My cholesterol has never been this low and I've not experienced any side effects. I am extremely allergic to statins or other cholesterol lowering drugs so Repatha has been a Godsend. Now if they'd only make it in a pill instead of an injection.
Are high triglycerides typical for you or do you think Repatha has an impact? Have you had a chance to discuss your lipid panel results with your prescribing doctor?
I have only been on Repatha for 14 weeks now but I immediately noticed from the day after the 1st injection a runny nose. I have to wipe my nose about 20+ times a day, higher than that the first couple days after the injection. I had a lipid panel done immediately after the 3rd injection, 6 weeks, and my LDL dropped from 122 to 31 so it does work. Coincidentally I think, I am on my 2nd occurrence of a bad cold called a rhinovirus (not a mistype, there really is such a diagnosis). I also have a rare blood cancer which causes my immune system to not function properly so that may be the reason for 2 severe colds in about 12 weeks
Hope this helps hope this helps
I have only been on Repatha for 14 weeks now but I immediately noticed from the day after the 1st injection a runny nose. I have to wipe my nose about 20+ times a day, higher than that the first couple days after the injection. I had a lipid panel done immediately after the 3rd injection, 6 weeks, and my LDL dropped from 122 to 31 so it does work. Coincidentally I think, I am on my 2nd occurrence of a bad cold called a rhinovirus (not a mistype, there really is such a diagnosis). I also have a rare blood cancer which causes my immune system to not function properly so that may be the reason for 2 severe colds in about 12 weeks
Hope this helps hope this helps
@tominga I also had the runny nose thing after starting Repatha. Lasted, if I remember correctly, a month or two, then back to normal. Into year 3 with the stuff and it continues to keep my cholesterol, LDL, and Apo(b) low
I started Repatha in September.i was very concerned that I would not be able to tolerate it since I had such a bad reaction to statins. I had no issues with the first 2 shots, but by the third I started experiencing breathing issues. I wasn’t sure it was that, so I did my 4th shot on schedule, but I contacted the cardiologist office and they told me to skip the next 2 injections. I wasn’t sure afraid I would lose whatever gains I made, so I did the shots anyway. Happy to report that although my breathing is still a little labored my bloodwork on Monday showed my cholesterol dropped from 184 on 9/8 to 126 on 12/8 . I’m thrilled.
@reillyg1013
I had breathing issues with oral statins and now after 3rd Repatha injection, I'm again finding that I am struggling with my breathing and resulting fatigue. I am normally very active and i find that i huff and puff after just going up one flight of stairs - or - it just takes so much energy to expand my diaphragm to breathe. No muscle aches or anything like that (at least not more than usual). I will take my 4th shot and do labs. rI hope my cholesterol levels drop as yours did - and that the labored breathing will lessen.
@reillyg1013
I had breathing issues with oral statins and now after 3rd Repatha injection, I'm again finding that I am struggling with my breathing and resulting fatigue. I am normally very active and i find that i huff and puff after just going up one flight of stairs - or - it just takes so much energy to expand my diaphragm to breathe. No muscle aches or anything like that (at least not more than usual). I will take my 4th shot and do labs. rI hope my cholesterol levels drop as yours did - and that the labored breathing will lessen.
@ohallk You are wise to be cautious with Repatha. I had an hour long appointmemt with a Stanford neurologist this morning. I learned a lot. I wanted to learn what it is about Repatha that caused my many falls. My calendar with records of my falls showed that there was a correlation with Repatha use. The doctor asked whether the drug could possibly cause heart arrythmias. He did not declare that it does, but brought forward the idea. I think this should be studied by experts.
What you should do imo is keep meticulous records of Repatha use and your symptoms, always keeping Repatha’s half life in your body in mind.
Thanks for your feedback. I never thought to pay attention to the 1/2 life. Will watch that re: symptoms. Your suggestion to keep meticulous records of my symptoms is a great idea. Sometimes I think doctors get locked into the usual treatment methods that they struggle to come up with alternatives.
I'm seriously considering adapting a vegan diet and going off my meds after a couple months of vegan eating as I know 5 people my age who have dramatically lowered their cholesterol and blood pressure on such a diet. I've always been very active and am finding the labored breathing so discouraging. It's just more complicated toi change my diet - and thus my husband's diet as well.
@ohallk You are wise to be cautious with Repatha. I had an hour long appointmemt with a Stanford neurologist this morning. I learned a lot. I wanted to learn what it is about Repatha that caused my many falls. My calendar with records of my falls showed that there was a correlation with Repatha use. The doctor asked whether the drug could possibly cause heart arrythmias. He did not declare that it does, but brought forward the idea. I think this should be studied by experts.
