Cholesterol Reducing Drugs

If you are looking for a wonder drug to reduce your cholesterol levels, the Mayo Clinic says that one class of cholesterol-reducing drugs (the statins) are being called as much. But statins are just one of several drugs that help with lowering cholesterol levels. Others include: bile-acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid (niacin) and fibric acid.

Statins

• Statin drugs---like atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin---are often prescribed by the medical community when trying to reduce cholesterol levels. This is especially true for LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. This drug class is so popular for lowering cholesterol because it can be easily administered, is generally accepted by patients well, and has few drug-to-drug interactions, according to the American Heart Association.

Bile-Acid Sequestrants

• Although serious side effects aren't usually present when taking a bile-acid sequestrant drug like colesevelam, colestipol and cholestyramine, other side effects can occur. For example, use of bile-acid sequestrants increases triglyceride levels in the body. Therefore, even though this drug focuses on lowering LDL cholesterol, it is increasing triglyceride cholesterol.

  This might not be a concern if the individual using this medication has a low triglyceride level to begin with. However, if the individual's triglyceride level is already high, another medication besides a bile-acid sequestrant should be chosen, according to the American Heart Association.

Nicotinic Acid (Niacin)

• Nicotinic acid is available as a prescription as well as a dietary supplement. However, great caution should be exercised when using niacin in supplement form for several reasons. One, it isn't regulated by the FDA like its prescription counterpart. Therefore, the label may indicate one thing about strength, when in actuality it could contain more or less niacin than stated.

  Two, this potential variance in the strength listed on the label versus actual strength of the supplement could result in overdose side effects or other serious side effects. Therefore, if a doctor has provided a prescription for niacin, that is what should be taken, not the supplement form. Niacin is usually prescribed to lower unusually high triglyceride cholesterol levels rather than LDL.

Fibric Acid

• Like Niacin, fibric acid drugs---clofibrate, fenofibrate and gemfibrozil---are usually prescribed to lower high triglyceride cholesterol levels. However, if LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are both high, fibric acid may be used in conjunction with another drug (as long as it isn't another fibric acid drug or niacin) to further lower cholesterol.

Significant

• Not everyone with an elevated cholesterol level should be placed on a cholesterol-reducing drug. Other factors, along with an elevated cholesterol level, help doctors to determine if medication is necessary or not. These other factors include, but are not limited to coronary heart disease, history of family heart disease and high blood pressure.