Different statins have different effects on different people. Also, Zetia isn't a statin; it works on dietary cholesterol not serum. It's subject to some controversy at the moment as well, concerning its efficacy.
I started out on Zocor 15 years ago after bypass surgery (total cholesterol before surgery ran 478). Then I joined a Pravachol study (apparently got the placebo, because my numbers shot up), then went back on Zocor. When Lipitor came out, my cardiologist (the local cholesterol guru who diagnosed my familial hypercholeserolemia and sent me to surgery immediately after she did my cath) called it "gorilla statin" because it was so aggressive. It worked great, and over the years we worked on lowering my LDL and triglycerides, and raising my HDL (I've been on 2000 mg. of time-release niacin since surgery).
A couple of years ago, my internist put me on Crestor (40 mg., which was supposed to be equivalent to the 80 mg. of Lipitor), but my LDL went up and he put me back on Lipitor and added Zetia. Since then my totals have been under 200, my HDL high, and my LDL low (though not as low as we'd like)--and that's without exercise because of my aortic problems, but with a decent diet. I'm also diabetic, but that's completely controlled by diet. Through my insurance, I only pay $20/mo. each for the Lipitor and Zetia.
Most people who can tolerate statins at all seem to do well enough on the generic version. There are also non-statin meds (cholestryamine) and plant sterols that work for some folks and can be obtained in a margarine substitute, yoghurt, cereal, etc. If you don't have a genetic defect like mine, and/or can't take statins and/or niacin, there are several new avenues that seem promising (some coming from traditional Chinese medicine, in fact).
Edit: ditto on the CoQ10, Nancy. I take 200 mg. a day, plus fish oil and an old fart multivitamin.
, I find a new pain most every day
