AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on drugs, both medical and "recreational". Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease. I am already a well established and highly rated expert in the pharmacy section of this site.
Publications Principal author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" Editions 1-4 published between 1994 and 2004 by Pearson Education, Australia. Author of the 5th edition published 2007.
Author of many scientific papers.
Education/Credentials BSc(Hons);MSc;PhD;HECert
Awards and Honors The 4th edition of my textbook was awarded the the Educational Book of the Year Award in Australia.
Past/Present Clients See my profile in the pharmacy section.
Question I am asking for my husband, he is 45 yrs, thin, no early family history of heart disease but can not control cholesterol numbers, always HDL lower than 40, Tris over 200 , # ranging 250 if not on Cholesterol meds, is taking 20mg of simivestan a night-- but read this decreases sex drive , causes Breast enlargment, impotence, what is the BEST statin to NOT have these particular side effects. Is their a better statin for NOT affecting Male hormones??
Answer Dear Renee
It is very unusual for simvastatin or any other related drug to cause amn increase in sex drive or any other adverse effect you have described. I have known hundreds of men on statin drugs and have never met this complaint yet so let your husband take a statin to control his cholesterol levels. Personally I prefer one called atorvastatin. Exercise, oily fish eg sardines etc and moderate alcohol consumption can help increase HDL levels.
