Medicines That Remove or Reduce Plaque in Arteries

Arteries clogged with plaque contribute to cardiovascular diseases that claim more lives annually worldwide than any other condition. Heart attack, stroke and gangrene are possible results unless individuals pursue the lifestyle changes, medical procedures and medicines that remove or reduce plaque in arteries.

Significance

• The condition known as atherosclerosis occurs when a buildup of fatty deposits, called plaque, hardens and clogs the arteries, restricting delivery of oxygen and blood to various parts of the body. "Plaque is made up of deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium, and fibrin," according to Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals. "Atherosclerosis is a slow, progressive disease that may start as early as childhood."

  The overall condition is referred to as carotid arterial disease when the blockage occurs in the neck, coronary arterial disease when it affects the heart and peripheral arterial disease when healthy blood flow to arms and legs is restricted.

Cholesterol Medications

• Cholesterol is a significant contributor to the fat content present in plaque, so cholesterol medicines that remove or reduce plaque in arteries are a key component in the fight against the disease. "Aggressively lowering your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, can slow, stop or even reverse the buildup of fatty deposits in your arteries," says the Mayo Clinic. "Your doctor can choose from a range of cholesterol medications, including drugs known as statins and fibrates."

  Statins are grouped in a classification of drugs called antihyperlipidemic medications, and include simvastatin, atorvastatin, and pravastatin. The most common fibrate drug for reduction of cholesterol in heart patients is gemfibrozil. However, it is not especially effective in lowering LDL and, as a result, is used primarily in patients attempting to minimize high triglyceride levels. "Triglycerides are the chemical form in which most fat exists in food as well as in the body," The American Heart Association says. Colesevelam, cholestyramine, colestipol and nicotinic acid are additional medications used to treat high cholesterol and help remove or reduce plaque in arteries.

Other Medications

• Antiplatelet, anticoagulant and antihypertensive medications do not serve to rid the arteries of plaque but instead play a large part in minimizing the damage brought on by its accumulation. Antiplatelet medications work to make it easier for blood to flow through narrowed arteries by decreasing the propensity of platelets in the blood to stick together and cause clots. Aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine and dipyridamole are typically used for this goal. Anticoagulants, commonly called "blood thinners," are also favored by physicians in the fight against atherosclerosis. "These medications work differently than antiplatelet medications to decrease the ability of the blood to clot," according to New York Presbyterian Hospital. "An example of an anticoagulant is warfarin."

  Beta blockers or ACE inhibitors are part of a group of medications known as antihypertensives that work to lower blood pressure. This is especially important if a patient also has diabetes. Cilostazol provides pain relief for those suffering from an accumulation of plaque in the arteries of the leg. "An alternative to cilostazol is pentoxifylline; however, it's less effective," says the Mayo Clinic.