Will I Have to Take My Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Forever?

High cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and other health issues. While high cholesterol does not automatically mean you will develop heart disease, the risk is enough to mean that something needs to be done to lower your risk as much as possible. High cholesterol drugs are a way to effectively lower cholesterol for many patients. However, you may be concerned that you will be on cholesterol drugs fro the rest of your life. Here we will discuss the factors that may play a role in whether or not you have to take these drugs forever or not.

Treating High Cholesterol Without Drugs

While cholesterol-lowering drugs are often effective, your doctor will also talk to you about lifestyle changes that may have a positive impact on your cholesterol levels. The positive impact these lifestyle changes have will occur with or without the drugs, though the drugs often enhance the effect. First and foremost, changing your dietary habits. It is important to lower your intake of high-fat foods and increase your intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Regular exercise may help in lowering your cholesterol. You can talk to your doctor about getting started with an exercise plan if you do not already exercise.

If you smoke cigarettes, it is important to work toward quitting. Smoking cigarettes can negatively impact your cholesterol level. Your doctor can help you work on a strategy to help you quit smoking.

There are also certain herbal and natural remedies, such as red yeast rice, that you can talk to your about. Some of these are purported to be as effective as prescription cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, never use these in place of prescription cholesterol drugs without talking to your doctor first.

Will I have to Take My Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Forever?

This depends on a variety of factors. Only your doctor can, of course, help you determine if you are ever able to stop taking a cholesterol-lowering drug. Your own preferences play a role, as well as how likely it is that you could develop heart disease in the future. If you have had a stroke or heart attack in the past, it is likely that your doctor will recommend you stay on the drug long-term. There are other variables you doctor will go over with you when determining your need for taking cholesterol-lowering drugs for life.

Resources

Mayo Clinic: Statins: Are These Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Right for You?