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Re-activateOnce you start taking a statin drug to lower your cholesterol, can you ever stop? —K.M.L., St. Petersburg, Fla.
Sometimes, if you're careful and work hard at it. Statins don't "cure" high LDL (bad) cholesterol; once you stop, it usually goes back up. But certain lifestyle changes might reduce or even eliminate your need for a statin, in two ways. First, switching to a diet that's low in saturated and trans fat and high in fiber can lower LDL. Second, whether you need a statin depends on not just your LDL but also your overall heart-attack risk. So if you lose excess weight, stop smoking, and lower your blood pressure you might reduce your need for the drug.
If you've made those changes and your LDL has dropped, talk with your doctor about lowering your dose and perhaps eventually eliminating the drug. But don't alter the dose without consulting him or her, and never stop abruptly. That could trigger a heart attack.
For more on when to take a cholesterol-lowering drug and when to stop, take a look at our Best Buy Drugs special report on statins.
—Aaron Bailey
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