What are the cholesterol-lowering drugs

High cholesterol is closely related to many habits in our lives. Overeating and eating various high-fat foods every day are one of the reasons for high cholesterol. People with high cholesterol are more likely to suffer from fatty liver, which is more harmful to the body. When your cholesterol is high, you must first control your diet. Eat more protein-rich foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and quit drinking. You can also eat more foods that lower cholesterol, such as oats, corn, yam, apples, etc. Now let’s talk about the types of cholesterol-lowering drugs.

1. Statins

It is used as first-line treatment for most people with hyperlipidemia (excess blood cholesterol). Statins block the production of specific enzymes in the body that make cholesterol. This class of drugs has been shown to reduce the risk of a first heart attack, as well as recurrent heart attacks and strokes in people with known illnesses. This class of drugs has also been shown to reduce the risk of death in patients with heart failure. Statins are significantly effective in lowering low-density lipoprotein and are also somewhat effective in lowering triglycerides.

2. Bile Acid Binding Resins

Because the liver removes cholesterol from the blood to make bile, bile acid binding resins prevent the recirculation of bile acids in the intestine, thereby forcing the liver to remove more cholesterol from the blood in order to make more bile. Bile acid binding resins are usually taken as a powder or chewable stick. However, many patients experience gastrointestinal discomfort when taking this type of medicine. Bile acid binding resins can also bind to other substances, such as fat-soluble vitamins, the heart drug digoxin, and the anticoagulant warfarin.

3. Niacin

Also known as vitamin B3, in large doses, it is very effective in lowering triglycerides and increasing high-density lipoprotein levels. This product can also lower LDL levels, but not as effectively as other cholesterol-lowering drugs. When taking this product to treat high cholesterol, increase the dose slowly to a high dose. Taking too much of this product can cause some significant side effects, including flushing, palpitations, nausea, and even individual cases of liver poisoning (especially when taking the immediate-release formulation). Even with appropriate incremental doses, approximately 50% of patients find this drug difficult to tolerate.

4. Fibrates

These are derivatives of phenoxy acid, which reduce the production of triglycerides and increase the rate at which existing triglycerides are cleared from the bloodstream. Fibrates significantly lower triglyceride levels and modestly raise HDL (good) levels in most patients but have little effect on lowering LDL (bad) levels.

5. Ezetimibe

It is a representative of a new class of drugs that directly controls cholesterol absorption in the small intestine (the difference is that the bile acid binding resin binds to bile acids in the intestine). Ezetimibe is usually used in combination with statins to increase the reduction of low-density lipoprotein levels by 25%. It is also used alone.