[Moose72]

Zyprexa has made my cholesterol too high. I knew that. Now my primary is giving me grief about it. I guess I have to be an angel and only eat salads. :-/

[hamster-bamster]

*****. The GP should be compassionate and supportive rather than...

How high? Maybe cholesterol-lowering drugs are needed before you can go off Zyprexa?

I am not sure eating salads would help lower your number. Here is a list of foods that would help with more likelihood:

Cholesterol: Top five foods to lower your numbers - MayoClinic.com

Grr... Seroquel is that way also. How are your Vitamin D levels? I live in the Pacific NW and mine were REALLY low. I only say that because when you Vitamin D levels are higher, your cholesterol/ lipid panel will go down slightly. Google it. I learned about it in a Food and Nutrition class. Usually during the summer when we have sun on a consistent basis, my Vitamin D goes up and cholesterol down. Just one thing to think about.

[aquaman]

Oh God I totally understand. Luckily my GP is pretty supportive because she knows about my history and meds. My cholesterol was high before the meds, then I started on Seroquel and it skyrocketed.

I knew it was bad when my GP called me at 8:30 at night to tell me how high my cholesterol was.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by Frenetic47

Grr... Seroquel is that way also. How are your Vitamin D levels? I live in the Pacific NW and mine were REALLY low. I only say that because when you Vitamin D levels are higher, your cholesterol/ lipid panel will go down slightly. Google it. I learned about it in a Food and Nutrition class. Usually during the summer when we have sun on a consistent basis, my Vitamin D goes up and cholesterol down. Just one thing to think about.

I have to take vit D now. Levels are low because of topomax.

[faerie_moon_x]

Isn't it fun how one medicine fixes one thing and breaks something else....

[Moose72]

Yes. How fun. Plus my dr prescribed fish oil . I'm allergic to seafood! Oh well. Insurance wouldn't cover that anyway.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Yes. How fun. Plus my dr prescribed fish oil . I'm allergic to seafood! Oh well. Insurance wouldn't cover that anyway.

The bottled oil is expensive, but the capsules are pretty reasonable at Costco.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

The bottled oil is expensive, but the capsules are pretty reasonable at Costco.

Right but I can't eat fish.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Right but I can't eat fish.

meaning, not even in capsules?

how about flax seed oil then?

[Travelinglady]

Maybe ask a pharmacist if fish oil causes allergies in people allergic to fish. Is it all kinds of fish?

I tried the food way. Finally got tired of being hounded about my over 300 cholesterol level. Now I'm back on Prevastatin. Sigh.

[Moose72]

I used to be able to eat fish. But all types if seafood make my tongue and lips go numb and its hard to breathe.

[venusss]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

*****. The GP should be compassionate and supportive rather than...

How high? Maybe cholesterol-lowering drugs are needed before you can go off Zyprexa?

I am not sure eating salads would help lower your number. Here is a list of foods that would help with more likelihood:

Cholesterol: Top five foods to lower your numbers - MayoClinic.com

garlic too. And sauerkraut.

[~Christina]

Bummer

Depending on how high it is ... Diet control ? or prescription medications ? Verify with your Doctor about the fish oil...

My mom took Niacin (otc) and dropped her #'s over 40 points.

Hope you find a way that helps bring it down but , also works for you and lifestyle

[Moose72]

Niacin gives me horrible flushes

[Moose72]

Probably end up exercise and diet but the Zyprexa is working against me.

[Moose72]

Right now I want a nap. It's way too late for one! That's the Zyprexa talking.

[Moose72]

I'm on 2.5 x 4 Zyprexa

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Moose72

I'm on 2.5 x 4 Zyprexa

My p-doc friend says that if you are bound to gain weight from a medication, you will start gaining weight even at low dosages.

I looked up dose-dependence of the weight gain on Zyprexa a bit and it seems to be not very much dose-dependent - see Weight Gain 'mechanism'? Dose Dependant? - Zyprexa (olanzapine) - The Crazy Meds Forum: Crazy Meds Talk ver 9.0

[Anika.]

Hemp seed is an excellent source of omegas just as fish oil plus you dont have to worry about contaminents like mercury. A bag of hemp seeds is about $10 here so maybe a little cheaper there, and a bag lasts a long time. Just refridgerate them and grind them in a coffee grinder or food processor and sprinkle on your food. Has a nice mild nutty flavor. Or you can put them straight on your food without grinding. Good on salad, in cereal or whatever you want. Might be a good option Moose. I use a brand called hemp hearts and they are pretty yummy. Don't make you go to the bathroom as much as flax seed but flax is also a good alternative to fish oil as Hamster suggested.

You can also get hemp oil, it's green and you can use it in place of other oils or butter and margerine. Tastes pretty good on toast. Even my kids like it.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Zyprexa has made my cholesterol too high. I knew that. Now my primary is giving me grief about it. I guess I have to be an angel and only eat salads. :-/

I certainly don't think doctors should be nasty about such things, I don't know if this was the case for you. But it is their job, in caring for you, to point out problems and make suggestions on how to improve them. I don't think it's any more or less someone's 'fault' whether it's due to medications making one overeat or, for example, overeating as a way to cope with anxiety.

I'm seeing a new PCP on Friday and I've gained a lot of weight since my Seroquel dose was increased, so it's possible that my cholesterol is high, we'll see. If that ends up being the case of course he'll being it up and suggest I lose weight. But there would be no point in me saying, 'but it's not my fault, I'm taking this med.' It doesn't matter why, in my opinion, we just have to do whatever we can to improve. And it's REALLY tough. But I'm sure it's tough for people who have high cholesterol for other reasons as well.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by ultramar

I certainly don't think doctors should be nasty about such things, I don't know if this was the case for you. But it is their job, in caring for you, to point out problems and make suggestions on how to improve them. I don't think it's any more or less someone's 'fault' whether it's due to medications making one overeat or, for example, overeating as a way to cope with anxiety.

No. Zyprexa is the worst in its class, Moose' GP should know that Moose has been taking it, and should not have delivered a generic message to her. No.

[ultramar]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

No. Zyprexa is the worst in its class, Moose' GP should know that Moose has been taking it, and should not have delivered a generic message to her. No.

Sorry, I misunderstood, I didn't know Moose's GP didn't know he was taking it. Of course he/she should have known and understood that to be the cause instead of giving her a generic message.

[Moose72]

Yes both the drs are in the same system and adjoining buildings so they should know what I'm on and who's prescribed it.

[Moose72]

Ill look up those other omega 3 sources.