You have noticed that you are having issues with your cardiovascular system and you go in for a checkup. After the physical exam, blood is drawn to check your various red blood cell levels, white cell counts and how much cholesterol is in your system. About two weeks later, the doctor’s office calls to set up a new appointment and when you see the doctor, he informs you that you have high cholesterol. While this may seem like a death sentence in regards to your lifestyle, it really is not.
Modern medicine can do wonders and even if you want to avoid chemicals in your body there are always some sort of natural alternative that can at least help in some way. With a properly designed diet and exercise program you can effectively bring your cholesterol levels into the proper ranges. In fact, if you are reasonably active, this is what your doctor will want you to try first. This is due to the fact that once you are designated to use prescription statins as the only way to get your cholesterol levels in line; you will have to take them for the rest of your life.
With side effects from patent statin drugs from major pharmaceutical companies ranging from muscle pain to rashes and flushing, to digestive problems to even liver damage it is important to compare statins to determine which one or combination of stains would work best for you. Patent stating drugs also reduce Coenzyme Q10 which is essential for energy transfer and cell growth. You will probably need to take Q10 supplements and niacin to keep your levels in the healthy range.
Another way to compare statins is in their cost effectiveness. With the average monthly bill for statins reaching over one hundred dollars ($100), it is financially prudent to see if there is a less expensive alternative than what your doctor is trying to prescribe first. There have been several economic studies on statins in Europe on these four statins – fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin. These studies compared the actual cost of each dose for the four statins mentioned along with the amount cholesterol changes were made by each drug as well. When these were combined and analyzed, it was found that lovastatin was the most economical drug used to reduce LDL levels more than twenty five percent (25%).