Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D., of eMedTV states that the first step in lowering cholesterol is to make diet and lifestyle changes. For some people, though, weight management, an increase in exercise and a healthier diet are not enough; in these cases, medication may be necessary. Several types of drugs are used to fight cholesterol.
Statins
Statins, according to Schoenstadt, are the most commonly prescribed drugs for lowering cholesterol. They work by preventing the formation of cholesterol in the liver, and while they are highly effective for lowering low-density lipoproteins (LDL)--also known as "bad" cholesterol--they work only slightly to lower triglycerides and to raise high-density lipoproteins (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.
Statins lower LDL levels more than any other type of cholesterol medication, thus greatly reducing heart attacks and heart-related deaths, adds Schoenstadt.
The American Heart Association lists six statins currently available in the United States. They include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor).
Fibrates
Fibrates help lower your overall cholesterol by lowering your triglycerides. This class of drugs will also help increase your levels of HDL, although not significantly. Because these drugs are not effective for lowering LDL, fibrates are sometimes used in combination with statins for those who need to lower both triglycerides and LDL.
Schoenstadt states that the most common fibrate in the United States is gemfibrozil (Lopid), which is usually taken twice daily, once before the morning and evening meal. Taking it before meals helps ease its most common side effects, which are gastrointestinal problems.
Bile Acid Sequestrants (Resins)
This class of drugs is effective for lowering LDL cholesterol. Bile acid sequestrants work by binding to the bile in your intestines, which is then eliminated through the stool. As the AHA explains, this process causes your liver to produce more bile--and since cholesterol is used to make bile, the more bile your liver makes, the more cholesterol is used up.
The three medications in this class include cholestyramine (Questran, Questran Light, Prevalite, Locholest, Locholest Light), colestipol (Colestid) and colesevelam HCl (WelChol).
Niacin
Also known as nicotinic acid, niacin is a water-soluble B vitamin. It is effective for lowering both LDL levels and triglycerides, and raising levels of HDL. FamilyDoctor.org points out that while niacin is effective for all types of cholesterol, it is only effective when taken in high doses. The site adds that you can purchase niacin over the counter in supplement form, but when using niacin for the purpose of lowering cholesterol, you should receive a prescription from your doctor.
Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
The AHA states that this is a fairly new class of drugs, which prevents the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. While this type of medication may help reduce triglycerides and increase HDL levels, it is most effective for lowering LDL levels. The only available drug in this class thus far is ezetimibe (Zetia).
