Wellness

[wagirl]

Is anyone taking Repatha for high cholesterol? I am starting my 4 month and wanted to compare notes.

[Somertime]

A friend of mine has been on it for 3 years.  He, naturally, manufacturers cholesterol and has had triple bypass surgery and several stents.  It works very well for him and his cardiologist is very pleased.  Of course, the very best is that the cost for him is zero.  He would prefer not to be taking the injection twice a month but the results are what matters.

[Witchy Woman]

@wagirl 

I've never heard of this, but will try to read up on it.

After a lifetime of healthy eating and exercising, I've been rewarded with a recent testing of higher cholesterol than my doctor feels is acceptable.  

She recommened very low dose Lipitor, which I just started.  10 mgs daily.  So far, no side affects.

I'm guess that it is genetic since NOTHING in my lifestyle would cause it.  I'm thinking of having genetic testing as both parents are gone and I cannot ask them.  I do believe they had higher cholesteral, but were also diabetic, so who knows.

I was very upset with this issue, and hated to take any medication.  However, I don't believe any "natural" products are going to help me....I've tried. 

Is Repatha for a certain level of cholesterol?

[wagirl]

@Witchy Woman ---I have family high cholesterol and have been trying to reduce it since I was in my early 20's--my dad died at 47 years old in 1975 and it was from this type of issue. Repatha is touted as having very little if any side effects--- I cannot not tolerate any type of statins--I get severe side effects and have been on just about all of them--Crestor made walnut size bumps grow on the back of both my achilles tendons and had to have surgey to remove them. I have been trying natural supplements as per my heart doc, but it doesn't work, so finally am able to try this med due in part to a grant I recieved thru a company that helps out--am on Medicare now which will pay for a tiny amount of the cost--but still around $500 a month---this grant pays for it all for a year.Need to go  back for labs this weeks to see if it works--Repatha is supposed to not have side effects like the others. It is an auto inject system that I use 2x a month in my belly. So far so good. This month will be month 4 on it. One thing I do have,  that is a good thing, is very high HDL--the good cholesterol--nearly always in the 70"s. I have 2 brothers but only one of them is affected like I am. The other one seems to be immune---

[wagirl]

@ Well that is good to hear, altho I don't have any of his heart issues, high cholesterol can certainly cause many. The injections ae no big deal really--  but the cost is crazy without insurance or in my instance, a grant where I pay nothing.

[Witchy Woman]

@wagirl 

Thank you for your response.  Honestly, I feel bad about complaining about my issue!  You certainly have been through the mill.

It's so unfortunate that you've had so many problems trying to find a solution.  And, the expense of the drug is so prohibitive!

Thankfully, I have not had any problems yet with the low dose statin, but the proof it is helping remains to be seen.  I hated the idea of taking anything, and I've read the pros and cons and, like you, tried the natural approach.

In the end, if the drugs work and don't kill you, it's a miracle!

Good health is such a gift...I'm wishing you all the best on your journey to finding solution!

[Justholdingon]

Husband is on year 4 of repatha and can’t take any statins due to all side effects of severe muscle pains and joint pains. All of a sudden he is having joint pains and muscle pains and his doctor is investigating if it is related to the repatha or not. Will not know until all tests are complete. He’s had a history of cancer treatments that might have contributed to this also so that might be why too.

[wagirl]

@Justholdingon ---yes that is what I go thru with the statins too--and I have had cancer tretments as well. Good thing to ask about. I see a pharmacist for the Repatha as well as my heart dr. Next time I see them one of them I will ask about all this. There are a couple of other types of meds that you only need 2 injections a year and then I think, one of them, is a monthly shot. But are very expensive and we all know, insurance will always go the cheapest route no matter if it the best one or not. I need labs done to know if the Repatha has done its' job. On my list this week

[CelticCrafter]

---

@Witchy Woman wrote:

@wagirl 

I've never heard of this, but will try to read up on it.

After a lifetime of healthy eating and exercising, I've been rewarded with a recent testing of higher cholesterol than my doctor feels is acceptable.  

She recommened very low dose Lipitor, which I just started.  10 mgs daily.  So far, no side affects.

I'm guess that it is genetic since NOTHING in my lifestyle would cause it.  I'm thinking of having genetic testing as both parents are gone and I cannot ask them.  I do believe they had higher cholesteral, but were also diabetic, so who knows.

I was very upset with this issue, and hated to take any medication.  However, I don't believe any "natural" products are going to help me....I've tried. 

Is Repatha for a certain level of cholesterol?

---

@Witchy Woman my husbands PCP is a pill pusher and everything with him is "a little" high so take this pill. 

At first she wanted him on 40mgs and he and the endocrinologist blew that off.

Bloodwork done in May showed it to be a little elevated, the endocrinologist prescribed Atvorstatin (generic Lipitor) 10 mgs and it really worked.  It brought all the numbers down a lot.  His total went from 194 in May to 126 in August and his LDL from 129 to 66.

[Q4u]

My cholesterol has hovered around 180-210 and after a disappointing run with a Statin for 18 months (with permanent damage to the muscle in my right leg), a move and a new doctor who knows about my history, ordered a non-statin cholesterol drug for me to try.  The name is Zetia/Ezetimibe.  So, knowing the doctor understands what I have been through regarding Statins, I went on the drug and did not research the drug.  A mistake I will never do again.

I was on it for 6 months and the first 3 months were fine.  No side effects except extreme fatigue and what I thought was a slight depression, so I continued.  By the next month or so, I started to have side effects, Diarrhea, random muscle pain, Blurry Vision, cramping in foot, leg and around rib cage.  I complained to doctor because these were rough and almost every day, nothing I felt I could put up with and I feel I can put up with a lot.  She said that the drug only has a one to two day half life and it should be done affecting my body in two weeks.

This was June 18th that I quit and it has gotten better and I'm sure will eventually stop and it's no longer every single day. 

I am writing this to warn everyone to research this medicine seriously.  I realize I am probably extra-sensitive to it and I'm coping with it, but it is a very different and harsh drug and my body has been going through a "withdrawal" not unlike some with opioids.  The doctor never heard of such a thing and I didn't find anything about how harsh this drug can be but the reviews on line (and there are a lot) should be taken very seriously.  For me and my situation, taking this drug was not worth the every day pain associated with taking it.  I realize there are people who can take it successfully  but it deserves really looking into it and discussing it with your doctorbefore you do..

Good luck to everyone out there, I hope you are successful.  As for me, I will never take any drug without thoroughly researching it first.... this experience has been truly awful for me.