Cholesterol and statins - what was your level when you started statins?

[Nik2015]

My doctor suggested I go on statins today. My level is 5.7, but has been raise for many years. The highest has been 6.5 last July and has fallen since then.
My blood pressure and general health is fine.

I am very reluctant to take statins as want to try and address my lifestyle first.

Can you please tell me what your cholesterol level was when you first started statins and did they have an immediate effect?

I started on statins 3 months ago -I have genetic high cholesterol. It was 7.1.. it's gone down to 4. My dr said in my case diet change would help a bit but not enough. Other factors come into play as well.. do you smoke, drink? What's your lifestyle like?

@familydilema that’s an amazing decrease!
I don’t smoke, drink once a week. Need to lose just over 2 stone. Dad died young from a heart attack, mum had heart issues too (both smoked and drank a lot), sister had high cholesterol but sorted it with diet.
The doctor said cholesterol increases at menopause (my hormones are fine so not there yet).

I was very impressed with the decrease!. I was reluctant to go on them at first, but I've had no side effects. I'm in my late 50s and menopause is dragging on. I have an appointment in Nov to discuss how it's going so maybe I will have a lower dose. I don't smoke and hardly drink.. but overweight but my BP is normal.

I've been offered them as cholesterol is 7.5.

Mine has fluctuated over the years, highest (when not pregnant) was around 8.7 I think. Inherited high cholesterol. Reluctant initially to go on statins but was also told lifestyle changes weren't enough. It did come down when I exercised/didn't drink etc but never below 7.

On statins and ezetimibe, it is now 4.5. I'm slim, active, eat reasonably well (avoiding too much sugar/white carbs) and drink 2-3 days a week. The drugs have made the biggest difference by far.

Had anyone tried benecol to help lower their levels?

@familydilema maybe I should wait till the menopause hits and use them then? I’d imagine my levels will increase then as suggested by the doctor.

@frolp will you take them? I was quite shocked when he suggested them to me.

@wtftodo are you on them for life now? Do you feel any different? I don’t feel 100% which is why I went for the blood test.

Your GP may be working from your Q risk https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/cvd-risk-assessment-management/. https://qrisk.org/. My total cholesterol is 7.2 but my q-risk is still well under 10% because of my family history/own history/weight etc.

Had anyone tried benecol to help lower their levels?

I asked the practice nurse that when I had a medication check a couple of weeks ago. She said the yoghurts, not the drinks, and have them with a meal. My feeling is that they might make a marginal improvement and every little helps.

@LadyGardenersQuestionTime my Q score was very low the last time it was done, the nurse wasn’t interested. He didn’t even do it this time.

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain I absolutely hate yoghurt, but might give it a go!

Around 6. I'd been vegan for 2 years. When it's genetic, lifestyle has very little impact.

My dad had a similar level to you and got his level down losing weight and taking sterol tablets

They don't taste yoghurty, they have fruit flavours 😀

Mine was 8.9 and within six months of statins and a low cholesterol diet I was down to 2.8.

Mine were higher than that and they wouldn't put me on statins until I had a stroke 🙄 despite high cholesterol being genetic. Uncle dropped dead at 50.

Never smoked, on the cusp of over weight, light drinker.

Try increasing your fish intake and drinking pomegranite juice. I lowered my cholestorol by 0.5 with these simple changes, it was enough for my GP to stop talking about statins to me.

Mine was 6.2 now on stations it's 5.3. I take a very low dose. Astorastatin. Don't be fobbed off with Simvastatin as everyone I know who has taken them has developed a dreadful cough and felt really ill. I think they must be cheaper because GP's seem to try them first. On a low dose you likely won't notice any side effects.

I've still been advised to watch my diet.. dr said cut down eggs ..which I have. My diet is fairly good anyway

I hate fish, apart from battered cod!
I think I’ll try and address it by losing weight. He said to retest in 6 months, so I suppose I’ll know then if I can ‘go it alone’.

That’s terrible @RandomMess how long ago was that?

Mine was 7.6, genetic (familial hypercholesterolaemia).

Tried benecol for 3 months - cholesterol went up! Was normal weight - still lost half a stone, exercised regularly and tried a low cholesterol diet - no change.

Went on a statin - cholesterol now down to 3.8, LDL very low.

Cholesterol-lowering diet*

@Nik2015 3 years ago.

They said my combined risk factor was too low for them.

My "good" cholesterol was always high even though combinedbb B

Combined was 8.6.

They don't like people needlessly on them I guess.

Being positive I had every vascular (?) test going and it's all in good order and not the cause of my stroke.

My consultant also said if you have high cholesterol due to genetic factors there is little you can too. My was low and then climbed in direct relation to being peri-menopausal!

Mine was 11.4, its genetic.
I haven't had a recent blood test so don't know what my level are now.

My 18 year old has been tested for familial hypercholesterolaemia & he hasn't as well, his levels were 7 ish I think. He's on statins & his levels have lowered a little already.

Mine was up to 5.7 last month. I have a family history of heart disease. The nurse said my good cholesterol was very good, so she’s left it up to me to decided if I want to take statins My heart attack risk is 12% I’m 66 which won’t lower no matter what my cholesterol levels are because of my family history. I still can’t decide what to do.