According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 98.6 million adults over the age of 20 have cholesterol higher than 200 mg/dl - the diagnostic threshold for having hypercholesterolemia. High cholesterol is a primary risk factor for heart disease and is typically treated through three approaches: diet, exercise and medications. If the first two aren't effective in bringing down high cholesterol, then medications are prescribed. There are a number of commonly prescribed medications that include HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins,) fibric acid derivatives, bile-acid sequestrants and nicotinic acid (niacin or vitamin B3). Each one is prescribed for a specific condition and they all have relative health risks to taking them.
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (statins)
The most common health risk of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are intestinal bloating and occasionally damage to the liver. One popular brand was voluntarily taken off of the market after it caused muscle aches and pain. Other common health risks of statins include swelling of the lips and tongue, fever, "flu-like" symptoms, blurred vision and jaundiced eyes. Other, less serious health risks include gas, bloating, upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness or skin rashes.
Fibric Acid Derivatives
The most common health risks of taking fibric Acid derivatives are chest pain, irregular heart beat, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, sudden weight gain, painful joints, muscle pain, weakness and a decrease in urination.
Nicotinic Acid (niacin or vitamin B3)
Nicotinic acid is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs to elevated HDL cholesterol. Before taking it, you should always check with your doctor in case you have or have had gout, myasthenia gravis, stomach ulcers or angina. Normally, niacin produces some innocuous side effects like feeling light headed, fast heart beats, shortness of breath, and muscle pain, but some can elevate into more serious health risks like warmth, redness, tingling under the skin, sweating, chills, nausea, diarrhea, leg cramps and insomnia.
Bile-Acid Sequestrants
Bile-acid sequestrants can typically cause trouble swallowing, bruising, bleeding, constipation, muscle pain, joint pain, loss of appetite, gas, indigestion, heartburn or hemorrhoids.
