Repatha as a treatment for high HDL Cholesterol

54 years old have been on statins for 20 plus years 80 mg Lipitor. Cholesterol ran between 180 and 230 started at about 320. Had a Calcium scan in Jan was 1200. No symptoms no previous problems no issues with statins. Family history piss poor. Dr started paper work for Repatha insurance accepeted been on Repatha for 2 months so far no side effects. Jan 28 Cholesterol 224 June 7- 84. HDL Jan -192 June - 54. Dr is impressed so far Im waiting for issues to crop up....seems to good to be true.

What good news bigchevy. I have now been on Repatha for 10 months. So far nothing horrible has happened. Only the dramatic drop in LDL. With statins I had impossible to live with stomach pain. Life's a gamble. (and I go through it waiting for the other shoe to drop but so far so good). Wish you luck and continued low cholesterol readings.

Repatha is fantastic for lowering overall cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol). Should be taken with a statin ..but you'll find your statin amount will decrease the more you use repatha. Been using it for almost a year and no problems

Unable to tolerate statins. That's why I'm on Repatha. It does work well and lowers LDL quickly.

You are fortunate to be among those that can get the benefit of repatha without needing to take the statins. In my case, after completely going off statins as instructed by my cardiologist, I actually ended up with higher numbers than I did before. I then went back to 40mg Crestor and now trying to titrate to 10mg. My LDL dropped as low as 12.

My LDL dropped over 50% after 6 months on Repatha.

I cannot take any statin because it has adverse reactions to another condition I have. I have not taken anything for 'high' cholesterol in several years. My total cholesterol stays about 230. I am 63 and have had no heart attacks, no strokes, etc. I did a great deal of research and learned that our body makes its own cholesterol because we need it, especially our brains. Yes, statins reduce cholesterol levels but it doesn't distinguish between what is needed and what isn't. Personally, I think the premise that everyone needs to be below 100 (it used to be 200) assumes that we are all exactly alike when we are individuals with different needs. Every year at my annual physical my PCP uses a mathematical equation which determines my likelihood of having a heart attack. Every year my chances are 3% over the next 10 years that I will have a heart attack. We no longer discuss lowering my cholesterol.

I totally agree with you. I have high cholesterol, don’t tolerate statins or Repatha. I have had an artery dissection causing a heart attack but have never had a plaque blockage. Heart disease is very complex and some people really do need the statins for plaque. They supposedly help inflammation in blood vessels too. I have a 0 calcium score with high cholesterol. Heart disease in women can be very different and research is finally being done with female subjects. Most prior research was on male cardiac patients.

That makes a lot of sense. It reinforces a concern I have that my LDL is TOO low and that’s why I’m trying different strength of Crestor to get the right balance.

It really does not treat HDL. It is fantastic for lowering overall Cholesterol and most particularly for LDL. With that said, however, I have noticed that when my overall Cholesterol improved, there was an improvement with the HDL as well. However, I think this is simply a secondary byproduct of the drug. What Repatha really is meant to do is drive down that bad cholesterol.