Cholesterol Articles A-Z
Lopid Precautions and Warnings
This eMedTV page covers Lopid precautions and warnings to be aware of and lists people who should not take Lopid (those with severe kidney or liver disease, for example). This page also lists conditions to tell your doctor about before taking Lopid.
Common Lopid side effects include diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal pain. This eMedTV Web page also lists side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately, such as unexplained rash or itching, and rare Lopid side effects like anemia.
The two main Lopid uses are treating high triglycerides and high cholesterol. This eMedTV segment explains how Lopid works and how it may help prevent other conditions like coronary heart disease.
As this eMedTV article explains, lovastatin is a prescription drug that is licensed for treating conditions such as high cholesterol and triglycerides. This page offers an in-depth look at lovastatin and its uses, dosing, and possible side effects.
This page on the eMedTV Web site discusses the prescription medication lovastatin extended-release, which is used to treat high cholesterol and high triglycerides. This article outlines uses, dosing, and alternatives for this medication.
Lovastatin side effects may include gas, nausea, and headache. This part of the eMedTV library offers a more complete list of common and rare lovastatin side effects, including information on symptoms you should report to your doctor immediately.
This eMedTV article explains that a low cholesterol diet should include plenty of plant-based products (such as fruits and vegetables) and limited amounts of animal-based products. Low cholesteral diet is a common misspelling of low cholesterol diet.
Foods containing soluble fiber have been shown to help lower cholesterol levels. This eMedTV segment offers an overview of cholesterol lowering foods. Low cholesteral diet foods is a common misspelling and variation of cholesterol lowering foods.
This eMedTV page offers food ideas for a low cholesterol diet (such as lean meats, whole grains, and vegetables). The goals of a low cholesterol diet are to eat more plant-based foods, cut back on animal protein, and reduce saturated and trans fats.
This page of the eMedTV website offers suggestions for incorporating low cholesterol food into a healthy diet. The best "low cholesterol food" is cholesterol-free food, including plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Low cholesterol foods include low-fat and fat-free dairy products, poultry, and most varieties of fish. This eMedTV segment provides examples of low cholesterol foods, including cholesterol free foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
As this portion of the eMedTV library explains, a person on a low cholesterol diet is encouraged to eat foods that are low in saturated fat and high in soluble fiber. Low colesterol diet is a common misspelling of low cholesterol diet.
This eMedTV article lists lifestyle changes (like losing weight) that can help lower cholesterol and drugs (such as statins) that may be used when lifestyle changes alone are not enough. Lower cholesteral is a common misspelling of lower cholesterol.
Working to lower cholesterol usually involves lifestyle changes, such as losing weight. This segment of the eMedTV library takes a detailed look at methods used to lower cholesterol, including lifestyle changes, medications, or a combination of both.
Lowering cholesterol starts with making lifestyle changes, such as losing weight. As this eMedTV Web page explains, medication may also be necessary in some cases. Lowering cholesteral is a common misspelling of lowering cholesterol.
Lowering cholesterol begins with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight and changing your diet. This page of the eMedTV website offers detailed information about lowering cholesterol through lifestyle changes, medications, or a combination of both.
Lowering Cholesterol to Prevent Heart Disease
Several studies have examined the value of lowering cholesterol to prevent heart disease. This section of the eMedTV library outlines the results of these studies, which show significant benefits to lowering cholesterol to prevent heart disease.
Lowering triglycerides may involve lifestyle changes such as losing weight and reducing alcohol consumption. This eMedTV Web page provides detailed information on these and other methods (such as medication and exercise) for lowering triglycerides.
| Most Commonly Prescribed Cholesterol Medications |
There are many types of medications used to treat high cholesterol. This video clip describes the medications used to treat high cholesterol.
Taking niacin and Pravachol together can increase the risk of developing serious muscle problems. This eMedTV segment further describes these severe muscle conditions and explains why a combination of the two drugs can increase the risks.
When niacin and Vytorin are used together, there is an increased risk of developing serious muscle problems. This eMedTV resource discusses the reaction between Vytorin and niacin in detail and describes the muscle problems that may occur.
Taking niacin and Zocor together generally isn't recommended. This eMedTV page explains how taking these drugs together can raise the risk of serious muscle problems. One of these problems, rhabdomyolysis, can lead to loss of life in some cases.
Niaspan is a prescription drug that lowers cholesterol and triglycerides in people who cannot lower their cholesterol through lifestyle changes alone. This eMedTV page covers Niaspan's uses, how it works, and how and when to take it.
Niaspan alternatives discussed in this eMedTV article include fibrates like Lofibra and Tricor, statins like Altoprev and Mevacor, and combination medicines. This article also lists factors that can affect which medication you are prescribed.
