Cholesterol Meds over the counter
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Cholesterol Meds over the counter
Hi,
What is the name of the over the counter (OTC) cholesterol drug that is sold in the UK?
Thanks and greetings from Cork!
What is the name of the over the counter (OTC) cholesterol drug that is sold in the UK?
Thanks and greetings from Cork!
Go and get a proper risk assessment from your GP/practice nurse.
A cholesterol of 7.4 is high, but not disasterous.
Your risk of death through heart disease/stroke, depends on lots of other factors. A sub-therapeutic dose from Boots is probably not the first answer. Make your gp earn his crust.
Or even better, next time you are in MAN, have a chat with those lovely ladies in the Walk in Centre
A cholesterol of 7.4 is high, but not disasterous.
Your risk of death through heart disease/stroke, depends on lots of other factors. A sub-therapeutic dose from Boots is probably not the first answer. Make your gp earn his crust.
Or even better, next time you are in MAN, have a chat with those lovely ladies in the Walk in Centre
Last edited by gingernut; 15th Jun 2005 at 16:31.
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Tom,
10mg of simvastatin, which is what is available OTC, will not get your cholesterol down enough form 7.4 to be meaningful. You will need a higher dose and / or another cholesterol lowering agent.
The other alternative is a diet based almost entirely around oily fish. Lovely!
Cheers,
QDM
10mg of simvastatin, which is what is available OTC, will not get your cholesterol down enough form 7.4 to be meaningful. You will need a higher dose and / or another cholesterol lowering agent.
The other alternative is a diet based almost entirely around oily fish. Lovely!
Cheers,
QDM
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Well, a colleague's wife has had a stroke in the last few hours so I am more anxious now than ever about my cholesterol score.
Will be asking the GP for something like Crestor at next visit. Diet has had a little success as I lost a stone. Have inevitably put two or three pounds back on.
Am I really going to have to start cycling up to the airport again?
Heavens above!
Will be asking the GP for something like Crestor at next visit. Diet has had a little success as I lost a stone. Have inevitably put two or three pounds back on.
Am I really going to have to start cycling up to the airport again?
Heavens above!
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You need to have the subfractions of your cholesterol evaluated in order to establish a reasonable indication for taking a drug like simvastatin.
If your HDL cholesterol is very high and your LDL is relatively low, you may not need therapy at all.
According to the latest guidelines of the Adult Treatment Panel III of the American National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), your treatment should be aimed at your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, and there are different treatment goals to be achieved depending on concomitant medical conditions and overall cardiovascular risk. For example, if you have had a prior myocardial infarction or if you have diabetes, your treatment goal will be lower than if you are healthy.
There are also other treatment options:
1) diet and exercise (avoid red meat, eggs, fast food)
2) plant-sterol enriched margarines, available in most supermarkets. Plant sterols have been proven to lower your cholesterol.
3) colestyramin or other bile-acid binding raisins.
4) ezetimibie ("Zetia" in the USA), a drug that blocks the absorption of dietary cholesterol from your intestines
Each of these treatments have their pros and cons, including simvastatin. You should not take simvastatin if you have a diesease of the liver or the sceletal muscles.
In the end, my advice is to consult with a competent physician before installing drug treatment.
Good luck!
If your HDL cholesterol is very high and your LDL is relatively low, you may not need therapy at all.
According to the latest guidelines of the Adult Treatment Panel III of the American National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), your treatment should be aimed at your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, and there are different treatment goals to be achieved depending on concomitant medical conditions and overall cardiovascular risk. For example, if you have had a prior myocardial infarction or if you have diabetes, your treatment goal will be lower than if you are healthy.
There are also other treatment options:
1) diet and exercise (avoid red meat, eggs, fast food)
2) plant-sterol enriched margarines, available in most supermarkets. Plant sterols have been proven to lower your cholesterol.
3) colestyramin or other bile-acid binding raisins.
4) ezetimibie ("Zetia" in the USA), a drug that blocks the absorption of dietary cholesterol from your intestines
Each of these treatments have their pros and cons, including simvastatin. You should not take simvastatin if you have a diesease of the liver or the sceletal muscles.
In the end, my advice is to consult with a competent physician before installing drug treatment.
Good luck!
