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Cholesterol Pills: How They Work | Cholesterol Doctors

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Cholesterol Doctors
Cholesterol Pills: How They Work | Cholesterol Doctors

If you're the type of person who needs a quick fix for their cholesterol, there's no need to worry. There are several different types of drugs that can help your condition and keep it under control. Here's an overview of what they do and how they work:


There are five main types of cholesterol drugs that work in different ways.


There are five main types of cholesterol drugs that work in different ways.


Statins

Statins are a class of drugs that work by reducing the amount of cholesterol made in your liver. They're used to treat high cholesterol and prevent heart attacks and strokes. Side effects include muscle pain and weakness, headaches, liver problems (some people experience these symptoms less than others), or other side effects unrelated to your cholesterol levels like nausea or flushing.


Bile Acid Sequestrants

The bile acid sequestrants are a group of drugs that work by binding to bile acids in the intestine, preventing them from being reabsorbed. Bile acids are responsible for breaking down cholesterol and other fats in your body. When they're not broken down properly, they can build up in your blood stream and increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Because these drugs target only one type of cholesterol (cholesterol- lowering), they're not as effective as statins at lowering overall cholesterol levels—but if you have high cholesterol levels but don't need to lower them quite so much (for example, because you already have healthy levels or don't have any cardiovascular risk factors), then these drugs may be right for you.


Nicotinic acid (niacin)

Niacin, a type of B vitamin, is used to lower cholesterol levels. It can be combined with other medications to treat high cholesterol and may also be used alone as a treatment for elevated levels in some people. Niacin causes flushing (redness) in the face and neck that some people find unpleasant or annoying; however, this side effect is temporary and should disappear after several weeks of use.


Fibrates

Fibrates are sometimes called "bile acid sequestrants," which means they tend to bind with cholesterol and other bile acids in your body, preventing them from being absorbed into the blood stream. This can lower the amount of cholesterol in your blood, which helps prevent it from building up on artery walls and causing heart disease.

Fibrates are used as a second line of treatment after trying other drug treatments like statins or niacin. They're usually prescribed by doctors who have decided that their patients don't need further treatment yet either because they have high cholesterol levels but aren't at risk for heart disease (yet), or because they have low levels without any symptoms that indicate they might develop problems down the road.

The most common side effect associated with fibrate use is stomach upset due to an increased production of acid by the stomach lining (which occurs when food is digested). Other issues include fatigue, headaches and indigestion—but these side effects usually go away after about six weeks if you continue taking fibrate tablets long enough!


Ezetimibe

Ezetimibe works by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. This can help lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease.

Ezetimibe is used to lower cholesterol levels in people who have a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, or FH. It's not used to treat high cholesterol.


Conclusion

We hope this article has answered your questions about cholesterol drugs. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

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