High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)

We’re all in this for good.

By sharing your stories and data, you will:
  • help each other live better and uncover the best ways to manage your health today
  • help researchers shorten the path to new treatments tomorrow

How much good can your data do? A whole lot, as co-founder Jamie Heywood explains in this video.

See more

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 Ibuprofen
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.
Last updated:

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
92
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (92)
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)

(Crestor)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
27
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (27)
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
24
Tried for
pain (20) anxious mood (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Pravachol)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
24
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (24)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
20
Tried for
depressed mood (17) pain (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
20
Tried for
depressed mood (18) anxious mood (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
18
Tried for
pain (18)
Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
17
Tried for
pain (17)
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) (57 evaluations)
Side effects
muscle pain charley horses in calves 9 more
Total evaluations
69
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (92)
Treatment name(s)

(Zocor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (12 evaluations)
Side effects
restless legs at night
Total evaluations
12
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)

(Crestor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (26 evaluations)
Side effects
bad mood muscle pain
Total evaluations
29
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (27)
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (31 evaluations)
Side effects
dry mouth vertigo 12 more
Total evaluations
42
Tried for
pain (20) 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) (24)
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 (17) 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
17
Tried for
depressed mood (18) anxious mood (2)
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (10 evaluations)
Side effects
chronic constipation high feeling 3 more
Total evaluations
12
Tried for
pain (18)
Treatment name(s)

(Ultram)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (31 evaluations)
Side effects
sleepiness itching 1 more
Total evaluations
31
Tried for
pain (17)
  • 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 55
30s 323
40s 1,204
50s 2,700
60s 2,549
70+ 768
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 28
20-29 years 77
30-39 years 146
40-49 years 208
50-59 years 113
60-69 years 21
70+ years 5

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2,200
Female 5,468
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 1,890
Not Diagnosed 36
These charts show data from high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: