Bobbie,

Thanks for your question.  As your doctor probably explained, your Cholesterol and LDL are high and need to be treated.  Fortunately, you do not have heart disease, but your family history is positive for heart disease.  The dosage chosen for you is standard.  When starting a medication like this, it is not known how people will respond to a particular dose, and it's better to build up to the correct dose.  That's why you will need monitoring of your levels.  Should you not obtain control, the dose of the prevastatin (Pravachol) may need to be increased.   These medications take several weeks to have a full effect.

Medication, however, is only part of the treatment.  You will have to take a serious look at your lifestyle and diet.  If you're not on an exercise program, please consider starting one, and at the same time, adopt a healthier diet with an emphasis at controlling your Cholesterol.

Our website contains several areas that will help you.   Start with the sections Find and Manage.  Here you will find valuable information that is useful at this early stage of treatment.  Diet and exercise are also discussed.   Treating your high cholesterol will be a joint effort with your physician.

Best wishes.

Martin Cane, M.D.