterol and have absolutely no problems.
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