19th September 2004
Here is what you're up against if you have FH:
Recommendations for Heterozygous FH:
"A diet that severely limits saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol is appropriate.
Weight loss and aerobic and toning exercise improve blood lipid levels.
Unfortunately, these efforts often have only a modest impact on LDLc levels. Nevertheless, rigorous dietary intervention works synergistically with lipid-lowering medications.
Because 50% of the LDL receptors are normal, these patients have an excellent response to the usual cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, LDLc elevations are so severe that treatment still remains difficult.
Maximum doses of one of the stronger HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (ie, statins) such as atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and one or more other medications, including bile acid sequestrants or niacin, are required to approach the recommended LDLc goals."
The doctor goes on to say... "Even the strongest statins at their maximum doses are almost always inadequate for patients with FH, and one or more additional (ie, nonstatin) cholesterol-lowering medication is necessary. "
Author: Elena Citkowitz, MD, PhD, FACP, Director of Cholesterol Management Center, St Raphael Physicians, Inc, Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of St Raphael, Yale University School of Medicine
This is why some of you are amazed at my statement that I fully expect to get the max dose of Lipitor soon. FH doesn't seem to be discussed here at all, but some of you may have it and not know. No doctor ever told me. I finally mentioned it to my doctor several years ago, and he agreed that I had it, but never bothered to offer up the info...nor has any other medical practitioner. I guess they figure its too much information. Anyone here think they're getting too much information?
mark
Recommendations for Heterozygous FH:
"A diet that severely limits saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol is appropriate.
Weight loss and aerobic and toning exercise improve blood lipid levels.
Unfortunately, these efforts often have only a modest impact on LDLc levels. Nevertheless, rigorous dietary intervention works synergistically with lipid-lowering medications.
Because 50% of the LDL receptors are normal, these patients have an excellent response to the usual cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, LDLc elevations are so severe that treatment still remains difficult.
Maximum doses of one of the stronger HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (ie, statins) such as atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and one or more other medications, including bile acid sequestrants or niacin, are required to approach the recommended LDLc goals."
The doctor goes on to say... "Even the strongest statins at their maximum doses are almost always inadequate for patients with FH, and one or more additional (ie, nonstatin) cholesterol-lowering medication is necessary. "
Author: Elena Citkowitz, MD, PhD, FACP, Director of Cholesterol Management Center, St Raphael Physicians, Inc, Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of St Raphael, Yale University School of Medicine
This is why some of you are amazed at my statement that I fully expect to get the max dose of Lipitor soon. FH doesn't seem to be discussed here at all, but some of you may have it and not know. No doctor ever told me. I finally mentioned it to my doctor several years ago, and he agreed that I had it, but never bothered to offer up the info...nor has any other medical practitioner. I guess they figure its too much information. Anyone here think they're getting too much information?
mark