What are the cholesterol lowering medications?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:These are examples of drug categories and cholesterol-lowering drugs. It is up to your doctor to prescribe or recommend treatments. They are listed here for your reference only. If you are on any medications, let your doctor know, and be sure to tell him or her if you develop side effects from any medication.
- Statins
- Fibrates
- Bile Acid Binding Resins (Bile Acid Sequestrants)
- Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
- Niacin (Nicotinic Acid)
- Aspirin
Remember: Your positive lifestyle change program can help you even if you're taking cholesterol-lowering drugs -- and may keep your drug dose down.These are examples of drug categories and cholesterol-lowering drugs. It is up to your doctor to prescribe or recommend treatments. They are listed here for your reference only. If you are on any medications, let your doctor know, and be sure... More -
Piedmont Heart Institute answered:There are several classes of cholesterol-lowering medications. The most common and best-studied are the "statins" which act on the liver where cholesterol is made. These include the earlier generations: fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and the newer generations: simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and the newest medication in the class, pitavastatin (Lovalo).
Another medication that has been in use for decades is niacin, or the prescription form, Niaspan, which helps lower bad cholesterol and also increase good cholesterol. Niacin is available in many over-the-counter formats, however, these are less effective or not effective at all in changing cholesterol, so we typically recommend the prescription Niaspan.
Cholesterol absorption from the diet is another target for medications, the most notable of which is ezetimibe (Zetia). Bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol) are also used to reduce cholesterol from the diet. There are also drugs targeted against triglycerides, which are a type of fat that travels through the blood along with cholesterol and increase the risk of plaque buildup. These "fibrates" include gemfibrozil, fenofibrate (Tricor) and fenofibric acid (Trilipix).
There are other classes of medications that will be coming out in the next few years to address cholesterol-lowering as it is such an important aspect of preventing heart attacks and strokes.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulThere are several classes of cholesterol-lowering medications. The most common and best-studied are the "statins" which act on the liver where cholesterol is made. These include the earlier generations: fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin... More -
American Heart Association answered:Cholesterol-lowering drugs reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol and reduce triglycerides (a blood fat) depending on the class of drugs. Several classes of drugs are used to treat cholesterol including statins. People may be prescribed a combination therapy of drugs depending on their specific situations. Cholesterol-lowering drugs have been proven to reduce risks for heart disease. Due to potential side effects, patients who are taking most cholesterol-lowering drugs may need to have periodic liver function tests.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol and reduce triglycerides (a blood fat) depending on the class of drugs. Several classes of drugs are used to treat cholesterol... More -
Dr. Prarthana Beuria of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:There are many different types of medications available to lower cholesterol. The most common one used is a class of medicine called statin which block the body's ability to make cholesterol. Other medicines bind and block use of other components needed for cholesterol making. Your doctor can help determine which type of cholesterol medicine is best for you.There are many different types of medications available to lower cholesterol. The most common one used is a class of medicine called statin which block the body's ability to make cholesterol. Other medicines bind and block use of other components... More -
RealAge answered:Currently, there are medications from five major classes of drugs to treat people with unhealthy lipid levels, as well as medications that combine drugs from the different classes. Each has a different mechanism of action and modifies blood lipids to varying degrees. The five classes are divided into the following categories:
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins)
- Niacin
- Fibric acid derivatives
- Bile acid binding resins
- Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
Currently, there are medications from five major classes of drugs to treat people with unhealthy lipid levels, as well as medications that combine drugs from the different classes. Each has a different mechanism of action and modifies blood lipids... More -
Dr. Anthony Komaroff answered:The following are medications used to lower blood cholesterol levels:
- Statins: atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol, Pravigard PAC), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor)
- Bile acid binders: cholestyramine (LoCholest, Questran), colestipol (Colestid), colesevelam (WelChol)
- Ezetimibe: ezetimibe (Zetia)
- Cholesterol-lowering combination: ezetimibe plus simvastatin (Vytorin)
- Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates): fenofibrate (Lofibra, Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid)
- Niacin: Niacin/nicotinic acid (Advicor, Niacor, Niaspan
The following are medications used to lower blood cholesterol levels: Statins: atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol, Pravigard PAC), rosuvastatin... More
