PCSK9 Inhibitors and CV Risk

[@sullivanbiddle9979]

I was on the second lowest dosage of Lipitor for just two weeks and had sever side effects. I had significant muscle aches and weakness in the upper right side of my body. I stopped the medicine after two weeks lasted about eight months before resolving. I have been on Zetia for a few months with no side effects and it's dropped my LDL from 203 to 165. Doctor wants to put me on Repatha but I've heard that can have sever side effects as well.

[@billcudd7844]

Repatha alone lowered my cholesterol from 254 to 98 after 90 days of use (twice a month).

[@SparklyStoner360]

What has your experience with side effects been like?

[@ST-fl5fy]

I’ve had none

[@alvaro9667]

I tried Atorvastatin, Pravastatin, Zetia, Ezetimibe and Repatha.horrible side effects, all my joints, speciallly hips and knees were in horrible pain and totally stiff. I wasn’t able to put my shoes or cross my legs. Doctors should stress this side effects when prescribing these medications. I lived about a year in agony and fear.

[@RiDankulous]

The perplexing thing is that all-cause mortality is not decreased. I understand a drug can do other things but isn't the important thing the mortality reduction? Drugs can help to prevent disability and reduce pain, as well as increase quality of life, but the whole food-plant based diet works well to do all that and reduce all-cause mortality. Of course, it takes discipline to make the switch and people just don't want to do that. If there's one thing I want people to trust me about, it's that foods, once you found the ones you really like, will completely satisfy you. Just have faith and make the switch.

[@RiDankulous]

@Boca Riley Agreed. :-)

[@1cleandude]

It’s the will to live and when that monkeys on your back you grab for any hope!🙏🙏

[@quadcom]

If PCSK9 is so effective, and with the known side effects and concerns with how statins work (ignoring the fudged study data), why continue statin use rather than ditching statins for this therapy instead? Is it all down to just the $$$?

[@straightgarb]

What is the root cause why cholesterol sticks to arteries?

[@joyceelmer131]

Inflammation

[@1cleandude]

Inflammation is the culprit NOT LDL!🙏

[@benjamin2187]

Increased cholesterol increases 'damage' to the artery wall. Cholesterol gets into areas of 'damage' resulting in inflammatory response. The endothelial layer is activated resulting in activation of inflammatory mediators. Resulting in enhanced transcription of adhesion molecules and chemokines and recruitment of macrophages. It's the macrophages that progress the atherosclerotic lesion by engulfing cholesterol and by releasing further inflammatory cytokines. I could (and may actually have to) write an essay on this.

[@quadcom]

​@@benjamin2187couldn't be more wrong.

[@stevef7814]

Why use statins if lowers ldl 50-60%?

[@bobbywhite1645]

$$$$

[@BenGates101]

Very easy to use

[@1cleandude]

Is there a test to tell what a person’s pcsk9 level is?🙏

[@Michael-4]

You could have an apob test?