SITE RELAUNCHED AT doctorfox.co.uk
Omega 3 on prescription Maxepa and Omacor at Doctor Fox





What is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)?
Why is too much cholesterol harmful to health?
How many people have high cholesterol?
How will I benefit from statins and simvastatin?
How safe is statins, particularly simvastatin 10mg?
Apart from taking statins, what else can I do to reduce my risk?
Can I get cholesterol lowering statins and simvastatin on the NHS?
What should I tell my GP?
Where can I find more information?

ABOUT STATINS AND SIMVASTATIN
Who is eligible for simvastatin from cholesteroldoctors?
How to take simvastatin?
Can I drink alcohol whilst taking statins?
Can I exercise with statins and simvastatin?
Why do I need to avoid grapefruit juice?
Are there drugs I should not take with statins and simvastatin?
What side effects of statins should I look out for?
What happens if I stop taking statins?
Will statins and simvastatin lower my cholesterol too much?
Don't I need a cholesterol test before I take statins?
Do statins effect the liver?
Why should everyone see a GP about cholesterol and blood pressure?
Will I know simvastatin is working?
Are there alternatives drugs to simvastatin 10mg to lower cholesterol?

ABOUT ORDERING PRICES AND DELIVERY
What is the cost of treatment?
How do I know I am getting high quality statins?
How long does it take to receive my Simvastatin?
Can I order more than one month's supply of simvastatin?
Can I pay monthly?
Are refunds given on unused tablets?
Do I get a reminder to re-order?
Can I see the doctor's name?
How secure is my information?
What happens if my assessment answers change?
If I have a prescription from my GP can Cholesteroldoctors site provide medication?

OTHER QUESTIONS
What should I do if I do not qualify for a prescription?
I do not qualify for simvastatin. Does this mean I should not take it?
Shouldn't statins be reserved for people with high cholesterol?
Shouldn't blood pressure be checked first?
Why is the site for men 45-70 and women 55-70yrs?
Complaints and Feedback

SITE RELAUNCHED AT doctorfox.co.uk
Omega 3 on prescription Maxepa and Omacor at Doctor Fox

What is Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)?
Coronary Heart Disease is a term for a group of conditions arising from fatty deposits inside the arteries supplying blood to the heart. This can cause angina (heart pain), cardiac muscle damage (myocardial infarction or heart attack). Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the single leading cause of death for adults in the UK.
Back to Top
Why is too much cholesterol harmful to health?
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found among the lipid (fats) in the bloodstream and in all the body's cells. It is normal to have cholesterol and it is an important part of a healthy body. Too high a level of cholesterol in the blood is, however, a risk for CHD.

Back to Top
How many people have high cholesterol?
Two thirds of the UK populations over 40 have cholesterol above the recommended level.
Back to Top
How will I benefit from statins and simvastatin?
Cholesterol levels will be reduced within the first months of treatment. The risk of heart attack will be reduced by about 10% after the first year rising to around a third after three years. The benefits of statins apply when they are taken long term basis.

Stroke is also reduced by a similar amount.
Back to Top
How safe is statins, particularly simvastatin 10mg?
Very safe - Many millions of patients have been treated safely. Statins have been available in the UK for over 18 years. All medicines have the potential to cause side effects. Most of these side effects with statins are not serious.
Back to Top
Apart from taking statins, what else can I do to reduce my risk?
To reduce cholesterol you should eat foods low in saturated fat. You should control your weight and take regular exercise. See information pages.

None of these things are as effective as statins at reducing cholesterol.

Back to Top
Can I get cholesterol lowering statins and simvastatin on the NHS?
People with high cholesterol in the high risk group for coronary heart disease qualify for cholesterol lowering statins on the NHS. Cholesteroldoctors offers simvastatin to those in the moderate risk group.
Back to Top
What should I tell my GP?
At the results stage of the statins assessment you see a letter for your GP to download. You can print or email the letter for your GP.
Back to Top
Where can I find more information?
The links on this site to Simvastatin, Cholestereol, Heart Disease and Diet and Lifestyle provide detail. Further information about statins can be found at The British Heart Foundation.
Back to Top

ABOUT STATINS AND SIMVASTATIN

Who is eligible for simvastatin from cholesteroldoctors?
People whose assessment suggests moderate risk for coronary heart disease. If answers suggest higher or lower risk the site doctor will not prescribe simvastatin.

The doctor will also not prescribe simvastatin where there are complicating factors e.g. diabetes, or contraindications.
Back to Top
How to take simvastatin?
One 10mg simvastatin tablet taken daily at night.
Back to Top
Can I drink alcohol whilst taking statins?
Yes - but you should not routinely exceed the safe drinking limits of 4 units per day for men and 3 units and day for women.
Back to Top
Can I exercise with statins and simvastatin?
Yes - you can exercise normally whilst taking statins.
Back to Top
Why do I need to avoid grapefruit juice?
Grapefruit juice can significantly increase the level of statins and simvastatin in the blood. An occasional small glass is not dangerous.
Back to Top
Are there drugs I should not take with statins and simvastatin?
Yes - simvastatin will not be prescibed if you are taking interacting drugs. Interacting drugs are listed ont eh Simvastin page. The is also a list of the interacting drugs on the patient informataion leaflet supplied with your tablets. If in doubt about a new drug ask a pharmacist or doctor.
Back to Top
What side effects of statins should I look out for?
Unexplained muscle pain, weakness or aching and jaundice (yellowing of the skin) are important: stop taking simvastatin and see a GP. These are both very rare.

