High Cholesterol drugs: Consider the options
If a weight-reduction plan and workout do not do sufficient, you can additionally want to take medicines to assist decrease your ldl cholesterol.
A healthful lifestyle is primary protection in opposition to excessive ldl cholesterol.
But from time to time weight-reduction plans and workouts are not sufficient. You can also additionally want to take ldl cholesterol medicines to assist: Decrease your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ldl cholesterol, the “bad” ldl cholesterol that will increase the chance of coronary heart disorder Decrease your triglycerides, a form of fats withinside the blood that still will increase the chance of coronary heart disorder Increase your excessive-density lipoprotein (HDL) ldl cholesterol, the “good” ldl cholesterol that gives safety from coronary heart disorder Your physician would possibly propose an unmarried drug or an aggregate of ldl cholesterol medicines.
Here’s an outline of the professionals and cons for not unusual place instructions of LDL cholesterol medicines.
Read also: Potassium Chloride
High Cholesterol medicaments benefits and side effects:
| Drug class | Benefits | Possible side effects |
|---|---|---|
| Statins Atorvastatin (Lipitor) Fluvastatin (Lescol XL) Lovastatin (Altoprev) Pitavastatin (Livalo) Pravastatin (Pravachol) Rosuvastatin (Crestor) Simvastatin (Zocor) | Decrease LDL and triglycerides; slightly increase HDL | Muscle pain, increased blood sugar levels, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, the elevation of liver enzymes |
| Cholesterol absorption inhibitor Ezetimibe (Zetia) | Decreases LDL; slightly decreases triglycerides; slightly increases HDL | Stomach pain, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle soreness; avoid during pregnancy and lactation |
| PCSK9 inhibitors Alirocumab (Praluent) Evolocumab (Repatha) | Decrease LDL; usually reserved for people who have a genetic condition that causes very high LDL levels or people with heart disease who cannot tolerate statins or other cholesterol-lowering drugs | Itching, swelling, pain or bruising at injection site |
| Citrate lyase inhibitors Bempedoic acid (Nexletol) Bempedoic acid-ezetimibe (Nexlizet) | Decrease LDL | Muscle spasms and joint pain, including acute gout |
| Bile acid sequestrants Cholestyramine (Prevalite) Colesevelam (Welchol) Colestipol (Colestid) | Decrease LDL; may slightly increase HDL | Constipation, bloating, nausea, gas, heartburn |
| Combination cholesterol absorption inhibitor and statin Ezetimibe-simvastatin (Vytorin) | Decreases LDL and triglycerides; increases HDL | Stomach pain, fatigue, gas, constipation, abdominal pain, cramps, muscle soreness, pain and weakness |
| Combination of calcium channel blockers and statin Amlodipine-atorvastatin (Caduet) | The statin component decreases LDL and triglycerides; the calcium channel blocker lowers blood pressure | Facial and neck flushing, dizziness, heart palpitations, muscle soreness and pain, increased blood sugar levels, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, elevation of liver enzymes |
| Fibrates Fenofibrate (Antara, Lipofen, others) Gemfibrozil (Lopid) | Decrease triglycerides; modestly decrease LDL; increase HDL | Nausea, stomach pain, muscle pain |
| Niacin Prescription niacin (Niacor, Niaspan) | Decreases LDL and triglycerides; increases HDL | Facial and neck flushing, itching, stomach upset, increase in blood sugar |
| Omega-3 fatty acids Prescription versions include Lovaza, Omacor and Vascepa | Decrease triglycerides; may increase HDL | Belching, fishy taste, and indigestion; may increase the risk of bleeding |
Read also: 8 Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Benefits and side effects
