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Medication for high cholesterol while taking Actemra infusions
I have been having Actemra infusions for several years with wonderful results. My cholesterol is elevated. It seems that there are interactions between Actemra and medications to lower cholesterol. What would be advised to lower cholesterol safely without going off Actemra.
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I was taking high dose prednisone and Actemra to treat GCA, and my cholesterol got high enough that my primary care doctor said I would probably need to start taking a statin. He suggested retesting my cholesterol again after 3 months before making a decision about the statin. During the following 3 months I continued tapering the prednisone. I think the dose went down from 30 mg per day to about 10. When I got retested, my cholesterol had come down significantly - 33 points on the total, and 17 on the LDL I think the lower dose of prednisone caused the drop. My cholesterol came down enough that I didn't need to take a statin.
When I thought I was going to have to take a statin, I did some research. It sounded like rosuvastatin is one of the best statins for minimal side effects. I checked the interactions with Actemra, and research indicates the Actemra can reduce the effectiveness of a statin, so a higher dose of the statin might be needed. It sounds like it's safe to take a statin with Actemra.
you dont say whether your taking prednisone. Prednisone alone in the 6 months I took it raised my total cholesterol from 230 to 305. I am not sure of the side effects of actemra on cholesterol but try to get off prednisone. I have the genetic version of cholesterol . Statins are not a good alternative for me. They have many side effects. Repatha works for me. Its an epi pen injection twice a month. 2 years now with no side effects.