My Mom is 74 & did not seem to have memory loss til after she was prescribed Lipitor. Now I'm on generic Zocor. If you take a Statin Drug, how high was your cholestrol when your Doc prescribed it? Thanks for any answers!!! also, how long does it usually take for statin drugs to help lower cholestrol? & what effect can I expect---if I should suddently stop taking the statin drugs; would I need to gradually taper off them? If I came off suddently -can it cause my cholestrol level to increase?
2007-09-14 22:35:05 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
No, Statin drugs such as simvastatin or Zocor used to lower cholesterol do not cause memory loss. Studies have discovered that actually they are beneficial in treating Alzheimer's. where the memory is greatly impaired among other symptoms.
Total cholesterol level
Less than 200 is best.
Between 200 to 239 is borderline high.
240 or more means you're at increased risk for heart disease.
HDL cholesterol levels ( Good cholesterol)
Less than 40 means you're at higher risk for heart disease.
LDL cholesterol levels( bad cholesterol
Less than 130 is best.
Between 130 to 159 is borderline high.
160 or more means you're at higher risk for heart disease.
Some physicians and cholesterol technicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol in place of the total blood cholesterol. The ratio is obtained by dividing the HDL cholesterol level into the total cholesterol. For example, if a person has a total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL and an HDL cholesterol level of 50 mg/dL, the ratio would be 4:1. The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1; the optimum ratio is 3.5:1.
Lowering your high cholesterol can help you prevent a heart attack or stroke or CAD ( Coronary artery disease) esp if you at high risk such as obesity,smoking, sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise.; Diabetes, or have a family hx of heart disease.; high blood pressure of 140/90;.
Take simvastatin exactly as directed by your doctor.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
For the greatest effect, simvastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with simvastatin and every six months after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with simvastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects from simvastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
It is important to take simvastatin regularly to get the most benefit.
DO NOT STOP taking simvastatin without first talking to your doctor. Simvastatin may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol. Thus, NO, you don't taper the drug on your own.
Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with simvastatin to monitor progress and side effects.
Alcohol and Simvastatin can both be damaging to the liver.
Store simvastatin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
Zocor or simvastatin helps to lower your cholesterol. it does not caure your condition. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directed by your doctor; if you expect to lower your cholesterol. and keep it down. You may have to take cholesterol -loweringdrugs for the rest of your life. If you stop taking zocor, your cholesterol may rise again.
2007-09-14 23:06:43 · answer #1 · answered by rosieC 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No statins are not responsible for memory loss and the cholestrol will come down gradully and not in one day and yess if you want to disconinue the stanins then you will have to taper it gradully but mind you these statins are forever and this can be replaced with other medicines but you cant stop it , hope you will be fine very soon
2007-09-14 22:41:32 · answer #2 · answered by Vikram 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the answer is a big NO.
Please look at other factors. At 74 she is probably getting dementia. Consult a neurologist
2007-09-15 06:12:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