LDL cholesterol, which is often referred to as bad cholesterol, contributes to the development of plaque on the walls of your arteries and may increase your risk of heart disease. Keeping your LDL cholesterol levels low is vital to your health. If your LDL cholesterol numbers exceed 129 mg/dL, your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol lowering medication.
Statins
One of the most effective and commonly prescribed class of cholesterol drugs are statins. Statins help lower your cholesterol in two ways. They inhibit an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which your liver needs to synthesize cholesterol. Statins also increase the rate at which cholesterol in your arteries is reabsorbed by your body. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, statins can help decrease LDL cholesterol levels by 20 to 60 percent.
Results from taking statins usually become apparent within several weeks. The most dramatic results are typically seen within four to six weeks of taking the medication.
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Your liver uses cholesterol to produce a digestive fluid called bile. Bile acid sequestrants, also referred to as bile-acid-binding resins, lower cholesterol indirectly by binding to bile acids, so that your body cannot use them for digestion. This triggers the liver to make more bile, using up excess amounts of cholesterol in the process. Used independently, bile acid sequestrants can lower LDL cholesterol levels by 10 to 20 percent. When used in conjunction with statins, bile acid sequestrants can lower LDL cholesterol by over 40 percent.
Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
Your small intestine absorbs the cholesterol from the foods you eat. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors work by blocking the amount of cholesterol absorbed in your small intestine. Instead of entering the bloodstream, cholesterol is eliminated from the body. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors are more effective when used in conjunction with statins.
Niacin
Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, decreases your liver's production of LDL cholesterol and can also increase your HDL cholesterol levels. It is important to note that supplemental niacin is not the same as prescription niacin and should not be used to treat high cholesterol.
Fibrates
Fibrates do not lower LDL cholesterol levels, but they do decrease your risk for heart disease by decreasing triglycerides and increasing HDL levels. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, patients with high cholesterol that are taking fibrates have a decreased risk of experiencing a heart attack.
