Cholesterol Medicines

 There are several cholesterol medicines available. We will talk about statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, Niacin, and Fish oil. All of these medicines are effective for lowering triglycerides. However, there are also other options available. Listed below are the most common ones. Which should you choose? And how can you decide which one is best for you? We will also discuss the benefits and risks of each. Let's get started!

Statins

Most of us have heard of statins, but what are they and how do they work? The short answer is: they lower LDL cholesterol by 50 percent. They are available in a variety of brand names and generic formulations. The pills are swallowed whole once a day, and you should read the labels to understand how to take them properly. You should also know if you should take you’re statin with food.

As the name suggests, statins reduce LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol. They work by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver, HMG-CoA-Reductase, which helps produce cholesterol. This results in lower cholesterol levels in the blood, and lowers triglycerides - which are associated with heart disease and liver damage. Statins are usually prescribed for high levels of LDL cholesterol, as high levels of LDL are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

PCSK9 inhibitors

Despite the risks and side effects of PCSK9 inhibitors, doctors are increasingly prescribing these drugs for high-risk patients with elevated cholesterol or a family history of cardiovascular disease. In addition, newer guidelines have shifted treatment focus from lowering total cholesterol levels to reducing LDL cholesterol. While statins are the first-line treatment for high cholesterol, PCSK9 inhibitors can improve LDL cholesterol levels by more than 50%.

There is no definitive proof that PCSK9 inhibitors cholesterol ka ilaj patients of high cholesterol. Still, the research is promising. The drugs are injected once every two to four weeks, and the FDA has approved two forms of the drugs. Some people have reported better cardiovascular outcomes. Although more research is needed, it is already evident that PCSK9 inhibitors have potential as cholesterol medicines. But they are not yet widely available, so they're still very expensive.

Niacin

While niacin has been the cornerstone of cholesterol therapy for 50 years, a new study has questioned the benefits of the drug. Although niacin does reduce LDL cholesterol, it comes with harmful side effects and can increase the risk of stroke and heart attack. In addition, the drug does not reduce LDL cholesterol to a level that will lower your risk of heart attack or stroke. According to Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, a Northwestern Medicine preventive cardiologist, it has been proven ineffective in reducing these two endpoints.

Taking niacin should be done with caution, as this drug can cause flushing and skin discoloration. It may also cause itching and swelling. Taking niacin with certain medications may also increase your risk of bleeding. Niacin can also interact with other blood-pressure and blood-thinning medicines. Alpha-blockers can also increase the risk of low blood pressure. For these reasons, it is vital to talk to your doctor before taking any niacin-containing drugs.

Fish oil

There are several differences between statin therapy and fish oil as a cholesterol medicines. Statins are a type of cholesterol medicine that are effective for treating high levels of LDL cholesterol, but they can cause muscle pain. Statins also help to prevent heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. Taking fish oil can improve these two conditions, but it is not a substitute for statin therapy. However, it does have a few benefits that are worth noting.

The first and most effective study of fish oil as a cholesterol medicine involved 8,000 participants. They were patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other risk factors. Patients in one group received the drug or placebo daily for five years. The results showed a 25% reduction in heart attacks. You can also buy fish oil supplements over-the-counter in drugstores or grocery stores. However, the evidence for their effectiveness is still mixed.

Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors

Taking a drug called a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor (SCAI) is a new way to treat elevated cholesterol levels. SCAIs decrease the amount of cholesterol absorbed from dietary sources and biliary secretions. They also increase the amount of "good" HDL cholesterol circulating in the blood. In clinical trials, they have shown efficacy in reducing "bad" LDL cholesterol levels in people with elevated LDL cholesterol.

The chemists have discovered that a molecule called NPC1L1 may be involved in selective cholesterol absorption. It interned massive amounts of cholesterol but poorly absorbed no cholesterol sterols. Furthermore, when cells replenished with no cholesterol sterols, NPC1L1 remained on the PM. Using fluorescence quantification, they found that about 80% of cholesterol was localized in the cytoplasm, compared to only eight to thirteen percent for other sterols.