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How Long Should Lipitor Be Taken?
Question: Dear Doctor,
I have been taking Lipitor (20 mg/daily) for the past 10 years. and Now my test results are good. I have no hypertension, no cardiovascular disease, only elevated cholesterol and tryglycerides.
LDL cholesterol 65 mg/dl (ref: <130)
Triglycerides: 102mg/dl (ref:<200).
Total Cholesterol: 138 mg/dl (ref:<200).
[1]can I stop Lipitor for a while and continue if all the values of the above increase again to abnormal?
[2] is there a cutoff point of the above Numbers for me to decide when I can stop Lipitor for follow-up?
[3] recently, my AST and ALT are slight elevated. can this be the accumulated side effect of taking Lipitor for the past 10 years?
I have been taking Lipitor (20 mg/daily) for the past 10 years. and Now my test results are good. I have no hypertension, no cardiovascular disease, only elevated cholesterol and tryglycerides.
LDL cholesterol 65 mg/dl (ref: <130)
Triglycerides: 102mg/dl (ref:<200).
Total Cholesterol: 138 mg/dl (ref:<200).
[1]can I stop Lipitor for a while and continue if all the values of the above increase again to abnormal?
[2] is there a cutoff point of the above Numbers for me to decide when I can stop Lipitor for follow-up?
[3] recently, my AST and ALT are slight elevated. can this be the accumulated side effect of taking Lipitor for the past 10 years?
Brief Answer:
Continue the drug / Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
1- The lipid values are normal because of the drug….
Do NOT stop the drug / meant to be continued lifelong for long life… / we do not stop filling fuel, if the car is running… / it is also manufactured in the liver – and that is determined by heredity… /
If you stop the drug, they will certainly go up again.
Also, the drug is said to have antioxidant and plaque stabilisation properties, and is beneficial beyond cholesterol……
2- We aim for LDL values less than 100 – is otherwise well
70, if there is any associated morbidity…
Great, you have achieved the values
3- AST, ALT elevation does occur with the drug / but not likely after more than a decade… / There is no urgency – if the values are not 3 or more times the upper limit / if so, stop the drug and go for extensive investigation of the liver; if not, just follow up only
Good luck
God bless you
[I am also taking the drug! ~ 20 years now!]
Continue the drug / Follow up
Detailed Answer:
Hi friend
Welcome to Health Care Magic
1- The lipid values are normal because of the drug….
Do NOT stop the drug / meant to be continued lifelong for long life… / we do not stop filling fuel, if the car is running… / it is also manufactured in the liver – and that is determined by heredity… /
If you stop the drug, they will certainly go up again.
Also, the drug is said to have antioxidant and plaque stabilisation properties, and is beneficial beyond cholesterol……
2- We aim for LDL values less than 100 – is otherwise well
70, if there is any associated morbidity…
Great, you have achieved the values
3- AST, ALT elevation does occur with the drug / but not likely after more than a decade… / There is no urgency – if the values are not 3 or more times the upper limit / if so, stop the drug and go for extensive investigation of the liver; if not, just follow up only
Good luck
God bless you
[I am also taking the drug! ~ 20 years now!]
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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