Will Cholesterol Levels Rise On Stopping Statins?

Posted on Fri, 17 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 Answered on

Fri, 8 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Can we stop taking statins? Or will my cholesterol zoom up after stopping statins, even if I maintain exercise and low fat diet?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
You can reduce the dosage and see if it works.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM.

I have gone through your query. You can try diet as well as exercise and see your cholesterol is lowering. Then you can reduce to half the dosage you take. That is 10 mg. If still you could maintain very low levels with diet and exercise then you can stop medication.

In severe form of hypercholesterolemia due to genetic reason this won't work and there is chances of zooming up. But mild forms it may work.

Hope this may help you. Let me know if anything not clear.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T