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Suggest Treatment For High Cholesterol Levels
Posted on
Sun, 9 Nov 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 9 Nov 2014
Answered on
Wed, 3 Dec 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : dear Sir,
I had send you my report around Sep 25, which was showing high cholesterol levels. You had advised me to take a statin of 40 mg for 6 weeks. I am done with the course and have done the test for cholesterol again. It seems controlled levels. Can you tell me what next steps ? Should I continue the medicine still, stop it ?
I had send you my report around Sep 25, which was showing high cholesterol levels. You had advised me to take a statin of 40 mg for 6 weeks. I am done with the course and have done the test for cholesterol again. It seems controlled levels. Can you tell me what next steps ? Should I continue the medicine still, stop it ?
Brief Answer:
Continue the medicine
Detailed Answer:
Dear friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic
YOU MUST CONTINUE THE LIFE STYLE CHANGES AND THE DRUGS.
These are directed to the symptoms – because there is no treatment for the cause (which is largely hereditary / diet has a supplementary role.)
If you stop the drugs, the levels will go back high again
Our aim is prevention – prevention of heart attack and stroke / prevention is better than cure
People tend to be lax because there are no direct symptoms / the first symptom may be catastrophic in some / and that is why, we take the drugs to prevent.
For a long life, a lifelong treatment is the best approach
We aim for an LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg.
If there is additional morbidity like Diabetes (sugar) or Blood Pressure, we should aim for 70 mg.
We repeat the test – to check the effectiveness of the drug.
If not controlled, we will have to increase the dose (the dose of atorvastatin is up to 80 mg) and test again.
If still not controlled, we will have to add a second drug.
If controlled well, repeat it after 3 to 4 months; if all well, repeat after one year.
Take care
Good luck
Continue the medicine
Detailed Answer:
Dear friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic
YOU MUST CONTINUE THE LIFE STYLE CHANGES AND THE DRUGS.
These are directed to the symptoms – because there is no treatment for the cause (which is largely hereditary / diet has a supplementary role.)
If you stop the drugs, the levels will go back high again
Our aim is prevention – prevention of heart attack and stroke / prevention is better than cure
People tend to be lax because there are no direct symptoms / the first symptom may be catastrophic in some / and that is why, we take the drugs to prevent.
For a long life, a lifelong treatment is the best approach
We aim for an LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg.
If there is additional morbidity like Diabetes (sugar) or Blood Pressure, we should aim for 70 mg.
We repeat the test – to check the effectiveness of the drug.
If not controlled, we will have to increase the dose (the dose of atorvastatin is up to 80 mg) and test again.
If still not controlled, we will have to add a second drug.
If controlled well, repeat it after 3 to 4 months; if all well, repeat after one year.
Take care
Good luck
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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