hi I am after some help on what medication I should take. My current cholesterol levels without any med's are 1.09 HDL, 1.7 LDL & 2.8 Tri = 5.6 total cholesterol. I am in the high risk catergory as I had a stent fitted last year (April 12') in my LAD. Rest of the arteries were good so I think i have a good chance to keep my cardiovascular system in good order with the right approach from here on in. I am a non smoker. No diabetes issues. Since the stent I have reduced my weight from 106kg to 86kg's and radically changed by diet (now eating all the right foods, wasn't before unfortunately way to much junk food and lack of veges and fruit). My total cholesterol at the time of my stent issue was 6.4 (obviously way to high).

With 40mg of Lipitor (after the stent was fitted) my cholesterol plummeted to 2.2 total cholesterol (which I consider is way to low and sent my body into meltdown). With 20mg of Lipitor I can maintain a comfortable 3.5 total cholsterol.
With 145mg of Lipidil I can maintain a comfortable 4.5 total cholsterol

My problem is that the Lipitor caused me to have some neuropathy issues (confirmed by neruologist) and I stopped taking that drug after 5 months. I am still battling these issues to this day but feel like I am getting on top of them finally. My nero told me that it's to early to be going back onto statins at this stage and I am going to follow her advice, although my cardiologist thinks otherwise (but I'd expect that would be his approach as he's only concerned about my cholesterol levels).

I have just started some nicitinic acid (250mg x 3 times per day) as I figured this is a natural supplement but don't know much else about it. I also have some Questran Lite as an option also if the nicitinic acid doesn't work for me.

I am after your advice and direction please, given my above circumstances and situation where I really need to get my cholestrol level down, I want to go onto a lipid lowering drug (to compliment my diet and exercise plan) but I don't know enough about how all the above drugs work (such as the statins work on the HMG-CoA, what process does Lipidil use to lower cholesterol and could it also have the same effect on my nerves as the lipitor did????) and given that the statins had some a dramatic effect on my nerves I cannot afford to take something again that will inflame the whole situation again for me.

What would you recommend my best course of action be?