Back to Top
What happens if I stop taking statins?
Cholesterol will rise to its previous level and there will be no preventative effects. Some of the benefits of having taken statins will remain for a period depending on how long simvastatin was taken for.
Back to Top
Will statins and simvastatin lower my cholesterol too much?
No - there is no evidence that simvastatin 20mg could make your cholesterol 'too low'
Back to Top
Don't I need a cholesterol test before I take statins?
No - simvastatin can reduce cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease whatever the starting point.
Back to Top
Do statins effect the liver?
The likelihood of simvastain 10mg effecting the liver is eo low there is no need for liver tests whilst taking it.
Back to Top
Why should everyone see a GP about cholesterol and blood pressure?
To look for inherited high cholesterol and undetected high blood pressure both of which may need treatment.
Back to Top
Will I know simvastatin is working?
Prevention is the best outcome, in this case of coronary heart disease and stroke.

After two month's of treatment you should arrange to test your cholesterol. Results above 5.5 should be discussed with your GP. Your GP may recommend you continue simvastatin 10mg or recommend alternatives including other statins.

Back to Top
Are there alternatives drugs to simvastatin 10mg to lower cholesterol?
Yes - Simvastatin is one of a number of statins. Simvastatin 10mg has the advantage that it is safe to be taken without monitoring where coronary risk is moderate. The cost is also low.

Apart from statins there are other groups of drugs which lower cholesterol. These are used less frequently.
Back to Top

ABOUT ORDERING PRICES AND DELIVERY

What is the cost of treatment?
Assessment is free. Treatment including prescription, dispensing and postage of Simvastatin 10mg costs £5.50 per month or £66 per year.
Back to Top
How do I know I am getting high quality statins?
The pharmacy supplying the Simvastatin is registered and regulated in the UK. The Simvastatin 10mg tablets come from one of the largest UK suppliers
Back to Top
How long does it take to receive my Simvastatin?
Simvastatin tablets are sent by registered post on the first working day after the order is made.
Back to Top
Can I order more than one month's supply of simvastatin?
Yes - Orders of three, six or twelve month's Simvastatin can be made. You can also set up a regular payment of £5.50 a month to receive statins every three months. See prices page.
Back to Top
Can I pay monthly?
Yes - monthly payment of £5.50 gives you 354 tablets posted to you through the year in four deliveries.
Back to Top
Are refunds given on unused tablets?
Yes - refunds are given on any unused packs returned to the pharmacist.
Back to Top
Do I get a reminder to re-order?
Ten days before your tablets run out an email reminder to re-order will be sent.
Back to Top
Can I see the doctor's name?
The email you recieve confirming your order contains your doctor's name.
Back to Top
How secure is my information?
All data is stored securely under the requirements of the data protection act. Pescriptions sent from doctor to pharmacy are encrypted. Your information will not be passed on in anyway.
Back to Top
What happens if my assessment answers change?
You are asked to confirm your previous ansers each time you log on to the site. You then have the option to change your answers.
Back to Top
If I have a prescription from my GP can Cholesteroldoctors site provide medication?
The site doctors only prescribe simvastatin 10mg. If your GP gives a prescription our site pharmacy can supply any medication. A link to the site pharmacy is on the contact page.
Back to Top

OTHER QUESTIONS

What should I do if I do not qualify for a prescription?
You will be told why and be provided with a printable letter for your GP
Back to Top
I do not qualify for simvastatin. Does this mean I should not take it?
Not necessarily - You may benefit from statins even when you do not qualify for them at cholesteroldoctors. Your GP will be able to advise. You will see more information about this at results stage of the assessment.
Back to Top
Shouldn't statins be reserved for people with high cholesterol?
No - studies show the benefit to reducing coronary heart disease risk by reducing cholesterol does not depend of the starting cholesterol level.
Back to Top
Shouldn't blood pressure be checked first?
Everyone over 40 should have a blood pressure check. People with known high blood pressure (over 150/90) will not qualify for a prescription. It is not harmful for them to take simvastatin but they may require other treatment.
Back to Top
Why is the site for men 45-70 and women 55-70yrs?
The risk assessment only works for this age group. Some younger people can benefit from statins as do many older people but their assessment is outside the scope of the site.
Back to Top
Complaints and Feedback
Complaints and feedback can be made by email at directors@doctorfox.co.uk phone 0845 800800 or by post to Dr Steele, No. 7, 17 Randall Road, Clifton Wood, Bristol, BS8 4TP. Written complaints will be acknowledged within 2 working days and responded to in full within 20 days.

Complaints about the delivery, packaging and labelling should be directed to delivering pharmacy. details in confirmation email
Back to Top

 

Security   Terms and conditions   Copyright  
Cholesteroldoctors.co.uk is operated by the UK registered company Index Medical, No 7, 17 Randall Rd, Clifton Wood, Bristol BS8 4TP.
Statins Underused Statins - Dementia Simvastatin - Generics Statin Studies Statins Evenings Statins in Low-Risk Statins Prevent Vascular Statins-BP Statins-Alzheimer's Statins-CRP WOSCOP Hear Protection Study 4S Trial MRC Statins-Everyone Statin-Circulation Malaria tablets Malarone tablets Azithromycin Scopoderm Doxycycline Trimethoprim Viagra online Cialis Levitra Propecia Propecia tablets Champix tablets Ciprofloxacin DNA testing Aciclovir cream