Preparing questions in advance can help patients have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions and treatments. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions about cholesterol drugs:

1. Do you recommend cholesterol drugs for me?
   
   
2. Can improvements in diet and exercise decrease or end my need for these drugs?
   
   
3. Which drug am I being prescribed? What class of cholesterol drugs is it in? Does it reduce bad cholesterol, or does it reduce the bad and increase good cholesterol?
   
   
4. What is my dosage and frequency?
   
   
5. How and when should I take the drug?
   
   
6. What should I do if I forget a dose or take an extra dose?
   
   
7. What side effects might I experience from cholesterol drugs?
   
   
8. At what point should I inform you of side effects?
   
   
9. Can this drug affect my risk of kidney disease, kidney failure or other problems?
   
   
10. Can this drug affect my blood sugar or have other effects on my diabetes?
    
    
11. What sort of monitoring is needed for safety, and how often? Should I have microalbuminuria tests or other testing to detect kidney damage? How often do I need a blood test to monitor my liver function?
    
    
12. A relative experienced pain and other problems after taking statins and had to be prescribed another treatment. Am I at risk of these side effects?
    
    
13. Do statins or other cholesterol drugs have different effects on different racial groups? Am I in a group at increased risk?
    
    
14. What other treatments might be used if I can’t tolerate this drug?
    
    
15. Can this drug be safely used by pregnant women, nursing women, children or elders?