There are many types of cholesterol medicines available today. Learn about Statins, bile acid sequestrants, Niacin, and PCSK9 inhibitors. And learn about the side effects of each. Before taking a cholesterol medicine, consult your healthcare provider if you are pregnant. Pregnant women are particularly at risk for serious side effects, and should discuss their options with their healthcare provider. However, side effects may be minor or not serious at all.
Statins
Statins are cholesterol medicines. They are used to reduce LDL cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, statins need to be taken regularly for many years, and if stopped suddenly, cholesterol levels can increase. Statins come as a tablet that you take once a day. They usually start working within two to three months.
The main purpose of statins is to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA-Reductase. This enzyme speeds up the normal processes in the body. By reducing LDL, statins lower triglycerides, which are associated with heart disease and liver damage. Furthermore, statins can raise HDL-cholesterol, a type of cholesterol that helps to clear fat from the arteries. For this reason, statins are commonly prescribed for those with high LDL cholesterol levels.
Bile acid sequestrants
Bile acid sequestrants can be used to treat high cholesterol and may be prescribed alone or in combination with other medications. This medication can also interfere with absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and may increase the risk of bleeding. Moreover, bile acid sequestrants may interfere with the absorption of other medications, including vitamins A, D, K, and E. To avoid any possible interactions, patients should take bile acid sequestrants with plenty of water.
These medicines lower LDL or bad cholesterol levels by blocking the absorption of bile acids. Because the liver needs cholesterol from the blood to produce bile acid, too much cholesterol in the blood can block or narrow arteries. Bile acid sequestrants work by binding bile acids to cholesterol in the intestine, lowering cholesterol in the blood and reducing the risk of heart disease. These medicines may also help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
Niacin
Two Duke University researchers have uncovered a new relationship between niacin and cholesterol levels. Their discovery could lead to the revival of niacin-based cholesterol medicines. The two medicines work by activating different receptors, a process known as GPCR. This protein lies on the surface of cells throughout the body and manages a range of chemical signals. Niacin also activates GPCR. It is thought that these receptors trigger a process that leads to the formation of HDL cholesterol.
Both niacin and cholesterol medicines are used to treat coronary artery disease. However, there is no definitive evidence of a link between the two drugs. In one large randomized controlled trial, called HPS2-THRIVE, niacin improved heart disease risk scores in participants who were already at risk for the disease. Researchers administered the drug ER niacin to patients with high cholesterol levels. Participants also received a statin drug called ezetimibe.
PCSK9 inhibitors
PCSK9 inhibitors are cholesterol medicines. They lower LDL cholesterol levels. These medicines can be used alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering medications. In some patients, the cholesterol-lowering effect of PCSK9 inhibitors may be so great that it helps prevent heart attacks or strokes. Some patients may even benefit from this new treatment as a side effect of statin therapy. But this type of treatment is limited to certain patient groups.
Despite the potential for side effects, the effectiveness of PCSK9 inhibitors as cholesterol medicines is still unclear. In recent years, doctors have begun recommending PCSK9 inhibitors to high-risk patients with elevated cholesterol levels or a history of heart disease. The new guidelines have shifted the focus of treatment toward improving patients' LDL cholesterol levels. Patients should have a LDL cholesterol target of less than 70 mg/dl, which is typically achieved with high-dose statins.
Plant stanols
Recent studies have shown that plant stanols, which are derived from plants, may have a role in treating cholesterol. This natural compound lowers LDL cholesterol and may also have an effect on total cholesterol. A recent meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials found that plant stanols have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. The effectiveness of the substance is similar to that of cholesterol-lowering drugs, but this effect appears to be less pronounced than that of statins.
These new cholesterol medications may benefit people with high LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Plant stanols have also been found to improve lipid profiles in both statin-treated and non-stripped patients. This improvement is measured as the weighted mean difference (WMD) of the two groups. The WMD of the two groups is significant in both cases. Therefore, the benefits of plant stanols may be far greater than those of statins.
Fish oil
A new study suggests fish oil supplements may have a greater impact on lowering cholesterol (cholesterol kam karne ki dawa) than a popular drug. The FDA approved Vascepa, a prescription cholesterol medicine made from fish oil, as a preventative measure for high-risk patients. Though the drug is only available by prescription, it may benefit millions of people. In fact, nearly 95 million people in the United States have high cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease.
One study used more than 9000 healthy subjects who had at least two preventive medical examinations over a 10-year period. In each exam, patients were routinely measured for cholesterol and Omega-3 Index, and the researchers asked if they took any supplements of fish oil. Patients were asked whether they were using fish oil supplements at the time of their visits, and whether they continued to take them in between. The study also collected data on the levels of RBC DHA in their blood, which indicates a positive association with fish oil as a cholesterol medicine.
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