High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

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What is high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)?

Hypercholesterolemia is a condition with abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited form of high cholesterol and occurs more frequently in certain populations, including Afrikaners in South Africa, French Canadians, Lebanese, and Finns.

Common symptoms reported by people with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Listen to Music Individual Therapy Aromatherapy
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Modafinil Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine Armodafinil
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen Tramadol Gabapentin
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Clonazepam Alprazolam Lorazepam
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Trazodone Zolpidem Melatonin
Common symptom
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Duloxetine Sertraline Citalopram
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, insomnia, fatigue, and pain) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Lipitor)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
97
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (97)
Treatment name(s)

(Zocor)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
34
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (34)
Treatment name(s)

(Crestor)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
32
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (32)
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
26
Tried for
Anxious mood (26) Insomnia (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Pravachol)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
25
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (25)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
23
Tried for
Depressed mood (19) Pain (6)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
21
Tried for
Pain (16) Anxious mood (3)
2 more
Treatment name(s)

(Desyrel)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
21
Tried for
Insomnia (21) Depressed mood (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Xanax)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
19
Tried for
Anxious mood (19)
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
19
Tried for
Pain (19)
Data from patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:

Compare treatments taken by people with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Lipitor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (52 evaluations)
Side effects
Muscle pain Charlie horses in calves 11 more
Total evaluations
64
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (97)
Treatment name(s)

(Zocor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (7 evaluations)
Side effects
Headaches Pain in legs 1 more
Total evaluations
8
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (34)
Treatment name(s)

(Crestor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (22 evaluations)
Side effects
Bad mood Elevated CPK enzymes 1 more
Total evaluations
26
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (32)
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Perceived effectiveness
for Anxious mood (17 evaluations)
Side effects
Sleepiness Bipolar depressive episodes 6 more
Total evaluations
22
Tried for
Anxious mood (26) Insomnia (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Pravachol)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (10 evaluations)
Side effects
Frequent urination Muscle weakness 1 more
Total evaluations
11
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (25)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for Depressed mood (23 evaluations)
Side effects
Nausea Nightmares 13 more
Total evaluations
31
Tried for
Depressed mood (19) Pain (6)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (15 evaluations)
Side effects
Dizziness Dry mouth 10 more
Total evaluations
25
Tried for
Pain (16) Anxious mood (3)
2 more
Treatment name(s)

(Desyrel)
Perceived effectiveness
for Insomnia (12 evaluations)
Side effects
Sleepiness Bad dreams 5 more
Total evaluations
12
Tried for
Insomnia (21) Depressed mood (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Xanax)
Perceived effectiveness
for Anxious mood (9 evaluations)
Side effects
Sleepiness Daytime tiredness 1 more
Total evaluations
9
Tried for
Anxious mood (19)
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Perceived effectiveness
for Pain (8 evaluations)
Side effects
Chronic constipation High feeling 1 more
Total evaluations
10
Tried for
Pain (19)
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None
Data from patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
Last updated:

Who has high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) on PatientsLikeMe?

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 1
20s 56
30s 313
40s 1,123
50s 2,450
60s 2,077
70+ 561
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 28
20-29 years 73
30-39 years 137
40-49 years 199
50-59 years 104
60-69 years 21
70+ years 5

Sex

Distribution of sex

70% Female
30% Male
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 1,684
Not Diagnosed 36
These charts show data from high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) patients who have completed their condition history
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