What You Need To Know About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
If your doctor feels you need drugs to lower your cholesterol level, it's important to understand how these medications work as well as the potential benefits and side effects of these drugs. The first line of treatment to lower cholesterol begins with dietary changes, an exercise program and weight loss.
However, if these methods don't bring about the desired results, your doctor may prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs. There are many types of medications that are used; some may be prescribed individually or in conjunction with other drugs. Learning more about these medications will help you better manage your cholesterol level, thereby giving you the greatest benefits with the least amount of side effects.
Classes
There are four main groups of cholesterol-lowering drugs: statins, resins, fibrates and niacin. Each of these medications works on different angles to lower your bad cholesterol and make you more healthy.
Statins are also known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, and work in the liver to stop the development of cholesterol. Studies have shown that statin drugs work best at lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol, but don't have the same success in reducing triglyceride levels.
Resins act as bile acid-binding drugs, which simply mean they increase the removal of cholesterol from the body. As your body digests food, it uses cholesterol to make bile, another enzyme used in digestion. Resins bind themselves to bile. The liver increases the production of bile, which causes the body to use up more cholesterol. The end result is less cholesterol in your bloodstream.
Fibrates are in the best class of cholesterol drugs for lowering triglycerides, or blood fats, and increasing HDL, or good cholesterol. Unfortunately, they are not successful in bringing LDL, or bad cholesterol, levels down. Therefore, doctors will prescribe this type of medication in patients who have high triglycerides with low HDL, or if previous treatments have gotten the LDL to the desired goal. Most often, fibrates are used in conjunction with statin drugs. Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is useful in lowering triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and raising HDL levels. This medication targets the liver by affecting the production of blood fats.
Side Effects
Every drug has side effects and these four types of cholesterol drugs are no exception. Statins can have some mild reactions, but patients taking this medication must have regular liver function tests to make sure that organ is not being negatively affected. Since resins are active during the digestive process, people may experience some gastrointestinal disturbances. Because fibrates are not very effective in decreasing bad cholesterol levels, regular blood tests should be done to determine the patient's LDL levels. Niacin may cause toxicity, so routine liver functions tests must be performed. This drug can also raise blood sugar levels, which is a cause of concern for diabetic patients.
