Cholesterol Medicine

When exercising, losing weight, and dietary changes do not reduce cholesterol to the desired level, medication may be necessary. Major types of medicine for cholesterol include statins, fibrates, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, and nicotinic acid. Statins are prescribed the most frequently, and are often combined with bile acid sequestrants to lower "bad" cholesterol levels by over 40 percent.

Cholesterol Medications: An Overview

The first step in
 cholesterol treatment involves lifestyle changes; however, for some people, treating high cholesterol with diet, weight control, and exercise is not enough. If lifestyle changes alone are not effective, your doctor can prescribe cholesterol medicine.
 
Your healthcare provider will base his or her decision to prescribe medicine on more than just the results of a cholesterol test. He or she will also look to see if you are at risk for heart disease from other problems. The more risk factors you have, the lower your LDL cholesterol level needs to be.
 
(Click Heart Attack Risk to determine your 10-year risk.)
 
The type of medicine for cholesterol your doctor recommends will be based on many things, like your cholesterol levels and other medical conditions.
 
The five major types of medication used to treat high cholesterol include:
 
  • Statins
  • Bile acid sequestrants
  • Fibrates
  • Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
  • Nicotinic acid.
     
Medicine does not "cure" high cholesterol; you must continue taking it to keep your cholesterol level in the recommended range.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
 
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