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Cholesterol Reducers

Healthy cholesterol levels can help you reduce your risk of heart attack and coronary artery disease. Adults should aim for total cholesterol levels less than 200 mg/dL. If your levels are above normal, you can use over-the-counter and prescription drugs to either lower bad cholesterol (LDL ) and triglycerides or raise good cholesterol (HDL). Although each medication is different, they mainly focus on reducing lipids (fats) in the blood or removing cholesterol built up in the arteries.

  1. Statins

    • Statins are usually a doctor's first choice in prescription medication for adults suffering from increased cholesterol levels. Basically, statins prevent your liver from producing cholesterol by blocking specific enzymes that are normally responsible for making them. These drugs can reduce the risk of heart attack and can also lower LDL levels without negatively affecting HDL.

    Bile Acid Resins

    • The main function of bile acid resins is to prevent bile acids from being reused in the intestine. This is important because it causes the liver to remove more cholesterol from the blood to produce new bile. When cholesterol is removed, less plaque can build up in your arteries and your risk of heart attack and stroke can be dramatically reduced. Bile acid resins are typically sold in chewable bar or powder form.

    Nicotinic Acid

    • Nicotinic acid, otherwise known as niacin, is a type of vitamin B3 that is thought to reduce bad (LDL) cholesterol levels. Although it is a natural supplement available without a prescription, you should always consult your doctor before you begin taking niacin or any other supplements to avoid dangerous drug interactions or an accidental overdose.

    Fibrates

    • Also known as fibric acid derivatives, fibrates work to both reduce the actual production of triglycerides and increase the rate at which they are expelled from the blood. These actions work to decrease triglyceride levels overall but don't typically do that much to reduce LDL levels.

    Ezetimibe

    • Ezetimibe impedes cholesterol absorption in the small intestine to reduce LDL levels. This can be an effective drug, but statins are usually a better choice for most adults. Statins and ezetimibe can be used in combination with doctor supervision to fight high total cholesterol levels.

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