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 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.
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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)

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

(Neurontin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
21
Tried for
pain (16) anxious mood (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
20
Tried for
pain (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Pravachol)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
20
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
18
Tried for
anxious mood (18)
Treatment name(s)

(Zocor)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
18
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (18)
Treatment name(s)

(Vistaril)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
17
Tried for
anxious mood (17)
Treatment name(s)

(BuSpar)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
16
Tried for
anxious mood (14) depressed mood (5)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
16
Tried for
depressed mood (13) pain (4)
2 more
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) (43 evaluations)
Side effects
muscle pain charley horses in calves 4 more
Total evaluations
52
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (97)
Treatment name(s)

(Crestor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (7 evaluations)
Side effects
bad mood
Total evaluations
9
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (25)
Treatment name(s)

(Neurontin)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (33 evaluations)
Side effects
brain fog drowsiness 7 more
Total evaluations
43
Tried for
pain (16) anxious mood (4)
1 more
Treatment name(s)

(Norco)
Perceived effectiveness
for pain (9 evaluations)
Side effects
chronic constipation irritable bowel syndrome 2 more
Total evaluations
10
Tried for
pain (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Pravachol)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (5 evaluations)
Side effects
frequent urination muscle weakness
Total evaluations
5
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (20)
Treatment name(s)

(Klonopin)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (18 evaluations)
Side effects
sleepiness bipolar depressive episodes 4 more
Total evaluations
19
Tried for
anxious mood (18)
Treatment name(s)

(Zocor)
Perceived effectiveness
for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (15 evaluations)
Side effects
restless legs at night
Total evaluations
15
Tried for
high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) (18)
Treatment name(s)

(Vistaril)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (19 evaluations)
Side effects
drowsiness brain fog 7 more
Total evaluations
19
Tried for
anxious mood (17)
Treatment name(s)

(BuSpar)
Perceived effectiveness
for anxious mood (17 evaluations)
Side effects
abdominal pain sedation
Total evaluations
20
Tried for
anxious mood (14) depressed mood (5)
Treatment name(s)

(Cymbalta)
Perceived effectiveness
for depressed mood (19 evaluations)
Side effects
abdominal pain bipolar depressive episodes 33 more
Total evaluations
23
Tried for
depressed mood (13) pain (4)
2 more
  • 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 2
20s 55
30s 306
40s 1171
50s 2699
60s 2743
70+ 959

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 2338
Female 5673
Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 1973
Not Diagnosed 37
These charts show data from high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) patients who have completed their condition history
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