Medications that lower Cholesterol

Studies by the American Heart Association have shown that lowering the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream through cholesterol drugs and a low cholesterol diet will lower heart attack risks for both men and women. This combination of cholesterol medications and foods that lower cholesterol is effective for both primary prevention (where the patient is at risk, but has never had a heart attack) and secondary prevention (preventing further attacks in heart attack patients).

How Does Cholesterol Medication Work?

The most widely used cholesterol drugs used today for the lowering of low density lipids or LDL cholesterol (the so-called bad cholesterol) are in a group called statins. The statin drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme that causes the liver to create cholesterol . This drug also makes the liver cells more receptive to LDL cholesterol. The liver then removes the LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Another common cholesterol medication is nicotinic acid. Nicotinic acid is often used to raise the patient's level of HDL cholesterol (also known as good cholesterol). HDL cholesterol works to counterbalance the negative effects of LDL cholesterol in the body. Cholesterol drugs based on fibric acid also work to raise the body's level of HDL cholesterol.

Are There Side Effects to Cholesterol Medication?

Almost all medications have some side effects and drugs that reduce cholesterol are no exception. Fortunately, most of these side effects are insignificant. Statins, nicotinic acid and fibric acids can all cause minor digestive disturbances, ranging from nausea and headaches to diarrhea and constipation. These conditions usually disappear in the course of treatment, as the body becomes accustomed to the drug. The same is true of the sudden flushing of the face sometimes caused by nicotinic acid. All of these cholesterol lowering drugs are prone to interact with other drugs and symptoms - such as sudden, severe muscle or joint pain - should be reported to a doctor immediately.

--M.A.D.