How much does 40 mg Lipitor lower cholesterol?
Discussion. It is a known fact that high dose of statin treatment (Atorvastatin 40 or 80 mg) reduces LDL cholesterol by ≥50% of their baseline value.
How high should cholesterol be before taking statins?
Providers prescribe statins for people who: Have high cholesterol (LDL above 190 mg/dL) that exercise and diet changes couldn’t reduce. Had a stroke, heart attack or peripheral artery disease. Have diabetes and an LDL of at least 70 mg/dL and are 40 to 75 years old.
How long does it take for statins to lower your cholesterol?
You should see major changes in your cholesterol levels within two to four weeks after starting treatment. When you take a statin, you do more than improve your cholesterol levels. They also reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart problems.
Does Lipitor remove plaque from arteries?
A: Yes. There have been several clinical studies — many of them done here at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins.
What level of cholesterol requires medication?
Your health care provider may prescribe medicine if: You have already had a heart attack or stroke, or you have peripheral arterial disease. Your LDL cholesterol level is 190 mg/dL or higher.
What is the downside of atorvastatin?
While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people who take them and may rarely cause liver damage.
How do statins work to lower cholesterol?
They work by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol isn’t the only benefit associated with statins. These medications have also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. These drugs may help stabilize the plaques on blood vessel walls and reduce the risk of certain blood clots.
How many statins should I take to lower my cholesterol?
You may need to try two to three different statins before finding the one that’s the most effective for you. Most statins successfully help lower low-density lipoproteins, also known as LDL or “bad” cholesterol. Lowering your cholesterol levels with statins helps decrease your risk of stroke, heart attack, and other vessel-related diseases.
What is a statin drug?
Statins are a class of prescription drugs that help to lower cholesterol. Statins block the enzyme that the body uses to make cholesterol in the liver.
Are there any alternatives to statins for high cholesterol?
Sequestrants Another alternative to statins is bile acid–binding resins, or sequestrants. These drugs work by binding to the bile in your intestines and thereby blocking cholesterol absorption into your bloodstream. These are the oldest drugs available to treat high cholesterol.