This eMedTV article suggests some remedies to try if you're taking Niaspan and insomnia becomes a problem, such as keeping a regular sleep-wake cycle and napping no later than 3 p.m. The article also lists common symptoms of insomnia.
This eMedTV page addresses numerous precautions and warnings related to Niaspan and liver problems, such as symptoms that may signify liver problems while you're taking Niaspan and pre-existing liver conditions that may preclude taking the drug at all.
As this eMedTV article explains, muscle pain is a rare Niaspan side effect. However, if you're taking Niaspan and muscle pain occurs, it could signify a very serious muscle condition. This page lists symptoms to report to your doctor right away.
Previous animal studies of Niaspan and pregnancy suggest that Niaspan could potentially harm a fetus. As this eMedTV page explains, a pregnant woman may take Niaspan if her doctor believes that its benefits outweigh the possible risk to the fetus.
This page on the eMedTV Web site lists things you can do if you're taking Niaspan and weight gain occurs, such as getting regular physical activity and eating a diet that features lean meats, nuts, and lots of fruits and vegetables.
The starting dose of Niaspan is 500 mg every night at bedtime. This eMedTV article lists the maximum recommended Niaspan dosage (2000 mg per day), as well as factors that affect Niaspan dosing (for example, the condition you're being treated for).
As this eMedTV page explains, Niaspan drug interactions can increase a person's risk of bleeding and cause dizziness and lightheadedness, among other things. This page lists drugs that Niaspan can interact with, such as warfarin, aspirin, and Calan.
Niaspan Precautions and Warnings
Some conditions to tell your doctor about before taking Niaspan include diabetes, gout, and liver failure. This eMedTV page also discusses the safety of pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Niaspan, among other Niaspan precautions and warnings.
As this eMedTV segment explains, flushing of the face and neck occurs in up to 88 percent of people who take Niaspan. This page also covers Niaspan side effects like headache, diarrhea, and stomach pain, and gives statistics on how often they occur.
This eMedTV page covers Niaspan uses, such as lowering cholesterol and triglycerides and reducing the chance of another heart attack in people with a history of a heart attack and high cholesterol. This page also covers how Niaspan works in the body.
Normal cholesterol levels can vary from person to person. However, as this eMedTV segment explains, most people are encouraged to have a total cholesterol of under 200. Normal cholesteral level is a common misspelling of normal cholesterol levels.
While it can vary, for most people, normal cholesterol levels include a total cholesterol under 200 mg/dL. This eMedTV Web page also explains ideal levels for HDL and LDL, and includes information about triglycerides.
Fenofibrate is a prescription drug that can help lower cholesterol and triglycerides. This eMedTV page provides a brief overview of the drug, including how it is taken and possible side effects. Phenofibrate is a common misspelling of fenofibrate.
Known as atherosclerosis, plaque buildup in the arteries can lead to various forms of heart disease. This eMedTV Web page explains how plaque is formed and outlines its role in causing problems like angina and heart attacks.
Policosanol is a type of herbal supplement that is claimed to help lower cholesterol. This eMedTV Web page provides an overview of policosanol, including information on how this herbal supplement may work, possible side effects, and safety concerns.
It may not be safe for breastfeeding women to use policosanol. This eMedTV page explains that no studies have been done on policosanol and breastfeeding, so it is not known if the supplement passes through breast milk or if it would cause problems.
It is not known if policosanol is safe for use during pregnancy. This eMedTV resource explains that there has not been enough research on policosanol and pregnancy, so it is probably a good idea for pregnant women to avoid this herbal supplement.
This eMedTV page explains that there are no established policosanol dosing guidelines, but some studies used a dosage of 5 mg to 10 mg twice daily for treating high cholesterol. This page also offers important tips on taking your policosanol dosage.
Policosanol drug interactions may increase your risk of bleeding. This portion of the eMedTV archives explains how drug interactions with policosanol may occur if you take this supplement with aspirin, heparin, clopidogrel, or other medications.
Potentially serious policosanol overdose symptoms may include internal bleeding. This eMedTV segment explores factors that may affect a policosanol overdose and covers the treatment options that are available if you take too much of the supplement.
This eMedTV Web segment looks at Policosanol supplements. Information discussed includes safety, whether it works, dosing information, side effects, and more.
Policosanol is a natural product that is claimed to lower cholesterol. This eMedTV page further describes policosanol, including possible side effects and what to tell your doctor before taking it. Policosinol is a common misspelling of policosanol.
As this eMedTV segment explains, Pravachol is a prescription drug that is used to treat conditions such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides. This page offers an overview of this statin drug and its effects, dosages, and potential side effects.
As this eMedTV resource explains, there are many other cholesterol medicines other than Pravachol. Alternatives include other statins or cholesterol medications. This article offers a list of alternatives to Pravachol, such as fluvastatin.