my best answer is: you should not discontinue simvastatin without consulting your physician. a stress test alone cannot tell you there is "no build up" of plaque in your arteries. i'm glad your stress test result was good but your total cholesterol number is a bit high. it's not outrageous though and that fact warrants a discussion with your physician. if your health care provider feels you need to be on a cholesterol-lowering drug there are many alternatives to simvastatin. your provider can advise you how to discontinue the simvastatin and start a new medication if needed. you might also check out webmd's heart disease community to see how others have handled their borderline high cholesterol issues what medications they take and how they talked to their doctor about their choices of cholesterol-lowering drugs. take care! i would ween myself off of the medicine and cut the pill in half and take half for a week. the next week i would take half of a half then take half of a half every other day for a week. the fourth week i would discontinue altogether. i would tell my doctor if or when i had a visit. i think w/this drug you could probably just stop taking it all together but of course i am not a doctor. it's not like a blood pressure medicine though. i had horrible side effects (ttp bruising platelets dramatically dropped muscles hurt brain fog tired) from this drug. i will never take a statin again. i believe there are other more natural things out there that will work. my cholestrol was 225 when i was put on it. good luck! i applaud your attitude to this dangerous drug. i would suggest you do a lot of research on the subject. dr. duane graveline's book 'lipitor thief of memory' is a good start: www. spacedoc. com there are a lot of links to other doctors surgeons and researchers who are skeptical of statins. i went through all the test in the hospital. i was told i had a heart of a 27 year old. my doctor did not believe the test as he could not control my blood pressure. they went in and found a blockage--widow maker. they did a stent. surgeon stated i would have been dead within 30 days. so much for test. you can try red yeast rice and naicin. naicin taken twice a day can lower according to my doctor. i take both and my readings are 90/72. try it capsules do not cost very much. these books i have found to be very resourceful. the statin damage crisis/ by duane graveline m. d. the great cholestrol myth by jonny bowden ph. c. n. s. and how statin drugs really lower cholesterol james b. yoseph and hannah yoseph md. i urge you to do your research carefully.
how do i safely stop taking simvastatin (10 mg)? . i do not nor have i ever had high blood pressure. my cholesterol count before simvastatin was 234. . a stress test 3 years ago showed that there are no blockages or build up in my arteries my heart is in good shape; as a matter of fact the cardiologist told me i had the heart of a thirty year old. after learning about the dangers of this drug i am scared and would like to discontinue it. please advise. .