Can I Take 2mg Of Statin For High Cholesterol?

Posted on Thu, 12 Jun 2014

Question: i want the XXXXXXX statin effect w livalo; at 2 mg i have no side effects w coq10 added, but i cant tolerate 4 mg. The drug has a half life of 12 hours - I think I would tolerate 2 mg bid better than 4 mg q day. And it would give me better coverage over 24 hours. What do you think? Is the design for q day dosing because of compliance (a common pharma consideration). Thanks XXXXXXX (ophthalmologist). I need XXXXXXX effect here.

Answered by Dr. Sukhvinder Singh (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
please see below

Detailed Answer:
Respected Ma'm
There are no proven acute effects of statins. Hence the question of coverage is not something which is important. It has a plasma half life of 12 hours, so once daily dosage is recommended. A single dose will give you adequate coverage. Maximum effects come at 4 mg dose , once daily, which decreases LDL cholesterol by ~40% and total cholesterol by ~30%.
In a given case 4 mg once daily dose can be substituted by 2mg twice daily dose but it is not a recommended dosing schedule, neither it will decrease side effects in any manner. You have to take a prescription of same from your local physician.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar