Statin drug treatment works effectively to lower cholesterol levels for patients at risk for heart disease. However, statins may have side effects of muscle pain that make many people stop taking the drugs. Statins lower LDL cholesterol, which narrows the arteries to cause heart disease. Other drugs can lower triglycerides, fatty substances that can lead to heart disease, or help raise health HDL cholesterol levels, which remove excess cholesterol from the body.
Drug Options
Adding other drugs to statins or using those drugs alone may work for patients who do not get cholesterol-lowering results from statins. Doctors may prescribe ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, along with a statin medication to lower LDL cholesterol levels as much as 15 to 20 percent, according to MayoClinic.com. Combining prescription niacin with a statin may lower LDL and high triglycerides. Fibrates, such as fenofibrate or gemifibrozil, added to a statin also help lower LDL and triglyceride levels. Prescription niacin or fibrates may work alone to lower triglycerides. Fish oil supplements, which have omega-3 fatty acids, may also work at reducing triglycerides. Niacin or fibrates can also improve high HDL cholesterol levels. Doctors may advise exercise and weight loss as treatment to accompany medication.
Red Yeast Rice Supplements
Patients who combine healthy diets and lifestyle changes with red yeast rice supplements may lower LDL cholesterol levels by more than 20 percent, according to a study published in the June 16, 2009, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The supplements may replace statins for people who suffer substantial risk of muscle pain from statins. Researchers studied 62 patients who had high cholesterol levels and stopped taking statins because of muscle pain. Subjects were given red yeast rice capsules or placebo capsules. After 24 weeks, more people taking red yeast rice had lower LDL and total cholesterol levels than people in the placebo group. The researchers concluded that red yeast rice supplements may offer an option to statins for people who suffer muscle pain side effects but pointed out the small study did not determine if lower cholesterol would continue over the long term. Red yeast rice has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries.
Eprotirome
Eprotirome, a cholesterol-lowering drug derived from a thyroid hormone, shows promise as an alternative to statins in a clinical trial by American and Swedish researchers, it was reported in the March 11, 2010, issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine". The researchers examined 168 people who did not receive cholesterol-lowering benefits from statins. Eprotirome added to statins revealed lower cholesterol levels following the 12-week trial. Eprotirome did not reveal adverse effects on the heart or bone, which can occur with thyroid-based medication. Researchers believe carefully targeting eprotirome effects on lowering cholesterol could provide benefits without damaging side effects. The drug needs more research to determine its full effectiveness as an alternative to statins.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Statins: Are These Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Right for You?
- Annals of Internal Medicine: Red Yeast Rice to Treat Cholesterol Problems in Patients Who Cannot Tolerate Statin Therapy Because of Muscle Pain
- CNNhealth.com: Supplement May be Statin Alternative for Some
- New England Journal of Medicine: Use of the Thyroid Hormone Analogue Eprotirome in Statin-Treated Dyslipidemia
- HealthScout: Alternative to Statins Shows Promise
