Cholesterol - Learn about the different types of cholesterol-lowering medications and the benefits and sife effects in each category.
Cholesterol medications may help lower your cholesterol. Here are some cholesterol medication options.
High Cholesterol - Medications
Statins are the most effective and widely used medicines to treat high cholesterol. Evidence shows that statins can reduce the risk for heart attack, stroke, and death in people who are at high risk of a heart attack or stroke.3 Other medicines also lower cholesterol, and some may be used to lower triglycerides or raise HDL.
Some people can try diet and exercise for at least 3 months before medicines are started. But people who have coronary artery disease (CAD) should start taking medicines immediately.1
Other people who may need to start taking medicine as soon as possible include those who have a family history of early CAD, those who have inherited forms of high cholesterol, and those who have peripheral arterial disease or diabetes or who have had a previous heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor may follow NCEP and American Heart Association medicine guidelines in deciding whether you should take medicine to lower your cholesterol. The guidelines base treatment on your LDL level and your risk for CAD.
Cholesterol treatment guidelines will continue to evolve as experts learn more about how best to treat heart disease. But everyone can benefit from eating a balanced low-fat diet, getting regular exercise, and reducing other heart disease risks, such as smoking.
Medication Choices
The following medicines can be used to lower LDL and triglyceride levels in the blood and to raise HDL.
Crestor - CRESTOR ® (rosuvastatin calcium), a prescription medicine that treats high cholesterol and atherosclerosis.
Crestor is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Rosuvastatin reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Crestor is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood.
Crestor is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors
Crestor is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
Gemfibrozil - Gemfibrozil helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty acids) in the blood. High levels of these types of fat in the blood are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries).
Gemfibrozil is used to treat very high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with pancreatitis.
Gemfibrozil is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with high cholesterol and triglycerides who have not been helped by other treatment methods.
Lipitor - Lipitor (atorvastatin) is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Atorvastatin reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Lipitor is used to treat high cholesterol. Lipitor is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors.
Lipitor is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
Lowering high cholesterol in certain patients. It is used along with an appropriate diet. It is used in certain patients to reduce the risk of heart attack and chest pain caused by angina. It is also used to slow blood vessel blockage and to reduce the need for medical procedures to open blocked heart blood vessels. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Mevacor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, also known as a "statin." It works by reducing the production of certain fatty substances in the body, including cholesterol.
Pravachol - Pravastatin (marketed as Pravachol or Selektine) is a member of the drug class of statins, used for lowering cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease. Pravachol (pravastatin) is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Pravastatin reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Pravachol is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood.
Pravachol is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors
Pravachol is used in adults and children who are at least 8 years old.
Shuddha Guggulu - Shuddha Guggulu is a herb that helps regulate the lipid metabolism, showing excellent results in weight control and body fat reduction. It modulates your lipid profile.
Shuddha Guggulu lowers the cholesterol and triglycerides levels in blood, maintains and improves the HDL to LDL ratio, reduces the risk of occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and is recommended especially for smokers, overweight people and people, leading stressful life.
Tricor - TriCor helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty acids) in the blood. High levels of these types of fat in the blood are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries).
TriCor is used to treat high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels.
TriCor lowers elevated blood triglyceride levels by making the liver produce fewer triglycerides and increasing the elimination of triglycerides.
Vytorin - Vytorin is a prescription medication for controlling your blood cholesterol. It contains two active ingredients, ezetimibe and simvastatin. Vytorin provides the easiest way of lowering LDL (Low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol). With regular exercise and a diet low in calories you will reduce cholesterol, however, this routine along with Vytorin works wonders and cholesterol lowering will be faster.
Zetia - Zetia reduces the amount of cholesterol or other sterols that your body absorbs from your diet.
Zetia is used to treat high cholesterol, along with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. It is sometimes given with other cholesterol-lowering medications. It is also used to treat high blood sitosterol and campesterol along with diet therapy.
This medication is used either alone or with other drugs (e.g., HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or "statins"), along with a low cholesterol/low fat diet, to help lower cholesterol in the blood. Reducing cholesterol helps prevent strokes and heart attacks.
Zocor - Zocor is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Simvastatin reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL).
Zocor is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood.
Zocor is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors
Zocor is used in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.