What you should do imo is keep meticulous records of Repatha use and your symptoms, always keeping Repatha’s half life in your body in mind.
@ohallk
I am not sure of anything about this matter, but my feeling is that genetics might tell you whether trying diet changes would likely affect your lab numbers.
I have so many blood relatives who have had strokes and heart problems and I have read that my tribe is prone to problems with LDLs and the doctors say that my problem is familial and that diet will have little or no effect on numbers. So personally, I wouldn’t take the risk of having a stroke while trying diet in place of medication. I am not you, obviously, but this is how I think. Maybe diet would work for you. Who knows?
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
I have had nothing but good results. I have never had normal numbers before. The only high reading I’m getting is high triglycerides.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy cholesterol has never been this low and I've not experienced any side effects. I am extremely allergic to statins or other cholesterol lowering drugs so Repatha has been a Godsend. Now if they'd only make it in a pill instead of an injection.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionCongratulations, @rebaheizer for your normal cholesterol numbers!
I have treated my high cholesterol for 35 years and finally, am experiencing the same. It feels good.
You more than likely understand how tryiglyercides play into your health and have been trying to manage them. I did find this Mayo Clinic Summary, “Triglycerides: Why do they matter?” You may find helpful. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/triglycerides/art-20048186
Are high triglycerides typical for you or do you think Repatha has an impact? Have you had a chance to discuss your lipid panel results with your prescribing doctor?
I have only been on Repatha for 14 weeks now but I immediately noticed from the day after the 1st injection a runny nose. I have to wipe my nose about 20+ times a day, higher than that the first couple days after the injection. I had a lipid panel done immediately after the 3rd injection, 6 weeks, and my LDL dropped from 122 to 31 so it does work. Coincidentally I think, I am on my 2nd occurrence of a bad cold called a rhinovirus (not a mistype, there really is such a diagnosis). I also have a rare blood cancer which causes my immune system to not function properly so that may be the reason for 2 severe colds in about 12 weeks
Hope this helps hope this helps
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@tominga I also had the runny nose thing after starting Repatha. Lasted, if I remember correctly, a month or two, then back to normal. Into year 3 with the stuff and it continues to keep my cholesterol, LDL, and Apo(b) low
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@reillyg1013
I had breathing issues with oral statins and now after 3rd Repatha injection, I'm again finding that I am struggling with my breathing and resulting fatigue. I am normally very active and i find that i huff and puff after just going up one flight of stairs - or - it just takes so much energy to expand my diaphragm to breathe. No muscle aches or anything like that (at least not more than usual). I will take my 4th shot and do labs. rI hope my cholesterol levels drop as yours did - and that the labored breathing will lessen.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@ohallk You are wise to be cautious with Repatha. I had an hour long appointmemt with a Stanford neurologist this morning. I learned a lot. I wanted to learn what it is about Repatha that caused my many falls. My calendar with records of my falls showed that there was a correlation with Repatha use. The doctor asked whether the drug could possibly cause heart arrythmias. He did not declare that it does, but brought forward the idea. I think this should be studied by experts.
What you should do imo is keep meticulous records of Repatha use and your symptoms, always keeping Repatha’s half life in your body in mind.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks for your feedback. I never thought to pay attention to the 1/2 life. Will watch that re: symptoms. Your suggestion to keep meticulous records of my symptoms is a great idea. Sometimes I think doctors get locked into the usual treatment methods that they struggle to come up with alternatives.
I'm seriously considering adapting a vegan diet and going off my meds after a couple months of vegan eating as I know 5 people my age who have dramatically lowered their cholesterol and blood pressure on such a diet. I've always been very active and am finding the labored breathing so discouraging. It's just more complicated toi change my diet - and thus my husband's diet as well.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@tatiana987 half-life is an important consideration, especially concerning certain meds.
@ohallk
I am not sure of anything about this matter, but my feeling is that genetics might tell you whether trying diet changes would likely affect your lab numbers.
I have so many blood relatives who have had strokes and heart problems and I have read that my tribe is prone to problems with LDLs and the doctors say that my problem is familial and that diet will have little or no effect on numbers. So personally, I wouldn’t take the risk of having a stroke while trying diet in place of medication. I am not you, obviously, but this is how I think. Maybe diet would work for you. Who knows?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions