Exercise, food portion control. Both have led to weight loss, improved blood pressure and lower resting heart rate.

If you are taking any of these meds with statin in them and are experiencing pain and joint soreness, this could be caused by this medicine. I started taking Red Yeast Rice and have noticed a big difference without the pains I was having.

Having a family history of high cholesterol, when my levels (good/bad) became abnormal, I went on Lipitor. That was 10 years ago and all levels have been very good ever since. I also exercise and semi watch my diet and have had no adverse side effects from the drug. Given that my father died at 57 and I am now 67 and going strong I am all for supplementing my cholesterol control with drugs.

Lipitor 20mg reduced total cholesterol from around 215 to around 160 almost immediately about 10 years ago. I continue to use Lipitor and doctor has now adjusted the dose to 40mg.

I have been struggling to identify the cause of my symptoms and when I found out I had high cholesterol, I have been searching for 'symptoms' and haven't found out what high cholesterol does. I am going through a Dr. but in the intervening two-three weeks I am also curious and frustrated that the information seems so difficult to obtain.