Just before taking biologics more than a year ago my cholesterol was 170
Now it is 193. I am wondering if these medications have anything to do with it. And if it does is anyone concerned. I am not overweight so I know that is not the problem. My sister is about 50 lbs overweight and her cholesterol is 163.
I am not sure if the biologics could cause the cholesterol to go higher. But when my cholesterol went up earlier this year my doc tested for hypothyroidism and found that was the cause of the cholesterol spike. now I take thyroxine and lipitor.Yes, my rheumy told me that the biologicals CAN raise your cholesterol. Mine usually ran in the 260's, the last check this May showed it at 301, that was after being on humira 9 months. Even though my bp and pulse are also high, they don't seem overly concerned. I have not pushed the issue and I am trying to lower it with diet and just started my water class for exercise. I have heard the drugs to lower the cholesterol can cause muscle aches and fatigue, two things I already have more of than I can handle!
Mine went down this year. I haven't been on biologics for any great amount of time. I don't know what will happen when it goes up, because I don't know that I am in favor of another med that will destroy my liver...I have four already.
Thinkthinn - I am not on biologics, but my levels soared in 2004 and it culminated in pancreatitis (my Mom died of pancreatic cancer and its hereditary) and the removal of an infected diseased gallbladder in 2005, finally. Then my levels dropped back down to normal.
I guess I am trying to say here that having off the wall readings can point to a number of other problems, as organs can be affected by autoimmune disease. I hope to stay away from having to go on biologics, and BEST OF LUCK.
I have been on Humira for 2 years now--my went down. I am more active. I had a couple of real bad years before idiagnosed.Have been on Enbrel and now Remicade and have normal choles, trigly, and ratio. Choles have risen some but are still within normal range. Mine were always unusually low in the 150's and are now heading towards 200 but aging is a factor. They've stabilized and I don't expect them to go any higher. I'm dieting and don't eat any processed foods or sugar. Lindy