Other medications used to lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increase HDL levels include fibrates (fenofibrate Lipofen and gemfibrozil Lopid), niacin (Niaspan, Niacor), and omega-3 fatty acids (Omacor, Lovaza).Ĭommon Side Effects of Cholesterol-Lowering Medications Caduet, which is a combination of amlodipine and atorvastatin, includes a blood pressure-lowering drug and a cholesterol-lowering drug. Examples include evolocumab (Repatha) and alirocumab (Praluent).Ĭombination cholesterol-lowering medications include ezetimibe – simvastatin (Vytorin) which decreases LDL and triglycerides and increases HDL. They are administered by subcutaneous injection every 2-4 weeks. PCSK9 inhibitors are a class of drugs that are prescribed to people with very high LDL levels due to a genetic condition or those who cannot tolerate statins and other cholesterol-lowering medications. Examples include bempedoic acid (Nexletol) and bempedoic acid – ezetimibe combination (Nexlizet). The body uses cholesterol to make bile acids, thereby reducing LDL cholesterol levels in the blood.Ĭitrate lyase inhibitors decrease bad cholesterol (LDL) by blocking an enzyme that is essential for cholesterol synthesis. Examples include atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), lovastatin (Altoprev), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and pitavastatin (Livalo).Ĭholesterol absorption inhibitors like ezetimibe (Zetia) decrease the absorption of cholesterol from food in the intestines and decrease the delivery of dietary cholesterol to the liver.īile acid sequestrants include medications like cholestyramine (Prevalite), colestipol (Colestid), and colesevelam (Welchol) that increase the production of bile acids in the liver. These medications also slightly increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Statins are drugs that decrease LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood that increases the risk of heart disease). Your doctor can also prescribe medications to control cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, you can make dietary and lifestyle changes to improve your numbers. That is why it’s important to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly. If you are a smoker and/or have diabetes or high blood pressure, your risk is even higher.Īs noted, when you have high levels of cholesterol circulating in your blood, your risk of heart disease and stroke is increased. If the cholesterol is high enough for a long enough period, one or more arteries to these vital organs can get completely blocked, cutting off the blood supply and causing a heart attack or stroke. Too much bad cholesterol or too little good cholesterol increases the risk of atherosclerotic disease, a condition in which cholesterol slowly builds up on the inside of arteries that supply blood to the brain and heart. There are two types of cholesterol in the blood – HDL which is good and LDL which is bad. This added production can lead to excessively high cholesterol levels which are unhealthy. Foods that contain saturated and trans fats cause the liver to make more cholesterol. Some foods like meat, poultry, and dairy are rich sources of cholesterol. In the human body, cholesterol comes from two sources – some is manufactured in the liver, the rest comes from the food we eat. It is not inherently bad, however, too much cholesterol can cause problems. Cholesterol is a fatty or waxy substance that circulates in the blood, which the body needs to make hormones and vitamins and build cells.
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