High cholesterol (also known as hyperlipidemia) is a condition that often shows no symptoms but can quietly lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. For those diagnosed with high cholesterol, lifestyle changes are the first line of defense. However, in some cases, medications are also needed to manage cholesterol levels. Beyond just lowering cholesterol, these medications can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
Let’s explore the variety of medications available for managing high cholesterol.
Understanding Hyperlipidemia and Its Implications
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in every cell of your body. Your liver produces cholesterol, and it is also found in some foods. Cholesterol is needed to produce hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. However, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, so consuming it through your diet is unnecessary.
Hyperlipidemia can be caused by various factors, including poor diet, lack of physical activity, obesity, smoking, and even certain genes that affect how your body handles cholesterol. When you have elevated cholesterol levels, over time, this excess can be deposited in your arteries, negatively affecting blood flow. Eventually, these deposits, called plaques, can narrow the arteries or even block them entirely, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
It is crucial to get regular checkups to monitor cholesterol levels, especially if you have a family history of high cholesterol or other risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Medications for Hyperlipidemia
Your doctor will guide you through several types of drugs for high cholesterol treatment. These medications work in numerous ways, from reducing how much cholesterol your body absorbs to lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol to increasing levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Let’s take a closer look at each class of medication:
Statins
Statins are the most commonly prescribed medication for high cholesterol, working to block a substance your liver needs to produce cholesterol. This causes your liver to remove cholesterol from your blood, which lowers your cholesterol levels. Statins also enable your body to reabsorb cholesterol collected in plaques on the walls of your arteries.
Some examples of statins include Lipitor (atorvastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Mevacor and Altoprev (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), and Zocor (simvastatin).
Some examples of statins include Lipitor (atorvastatin), Lescol (fluvastatin), Mevacor and Altoprev (lovastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), and Zocor (simvastatin).
PCSK9 Inhibitors
PCSK9 inhibitors are a newer class of drugs that can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol levels. They work by boosting the liver’s ability to clear LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. They are typically prescribed for people with a genetic condition that leads to exceedingly elevated levels of LDL cholesterol or for those who have had an inadequate response to statins or other cholesterol-lowering therapies.
The two PCSK9 inhibitors currently on the market are evolocumab (Repatha) and alirocumab (Praluent).
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Bile acid sequestrants, also known as resin drugs, work by binding to bile acids in the intestine. This prevents the bile acids from re-entering the bloodstream, which causes the liver to use more cholesterol to make more bile acids, reducing the overall cholesterol in your bloodstream.
Commonly prescribed bile acid sequestrants include cholestyramine (Prevalite), colesevelam (Welchol), and colestipol (Colestid).
Fibrates
Fibrates are used to lower triglycerides and can also increase HDL cholesterol levels. They work by lowering the liver’s production of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and speeding up the removal of triglycerides from your blood.
Examples of fibrates include gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (Antara, Tricor).
Niacin
Niacin is a B vitamin. It has long been used to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the “good” cholesterol. It also lowers triglycerides.
Niacin, available as a prescription drug and as an over-the-counter supplement, effectively lowers cholesterol but has fallen out of favor in recent years because large doses can cause side effects, including liver problems and an increase in blood sugar levels.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may help lower triglycerides. More research needs to be done on the efficacy of these supplements for cholesterol management, but they are recognized as safe and can be beneficial as part of a heart-healthy diet.
Combination Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
This type of medication helps to lower your body’s cholesterol absorption and reduce GP cholesterol by using two types of cholesterol-lowering agents in a single pill. An example of this class is ezetimibe (Zetia), which works in the small intestine to block the absorption of cholesterol.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend a combination of medications to achieve the best results.
Hyperlipidemia treatment near me in Sarasota or Bradenton, Florida
Intracoastal Medical Group offers a wide range of treatment options for managing high cholesterol. They strive to provide personalized care to each patient through a comprehensive approach that includes patient education, dietary counseling, and regular monitoring. The practice also prescribes and monitors medication to ensure well-controlled cholesterol levels.
In addition to the medications detailed above, Intracoastal Medical Group may also recommend other interventions to manage high cholesterol. These can include therapeutic lifestyle changes, such as a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, weight management, and additional medications for conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes that can affect cholesterol levels.
If you’re concerned about your cholesterol levels or have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, it’s important to work with a physician who can help you explore your treatment options and create a plan tailored to your individual needs. Contact Intracoastal Medical Group at one of our 10 locations to schedule an appointment and begin your journey to better heart health.
It’s time to take control of your cholesterol and your overall health. Reach out to Intracoastal Medical Group to discover what treatment options are best for you. Remember, your effort to manage high cholesterol today can lead to a healthier tomorrow.