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Tom
This will no doubt raise a smile, but it wasn't funny at the time: I had to come off simvastatin (prescribed, by the way) because I ended up being more windy than Keflavik - and it was very very uncomfortable. I am now on 'pravastatin' - which although having the same possible side-effect, has not produced the same 'end' result.
So I suppose what Im saying is try diet first before resorting to drugs, they all have side-effects to differing degrees. I've got to have them- but I wish I didnt.
Cycling to the airport is great if you can manage your flight-bag, but I became tired of various heads popping out of BMWs yelling "V1!!"
This will no doubt raise a smile, but it wasn't funny at the time: I had to come off simvastatin (prescribed, by the way) because I ended up being more windy than Keflavik - and it was very very uncomfortable. I am now on 'pravastatin' - which although having the same possible side-effect, has not produced the same 'end' result.
So I suppose what Im saying is try diet first before resorting to drugs, they all have side-effects to differing degrees. I've got to have them- but I wish I didnt.
Cycling to the airport is great if you can manage your flight-bag, but I became tired of various heads popping out of BMWs yelling "V1!!"
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My levels have risen over the years and I decided to visit the pharmacy and buy some statins over the counter. The nice man at Boots the Chemist chatted to me for ages about the pros and cons of these drugs. The thing that amazed me was mentioned above by QDM.... The dose in an over the counter statin is tiny compared to the one your doctor would prescribe. He said it was a waste of money. He also said that he would not want to sell it to anyone under 45 years old.
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self medication
Started on ststins recently, also with 7.4 count. No side effects so far.
Prescribed by aviation medicine consultant. If they are safe to take and then be monitored, why self prescribe? See a doctor.
Prescribed by aviation medicine consultant. If they are safe to take and then be monitored, why self prescribe? See a doctor.
Don't fall into the trap of reading too much into the number !!
Most decent prescribers / pharmacists, will advise on the basis of a systematic assessment, taking into account all the other variables. (Smoking, blood pressure, family history etc).
It's a bit like deciding the number of emergency exits on 747- you have to strike a balance.
Most decent prescribers / pharmacists, will advise on the basis of a systematic assessment, taking into account all the other variables. (Smoking, blood pressure, family history etc).
It's a bit like deciding the number of emergency exits on 747- you have to strike a balance.
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More information!
I think, contrary to the previous post there is too much information.
Don't believe me? Enter cholesterol in Google. I rest my case.
As a suggestion whenever one reads the latest report on this and a miriad of other health issues in the popular press, please look for the source (Difficult I grant you).
For example Eggs yolks are good for you (Source Egg Marketing Council).
My opinion as a high cholesterol Type A person is look at the old healthy people around and quit worrying.
Chlesterol won't kill you but worry (Stress) will.
Chok Dee
Don't believe me? Enter cholesterol in Google. I rest my case.
As a suggestion whenever one reads the latest report on this and a miriad of other health issues in the popular press, please look for the source (Difficult I grant you).
For example Eggs yolks are good for you (Source Egg Marketing Council).
My opinion as a high cholesterol Type A person is look at the old healthy people around and quit worrying.
Chlesterol won't kill you but worry (Stress) will.
Chok Dee
Avibridge
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Cholesterol?
Here is an interesting link that if you read it all is quite an eyeopener
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...pt/ai_90794452
Chok Dee
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...pt/ai_90794452
Chok Dee
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I have also had increasingly high Cholesterol levels over the last 6 years(Total, Triglicerides, & LDL all going up and HDL's going down). As i have a brutal family history on both sides (CHD, strokes, etc) and am already on a low fat diet (I'm meticulous about this-lots of fish, very little meat, etc), my GP suggested i immediatly go on to 10mg of Lipitor, and accept the risk of degraded kidney/liver function. So, thats what i'm going to do(as soon as i check its ok with our Aeromedical Dept). I/m 40 now.
Funny as i was also diagnosed as Coeliac last year, my levels jumped(up) on the new gluten-free diet, despite cutting out loads of naughty stuff like biscuits, cakes, sauces, etc. I suspect since i cant now eat wheat bran and oats(both known for reducing cholesterol) has affected cholesterol levels. I used to be a bowl of porridge a day man.
Gluten-free and low fat-try ordering that from your airline catering department!!!
I just bring my own, and get a bigger suitcase for multi-night overnights.
