Time Required for Statins to Affect LDL Levels

Statins are prescription drugs. They go under numerous brand names such as Lipitor and Crestor. Their purpose is to lower the cholesterol level in the blood. Cholesterol is a substance found in the blood. It is an essential substance, but too much cholesterol can build up in the arteries and effect the blood flow. There are different types of cholesterol. One such type is LDL, low-density lipoprotein, which is sometimes referred to as "bad" cholesterol.

Test

• A simple blood test reveals LDL levels.

  Cholesterol levels are determined by a blood test. The test measures the level of cholesterol by milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dL). The typical test will measure three levels including LDL. According to the Mayo Clinic, levels of LDL from 130 to 159 mg/dL are borderline high and levels from 160 to 189 mg/dL are high. Anything 190 and over are very high. In order to lower those high numbers, a statin can be prescribed. Statins can block the body from manufacturing cholesterol and also can dissolve existing cholesterol, thus lowering the numbers.

Time Frame

• Statins will lower LDL levels. The dose of statin prescribed will depend upon the level in the test. The higher the level of LDL the stronger the dosage. The purpose of the statin is to lower the LDL to an acceptable level. The time it takes to accomplish that purpose will depend upon the individual, the dose and how the drug works.

Time Tests

• Six weeks is a short period of time for results.

  Statins start working fairly quickly. Due to the inconvenience of the blood test and the cost, patients do not get tested every week. In one randomized test using four different statins and reported by John Hopkins Medicine, after six weeks LDL levels were lowered 20 to 55 percent. The wide range depended upon the patient and the type of statin used. Statins lower cholesterol by a minimum of 20 percent using the same basic action, inhibiting an enzyme that controls cholesterol production in the liver, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

Patients

• Diet affects LDL levels.

  The time to affect LDL levels varies from patient to patient. Part of the variance is the beginning level. Just as it is easier to lose 10 pounds if a person is obese as compared to being slightly overweight, it is easier to lower the LDL level 20 mg/dL if the level was very high at the start. In addition, LDL levels are the result of diet and exercise, so a patient following a prescribed diet and exercising will have better results from the statins than a person who is not following the diet and is not exercising. No two people will be alike, so no results will be alike.

Drugs

• Different statins produce different results.

  The tests as reported by John Hopkins showed that certain brands of statins produced better results in lowering LDL levels, thus meaning they work faster. However, since there are other factors involved, such as diet and exercise, it is not possible to say one statin is the best. The report also notes side effects, so the fact that one statin works faster is not necessarily the deciding factor in the effort to lower LDL levels.