High levels of cholesterol in the blood, also known as "hypercholesterolemia," can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. High cholesterol levels occur by eating foods containing low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is present in foods with saturated fat and trans fats. Cholesterol can be lowered to a healthy level with diet, exercise and cholesterol-lowering medication, if necessary. Your doctor will determine whether you are the right candidate for cholesterol medication.
Statins
Statins are the most commonly prescribed medications for high blood cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic. Statins lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, while simultaneously raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol. Statins reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver, which allows the body to draw LDL out of the blood and into the liver to be used. There are several different statin drugs available on the market in the United States, including fluvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastain, lovastatin, simvastatin and rosuvastatin calcium. Side effects of statins include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, liver damage, pain in the muscles, skin flushing or skin rashes, and rarely, neurological effects like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. If you have diabetes, liver or kidney disease, are female, are over 65, or take more than one cholesterol medication, you are especially at risk for side effects.
Ezetimibe
Ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor; it prevents LDL consumed in the diet from entering the bloodstream by absorbing it into the small intestine. Your doctor may prescribe ezetimibe if you are still consuming LDL in your diet but your LDL cholesterol levels are high. Exetimibe can be used with statin drugs, if it is approved by your doctor, according to the Mayo Clinic. Side effects of exetimibe include diarrhea, muscle weakness, nausea, dark urine, appetite loss, fever, chest pain, and pain in the back and stomach. These side effects are dangerous and should be reported to a doctor immediately. Other, less serious side effects include stomach upset, headache, feeling tired, dizziness, cold symptoms and cough.
Resins
Medications like cholestyramine, colesevelam and colestipol are resins, also known as bile-acid binding medications. These medications bind to bile acids in the body. As a result, more bile is produced in the body, which lowers cholesterol. Cholesterol is required to create bile, so when more bile is created, the body draws cholesterol out of the blood to make the bile. Side effects of resins include constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and flatulence.
Combination Medications
One medication, ezetimibe-simvastatin, combines both statins and cholesterol absorption inhibitors together to provide LDL absorption into the small intestine while simultaneously drawing cholesterol out of the bloodstream and into the liver. Side effects of ezetimibe-simvastatin include side effects that are usually not serious, including flu symptoms, diarrhea, leg or arm pain, respiratory infections, fatigue and headache. More serious side effects include hives, rash, difficulty breathing, depression, nausea, numbness, dark urine, irregular or fast heartbeat, pale stool, bleeding or bruising, vomiting and jaundice. Contact a doctor immediately if these or any other serious side effects occur.
