Nearly 30 percent of Americans have high cholesterol their physicians often prescribe statins, and unfortunately a number of them suffer intolerable side effects.

"Doctor said casually, your cholesterol is like 360 that is the high end of normal," Phyllis Aldrich said.

For nearly 30 years Aldrich has been battling high cholesterol.

"He put me on the statins and I had some trouble with the statins over the years," she said.

While many patients are put on statins to lower cholesterol the drugs can have serious side effects, in rare cases it can damage the liver and kidneys and more.

“They can affect all the muscles, but the most common one on a daily basis, people can't walk across the room because it hurts," cardiologist Dr. Andrij Baran said.

Statins did reduce her cholesterol, but it came with a price.

"I have muscle weakness, I ended up with three different rotator repairs that weren't totally successful," Aldrich said.

Years ago Aldrich had a kidney transplant, worried her new kidney would be effected by the statins she was relieved when she was offered to take a new drug that does not effect the kidneys or have side effects. 

The drug is given every two weeks. 

"I never feel anything, no side effects, no nausea, no nothing," Aldrich said,

The new drug is proving to be very effective 

"Statins can reduce your cholesterol a lot sometimes by 50 percent and sometimes more, these will drop it an additional 70," Dr. Baran said.

The drug is intended for patients who are at high risk of heart disease, the drug introduces proteins that serve as receptors for bad cholesterol.

"The more receptors you have, the more bad cholesterol you can gobble up and clear your blood," Dr. Baran said.

It’s been only a few months since she started the drug, too early to know if it's working on reducing her cholesterol, but she does know it’s doing something else.

"I don't have pain, I'm so happy to have this because I love to move, I want my Pilates to work and I want to keep going as long as I can," Aldrich said.

Unfortunately the injectable medication is not for everyone, if you have any questions contact your cardiologist.