The health benefits of prescription statin medications that lower bad cholesterol have been widely reported, but they aren't the only form of therapy you can take if you have problems with cholesterol. There are a few other classes of medications, along with recognized alternative medicines, that may help you in your quest for heart health. As with statins, prescription medications may come with side effects that you may not tolerate well. Always talk to your doctor about all of your options.
Ezetimibe
Ezetimibe helps reduce the amount of cholesterol your body can absorb. A popular brand name is Zetia. It's often taken with a statin to amplify the effect of lowering your LDL cholesterol. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says by itself, ezetimibe reduces your bad cholesterol by 18 to 25 percent.
Bile Acid Resins
Bile acid resins, or sequestrants, work in the intestines. They bind to bile, which contains cholesterol, so as to deplete the body's total supply of cholesterol. The bound end product is eliminated in your stools. The Cleveland Clinic says that bile acid resins, such as those under the brand name Questran, may cause gas, constipation and stomach upset, but their effect usually causes a 15 to 30 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol.
Niacin
Nicotinic acid or niacin is exactly what you think it is, a more powerful dose of the B vitamin you probably already get in a multivitamin. It works to improve your entire lipid profile. That is, it helps to raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. Popular brands include Niacor, Nicolar, Slo-Niacin and Niaspan. LDL levels have been improved by as much as 25 percent in some patients, says the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Don't buy massive amounts of niacin at your pharmacy hoping to improve your cholesterol on your own, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. The prescription dose is far higher and you need to be under the care of your doctor while taking it. A common side effect of niacin is skin flushing, along with itching, headache, blurred vision, and dizziness.
Fibrates
Also known as fibric acid derivatives, fibrates mostly work to lower your triglycerides by breaking down the particles that create them. And to a lesser extent, they raise your good cholesterol. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says fibrates are less effective at lowering bad cholesterol, but the University of Maryland Medical Center says fibrates can lower your risk of heart attack. Sold under the names Lopid, Tricor and Bezalip, fibrates have been known to cause sensitivity to sunlight, skin rashes and gallstones in some people.
Lifestyle Prescriptions
Cholesterol-lowering medications work best when incorporated with several lifestyle changes your doctor will ask you to make. A popular "prescribed" treatment plan is called TLC, short for "Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes." It's a three-component program involving diet, physical activity and weight control. For example, decreasing your saturated fat intake to no more than 7 percent of your total daily calories can lower your LDL cholesterol by up to 10 percent. Decreasing your dietary cholesterol to less than 200 mg per day can lower LDL by up to 5 percent. Losing 10 pounds can drop your cholesterol nearly 8 percent and adding fiber and plant sterols can lower your LDL by up to 5 and 15 percent respectively.
Complementary/Alternative Medicine
The Cleveland Clinic says there's growing evidence that some herbal remedies might help lower cholesterol, but they too may come with side effects. Talk to your doctor about using them. The Clinic says garlic, for example, can decrease total blood cholesterol by a few percentage points. A gum resin from the mukul myrrh tree called guggulipid significantly lowers total, LDL and triglycerides. The organization also said it is monitoring studies on other promising herbal products like fenugreek, artichoke extract, yarrow and holy basil.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol With TLC; December 2005
- Cleveland Clinic; About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
- Cleveland Clinic; Complementary/Alternative Medicine (CAM) Therapies for Cholesterol Reduction
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Cholesterol - Medications
