Cholesterol Drugs

Cholesterol drugs may be necessary when lifestyle changes alone are not enough to reduce cholesterol. The five major types of cholesterol drugs are: cholesterol absorption inhibitors, fibrates, statins, bile acid sequestrants, and nicotinic acid. Statins are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol drugs. While some cholesterol drugs are available without a prescription, you should take them as directed by your healthcare provider. Your doctor may combine cholesterol drugs to enhance their effectiveness and reduce side effects.

 

Cholesterol Drugs: An Overview

Usually, lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for
 lowering cholesterol. Unfortunately, treating high cholesterol with diet, weight control, and exercise does not always sufficiently control cholesterol levels. If lifestyle changes alone are not enough, your doctor can prescribe cholesterol drugs.
 
Your doctor will base his or her decision to prescribe cholesterol drugs on more than just the results of a cholesterol test. He or she will also determine if you are at risk for heart disease from other problems. The more risk factors for heart disease you have, the lower your LDL cholesterol level needs to be.
 
(Click Heart Attack Risk to determine your 10-year risk for a heart attack.)
 
If your healthcare provider does recommend cholesterol drugs, you have several options. Your doctor will recommend cholesterol drugs based on many factors, such as your cholesterol levels and other medical conditions you may have.
 
The five major types of cholesterol drugs include:
 
  • Fibrates
  • Statins
  • Bile acid sequestrants
  • Nicotinic acid
  • Cholesterol absorption inhibitors.
     
Cholesterol drugs can control cholesterol, but they do not "cure" high cholesterol. Therefore, you must continue taking your medicine to keep your cholesterol level in the recommended range.
 
(Cholesterol Drugs Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD