High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

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What is high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)?

Hypercholesterolemia is a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the blood. While the body needs cholesterol to function properly, an excess amount may accumulate over time and subsequently affect blood flow and cardiovascular function.

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 Relaxation Techniques
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
Duloxetine Sertraline Venlafaxine
Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) 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
93
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (93)
Treatment name(s)

(Zocor)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
28
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (28)
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
27
Tried for
anxious mood (27)
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
26
Tried for
pain (22) anxious mood (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

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

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

(Norco)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
21
Tried for
pain (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
19
Tried for
depressed mood (16) pain (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
19
Tried for
depressed mood (18) anxious mood (1)
Treatment name(s)

(BuSpar)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
17
Tried for
anxious mood (15) depressed mood (5)
Data from patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), who reported starting treatments within the last 5 years.
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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) (56 evaluations)
Side effects
muscle pain charley horses in calves 6 more
Total evaluations
67
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (93)
Treatment name(s)

(Zocor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (13 evaluations)
Side effects
restless legs at night
Total evaluations
13
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (28)
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (18 evaluations)
Side effects
sleepiness bipolar depressive episodes 5 more
Total evaluations
19
Tried for
anxious mood (27)
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (36 evaluations)
Side effects
dry mouth vertigo 13 more
Total evaluations
48
Tried for
pain (22) anxious mood (4)
1 more
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)

(Crestor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (25 evaluations)
Side effects
bad mood
Total evaluations
28
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (25)
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (10 evaluations)
Side effects
chronic constipation intoxicated feeling 3 more
Total evaluations
12
Tried for
pain (21)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for depressed mood (29 evaluations)
Side effects
abdominal pain bipolar depressive episodes 34 more
Total evaluations
33
Tried for
depressed mood (16) pain (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Perceived effectiveness
for depressed mood (14 evaluations)
Side effects
drowsiness neck movement dizziness (cervicogenic dizziness)
Total evaluations
16
Tried for
depressed mood (18) anxious mood (1)
Treatment name(s)

(BuSpar)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (9 evaluations)
Side effects
abdominal pain
Total evaluations
11
Tried for
anxious mood (15) depressed mood (5)
  • 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.
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Who has high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) on PatientsLikeMe?

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 1
20s 56
30s 319
40s 1,198
50s 2,696
60s 2,597
70+ 818
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 29
20-29 years 77
30-39 years 147
40-49 years 210
50-59 years 114
60-69 years 22
70+ years 5

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2,229
Female 5,521
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 1,920
Not Diagnosed 36
These charts show data from high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) patients who have completed their condition history
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