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There are many different treatments that will help you to lower high cholesterol. This requires that you make some lifestyle changes including eating a low fat and high fiber diet. You almost must start exercising or increase the amount that you do everyday.
Unfortunately for some of us these changes will reduce high cholesterol to a small degree - but are not effective in giving us long lasting results. Because of this doctors may prescribe certain types of medication along with the right diet and exercise.
There are four types of drugs that doctors prescribe which include:
- Statins
- Niacin (nicotinic acid)
- Bile-acid resins
- Fibric acid derivatives
Statins
Statins are used to block the cholesterol that is being produced in the liver. Their job is to lower the levels of LDL and triglycerides and will even work to raising the levels of HDL. Crestor, Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Zocor are the names of the drugs that statins are used in.
Niacin (nicotinic acid)
Niacin is a vitamin B-complex that is most often found in certain types of food. Doctors prescribe this in large amounts - which can help to lower the amount of LDL and help to raise the amount of HDL. It is used in Nicolar and Niaspan.
Bile Acid Resins
Bile acid resins help to bind to the bile that is in the liver to keep it from reabsorbing back into the circulatory system from the intestine. Because bile is made mostly from cholesterol the drug can deplete the amount of cholesterol that the body supplies. It is used in Questran, Questran Light, Colestid, and WelChol.
Fibrates
Fibrates help to decrease the amount of triglycerides that the body can produce and helps to increase the amount of HDL. It is used in Atromid, Tricor, and Lopid.
As with any type of medication there may be certain side effects though not everyone may be affected by them. You should only be on one type of cholesterol lowering drugs and you should avoid taking any anticoagulants while on cholesterol lowering medication. Other things to avoid while on these medications are grapefruit juice and grapefruit.
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