hi

Some 20 years ago I was involved in a road accident.

I was taken to the minor injuries dept. of my local hospital. Purely by chance my GP was working at the hospital unknown to me and was the doctor who treated me.

As part of the diagnostics of checking for injuries etc I gave a blood test.

The diagnostics were all OK except that I was told that I had very high cholesterol. 11.20 on the scale we use over here in the UK.

The standard at that time was 6.00 so I was put on to statins. I don't remember which one. The dosage was 10mg.

My parents unfortunately both died young and I knew nothing of their cholesterol levels etc. but I was advised to inform my sister. She went for tests and her level was almost as high as mine. Her doctor ( woman ) decided to treat her with a special diet not medication. After six months of the diet her levels were still as high so she too was put on statins.

We have been on them for 20 years and in that time after periods the particular statin I was on no longer worked as well. In addition the standards that the doctors worked to were gradually lowered to 4.00.
So I was prescribed different statins and different doses.
I was by that time on 40mg simvastatin and it was found to be in my case unable to allow me to conform to the 4.00 standard.

So I was changed on to 40mg of Atorvastatin. This worked well for me and I stayed on it and my readings were constant.

Four months ago NICE ( the health authority) decided that due to Atorvastatin costs ( Atorvastatin is much more expensive) patients on on it would be changed to Simvastin. We were assured that there would be no difference to the patient.

On checking my levels after two months my readings were 8.05 !!

So I am now back on Atorvastin.

All this time I must point out is that I have been on cod liver oil capsules and have been ever since I can remember.

Fish oil makes no impression on my nor my sister's cholesterol levels. So my advice would be - take care in what you try to do in changing your medications.

One further point I have had no contra conditions from any of the statins that I have been on.

Cheers

MikeL2