My doctor prescribed cholesterol lowering medicines. Why?
Well, if you are asking yourself this, the answer is pretty simple - because your doctor seen it as an effective measure to treat your high cholesterol level. The risk of having a stroke or a heart attack is dramatically reduced if you lower your "bad" cholesterol (also known as LDL, or low-density lipoprotein). You can improve your cholesterol levels by numerous ways, including lifestyle changes, which are very important. Now, if these lifestyle changes do not show the necessary improvements in your cholesterol levels after 6 months or 1 year, your doctor may suggest medicine to lower your cholesterol.
Cholesterol lowering medicines
In order to treat high cholesterol levels, several types of medicine are used. The type of medicine that is right for you is discussed with your doctor, and you will both together establish which is better and if you need any other natural supplements combined with the treatment.
Statins - are also known as - CoA reductase inhibitors - help by slowing down the cholesterol production in your body. Also, these drugs help remove the cholesterol build-ups from your arteries.
Examples: Atorvastatin (brand name: Lipitor), lovastatin (brand names: Altocor, Mevacor), fluvastatin (brand name: Lescol), simvastatin (brand name: Zocor), rosuvastatin (brand name: Crestor), pravastatin (brand name: Pravachol).
Resins - are also known as fibric acid derivatives - help by lowering your LDL cholesterol level.
Examples: cholestyramine (brand names: Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (brand name: Welchol), colestipol (brand name: Colestid).
Fibrates - are also known as fibric acid derivatives - reduce the amount of triglycerides or fats in your body by increasing the level of "good" cholesterol also known as HDL or high-density lipoprotein and this way, it helps lower your cholesterol levels.
Examples: Gemfibrozil (brand name: Lopid), fenofibrate (brand names: Antara, Lofibra, Tricor).
Niacin - also called also called nicotinic acid - is a B vitamin. It can increase your HDL cholesterol level and lower your levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, when given in large doses. Niacin can be bought without a prescription, but it is not at all recommended that you take it to lower your cholesterol unless a doctor prescribes it for you because it has serious side effects.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors - These inhibitors help lower the cholesterol level in your body by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed by your intestines. Most of these medicines are given in combination with a statin. A general combination is of ezetimibe and simvastatin. An example of cholesterol absorption inhibitor is exetimibe (brand name: Zetia)
Jean Helmet is a content editor who focuses on a wide array of niche health topics. Her latest website - Natural Cholesterol Supplement focuses on cholesterol as a whole, and in partcular, a natural product our editors personally use with excellent health results known as - Cholest-Natural
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