Dear Dr. Donohue • My doctor prescribed statin drugs to control my LDL cholesterol. First I took lovastatin (Mevacor) and then simvastatin (Zocor), but I had muscle pain and weakness with them. I am reluctant to start the pravastatin (Pravachol) that he has now prescribed. Are there alternatives? How about Endur-acin? CoQ10 has been suggested. — D.L.

Answer • Statins are the most potent cholesterol-lowering drugs, including lowering LDL cholesterol — bad cholesterol, the kind that clings to artery walls. They've been around for 20 years, and their safety record has been good. Some people develop muscle pain. Those people can try a different statin. You did. However, you might be reacting a bit too fast in rejecting pravastatin (Pravachol). It is the statin that most infrequently is involved with muscle complaints.

I don't know any herb on the list of herbs you included (in an edited part of the letter) that compare with medicines for cholesterol control. However, there are things you can do to lower cholesterol, including reducing your saturated fat and cholesterol intake. Saturated fats are the fats found in many meats, whole-fat dairy products and many other commercially prepared foods. You have to look on the label. Omega-3 fatty acids lower cholesterol. They're found in fish. If you don't like fish, take omega-3s in pill form.

Questran, Colestid, Welchol and Zetia are cholesterol-lowering drugs that are unrelated to statins.

Niacin can increase HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) and lower triglycerides, fats that also figure into artery clogging. Endur-acin is a slow-release preparation of niacin that lessens flushing, one of the side effects of niacin.

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is an antioxidant made by the body and also is available in pill form. Antioxidants counter the damaging byproducts coming from cell chemistry. I don't see any references mentioning that it lowers cholesterol.

Readers can order a booklet about cholesterol by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 201, Box 536475, Orlando, Fla. 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order for $4.75 with the recipient's printed name and address.

Dear Dr. Donohue • Please give me some information on the Muse for erectile dysfunction. — L.G.

Answer • The Muse system includes a device that delivers a small pellet of the drug alprostadil into the penis. Alprostadil dilates arteries so that blood floods into the penis to produce an erection in about seven minutes. It's successful about 65 percent of the time.

Side effects include discomfort or pain from the injection and, rarely, a drop in blood pressure.

Have you tried the oral erectile dysfunction medicines? If they have failed, Muse might work. It employs a different drug.

Write Dr. Donohue at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, Fla. 32853-6475.