When do i need medication for cholesterol

Cholesterol-lowering Medicine. Minus Related Pages. The body needs bile acids and makes them by breaking down LDL cholesterol. Niacin, or nicotinic acid Niacin is a B vitamin that can improve all lipoprotein levels. Nicotinic acid raises high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol levels while lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. Fibrates Fibrates mainly lower triglycerides. These medicines are primarily used in people who have familial hypercholesterolemia , a genetic condition that causes very high levels of LDL cholesterol.

Who Needs Cholesterol-lowering Medicine Your treatment plan for high cholesterol will depend on your current cholesterol levels and your risk of heart disease and stroke. Your health care provider may prescribe medicine if: You have already had a heart attack or stroke, or you have peripheral arterial disease. Talk with your health care team about how you can lower your risk for heart disease.

For example, regular exercise can lower your systolic pressure by up to 9 points. And every 11 pounds of excess weight lost can reduce it by 2. And avoiding excess sodium anything beyond 2, mg in a day can lower it between 2 and 8 points in some people. Statins are thought to work not only by lowering LDL cholesterol but also by stabilizing plaque deposits in the arteries, making the deposits less likely to rupture and send blood clots through the body.

People with a history of heart attack or stroke, or at very high risk of one greater than 20 percent , should start with higher doses of a potent statin: 40 to 80 mg of atorvastatin Lipitor and generic or 20 to 40 mg of rosuvastatin Crestor and generic. Other people who need a drug should start with lower doses of those or other statins: 40 mg of lovastatin Mevacor and generic , pravastatin Pravachol and generic , or simvastatin Zocor and generic. Doctors use several different kinds of drugs to lower blood pressure, and for people with levels above it can take a combination to control the problem.

Still, it usually makes sense to start with the oldest, safest, and least expensive drug: diuretics , or water pills, such as chlorthalidone or hydrochlorothiazide. This article and related materials are made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by the multistate settlement of consumer-fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin gabapentin.

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To help support our work, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. You can also show support by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Rosenson RS, et al.

Management of low density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Rosenson RS. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering with drugs other than statins and PCSK9 inhibitors. Tibuakuu M, et al. American College of Cardiology. De Ferranti SD, et al. Dyslipidemia in children: Management. Cholesterol management at a glance.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Accessed April 1, Related Arcus senilis: A sign of high cholesterol? Cholesterol level: Can it be too low? Cholesterol: Top foods to improve your numbers Cholesterol-lowering supplements may be helpful Coenzyme Q10 Eggs and cholesterol HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol High cholesterol in children High cholesterol treatment: Does cinnamon lower cholesterol?

Is there a risk of rhabdomyolysis from statins? Lifestyle changes to improve cholesterol Lowering Triglycerides Niacin overdose: What are the symptoms? Soy: Does it reduce cholesterol? Trans fat Triglycerides: Why do they matter? VLDL cholesterol: Is it harmful? Show more related content. News from Mayo Clinic Science Saturday: Mayo researchers study the genetic basis of high cholesterol in adults June 12, , a. CDT Experimental cholesterol-lowering drug effective at lowering bad cholesterol, study shows Nov.

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These conversions are based on U. Best for people who have coronary artery disease — including a history of heart attacks, angina, stents or coronary bypass.