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Medication for High Cholesterol

When a patient without heart disease is first diagnosed with raised cholesterol, the first thing a doctor will prescribe is ususlly program of diet/lifestyle change, more exercise, and weight loss to bring levels down.

If this does not succeed in reducing cholesterol levels, there are some drug treatments which can be used to bring levels down.

The drugs usually used are a family of drugs called statins. These include, in alphabetical order (brand names vary in different countries):

  • Atorvastatin (Lipitor, Torvast)
  • Cerivastatin (Lipobay, Baycol) – withdrawn from the market in 2001 due to risk of serious adverse effects.
  • Fluvastatin (Lescol)
  • Lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor)
  • Mevastatin – naturally-occurring compound, found in red yeast rice.
  • Pitavastatin (Livalo, Pitava)
  • Pravastatin (Pravachol, Selektine, Lipostat)
  • Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
  • Simvastatin (Zocor, Lipex)

LDL-lowering potency varies between agents. Cerivastatin is the most potent, followed by (in order of decreasing potency) rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin. Many doctors say these statin drugs have revolutionized patient care.

Most cholesterol circulating in the blood stream is produced within the body, typically about 1000 mg/24 hours, compared to 200-300mg from food intake. Statins work by inhibiting the production of LDL cholestrerol

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