LOWERING HIGH CHOLESTEROL - Part 7

Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines

Along with suggesting that you change the way you eat and exercise regularly, your doctor may prescribe medicines to help lower your cholesterol. Even if you begin drug treatment, you will need to continue TLC. Drug treatment controls but does not "cure" high blood cholesterol. Therefore, you must continue taking your medicine to keep your cholesterol level in the recommended range.

The five major types of cholesterol-lowering medicines are:

                   

Statins

• Very effective in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels
• Safe for most people
• Rare side effects to watch for are liver and muscle problems

Bile Acid Sequestrants

• Help lower LDL cholesterol levels
• Sometimes prescribed with statins
• Not usually prescribed as the only medicine to lower cholesterol

Nicotinic  Acid

• Lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and raises HDL  (good) cholesterol
• Should only be used under a doctor's supervision                   

Fibrates

• Lower triglycerides
• May increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels
• When used with a statin, may increase the chance of muscle problems

Ezetimibe

• Lowers LDL cholesterol
• May be used with statins or alone
• Acts within the intestine to block cholesterol absorption

When you are under treatment, you will be checked regularly to:

• Make sure your cholesterol level is controlled
• Check for other health problems

You may take medicines for other health problems. It is important that you take ALL medicines as your doctor prescribes. The combination of medicines may lower your risk for heart disease or heart attack.

                 

When trying to lower your cholesterol or keep it low, it is important to remember to follow your treatments for other conditions you may have, such as high blood pressure. Get help with quitting smoking and losing weight if they are risk factors for you.