How to Lower the Dosage of Statin Drugs

Statins are a class of drug that blocks a liver enzyme called HMGCoA reductase, the chemical that produces cholesterol in the human body. Though cholesterol is used in the normal function of every cell, too much cholesterol can cause the artery-clogging plaque that leads to angina, heart attacks and strokes. Statins have been found effective in reducing LDL, the bad cholesterol, but their side effects may sometimes cause patients to seek to reduce the dosage and instead use more natural ways of reducing cholesterol, such as fiber, supplements and plant sterols.

Instructions

How to Lower the Dosage of Statin Drugs

• 1

  Consume more fiber. Putting more fiber into your diet is an effective way to reduce LDL cholesterol. When added daily, fiber sources such as oatmeal bran, flax, walnuts and psyllium seed, which is found in products like Metamucil, may be helpful in reducing cholesterol.

• 2

  Eat more oily fish. The benefits of omega 3 oils to help reduce cholesterol and decrease incidence of heart disease have been documented. Eating fish oils in their most natural form, in food or natural fish oil extracts, has the most powerful effect in reducing cholesterol and decreasing cardiovascular disease.

• 3

  Supplement your diet with plant sterols. Plants sterols are extracts of certain foods like legumes, fruits and whole grains. These are available in liquid form at most supermarkets and as a margarine-substitute spread. Sterols are also available in pill form.

• 4

  Eat red rice yeast. A fermentation of a yeast that grows on rice, red rice yeast has been used in Asia for centuries for its medicinal properties. It is also used in cooking. Red rice yeast contains lovastatin. Lovastatin is an ingredient in the statin drug Mevacor, so consuming red rice yeast may have the same side effects as Mevacor, and combining prescription and natural lovastatin may have an increased effect. Because there is no way to know the amount or quality of the lovastatin in red rice yeast, consuming it can be dangerous. Consult with your doctor about taking red rice yeast with statin drugs.

• 5

  Get more exercise. Thirty minutes a day of walking, jogging, biking or just gardening not only lowers bad cholesterol but raises good cholesterol. Even moderate exercise can help keep cholesterol from rising, but vigorous exercise can actually lower cholesterol levels.

• 6

  Learn stress management techniques. Learning to deal with everyday stress and anger can have a significant effect on cholesterol levels and the need for additional statin medications. Take a yoga or meditation class, buy an inspirational CD or listen to soothing music. Reducing stress translates into protecting your heart.