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Drugs to Lower LDL Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol in the body consists of high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and triglycerides. The LDL and triglyceride cholesterol levels are the most crucial in regards to heart disease. They help doctors know if there is too much cholesterol in the blood stream arteries (LDL), or too much fat (triglycerides). Also, drugs used to lower LDL cholesterol levels (statins, generally) are different from those for lowering triglycerides.

  1. Drug Classes

    • Statin drugs have the best success record with lowering high LDL cholesterol levels, according to the online website Health Network (see link in Resources Section below). They are able to decrease LDL levels as much as 18 to 55 percent. Bile acid-binding resins come in second place with a 15 to 30 percent decrease probability. A third option, niacin drugs, only boasts a five to 25 percent decrease in LDL levels and the fibrate drug class is even lower, at 5 to 20 percent.

    Significant

    • When a statin drug is combined with a niacin drug or one of the fibrates, the LDL cholesterol level is lowered even more, along with the triglyceride level. In the fight against heart disease that's a "win win" situation. Niacin's and fibrates both reduce triglycerides from 20 to 50 percent, thus significantly aiding in reducing the total overall cholesterol level, which impacts LDL levels too.

    Statin Drugs

    • Atorvastatan, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin and simvastatin are the statin drugs prescribed most frequently for high LDL cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association (see link in Resources Section below). However, individuals who have liver disease, allergies to statin medications, or are pregnant, are advised not to take statin drugs to lower their LDL levels.

    Bile Acid-Binding Drugs

    • Colesevelam, cholestyramine and colestipol are generally the bile acid-binding drugs prescribed to lower LDL levels. However, any individual also suffering from high triglycerides in addition to LDL levels should not take bile acid-binding drugs, since it has a history of raising triglyceride levels.

    Niacin

    • Nicotinic acid is the prescription form of niacin prescribed for lowering LDL, but there are other over-the-counter supplements of this medication too. However, over-the-counter niacin supplements do not have the same standards of oversight enjoyed by other medications. Prescription drugs must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); over-the-counter supplements, like niacin, do not.

    Warning

    • Niacin supplements could pose a danger to the individual using them, since they may contain more of niacin (or less) than advertised or expected by the individual user. In addition, studies regarding side effects for supplements are not normally conducted or researched as stringently, if at all.

    Fibrates

    • Gemfibrozil, fenofibrate and clofibrate are the most common three fibrate drugs used to lower triglyceride levels. However, when taken along with a statin drug, they can also help decrease LDL levels as well. This makes them an important part of combination drug therapy to reduce overall cholesterol levels in the body.

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