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What is the best drug medication to lower your cholesterol levels?

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Cholesterol:  LDL cholesterol can build up on the inside of artery walls, contributing to artery blockages that can lead to heart attacks. Higher LDL cholesterol levels mean higher risk. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as "good" cholesterol because it helps prevent arteries from becoming clogged. Higher HDL cholesterol levels generally mean lower risk.

Lower LDL cholesterol: with diet and exercise:  If your LDL is too high, your doctor will probably suggest exercise, eating less food high in cholesterol and eating foods known to lower cholesterol.  Eating more soluble fiber, found in oatmeal, beans, fruits and vegetables, and less saturated fat and cholesterol can improve your cholesterol levels but it often is not enough to lower someone above "borderline high" into what is considered heatlhy levels for LDL and HDL cholesterol.  Often the next step is for your doctor to recommend a special class of drugs called "satins" that reduce cholesterol. 

Satins are not "magic pills."  You will still need to follow a healthy diet and exercise.

These Statins are currently available on the U.S. market:

Your doctor may suggest a single satin drug or a combination of cholesterol lowering medications such as Niaspan, a prescription form of Niacin also known as vitamin B-3.   Niacin reduces LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and it increases HDL cholesterol.

All drugs MUST only be used under a doctor's care as they all have side effects and interactions with other drugs that could be dangerous.

This table below, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic, compares thef benefits, cautions and possible side effects for common classes of cholesterol medications.


Brand and generic drug names Drug class Benefits Cautions and possible side effects

Altoprev (lovastatin)
Crestor (rosuvastatin)
Lescol (fluvastatin)
Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Mevacor (lovastatin)
Pravachol (pravastatin)
Zocor (simvastatin)

Statins Decrease LDL and triglycerides, slightly increase HDL Constipation, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, muscle soreness, pain and weakness, possible interaction with grapefruit juice

Colestid (colestipol)
Questran (cholestyramine)
Welchol (colesevelam)

Bile acid binding resins Decrease LDL Constipation, bloating, nausea, gas, may increase triglycerides
Zetia (ezetimibe)

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors

Decrease LDL, slightly decrease triglycerides, slightly increase HDL Stomach pain, fatigue, muscle soreness
Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin) Combination cholesterol absorption inhibitor and statin Decreases LDL and triglycerides, increases HDL Stomach pain, fatigue, gas, constipation, abdominal pain, cramps, muscle soreness, pain and weakness, possible interaction with grapefruit juice

Lofibra (fenofibrate)
Lopid (gemfibrozil)
TriCor (fenofibrate)

Fibrates Decrease triglycerides, increase HDL Nausea, stomach pain, gallstones

Niaspan (prescription niacin)
Slo-Niacin (nonprescription niacin)

Niacin (vitamin B-3, nicotinic acid)

Decreases LDL and triglycerides, increases HDL

Facial and neck flushing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gout, high blood sugar, peptic ulcers

Advicor (niacin/lovastatin) Combination statin and niacin Decreases LDL and triglycerides, increases HDL Facial and neck flushing, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, possible interaction with grapefruit juice


 


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