In today’s “Information Age” there’s little dispute that a healthy cholesterol level is one of the many keys to good health. Specifically, elevated LDL levels have been linked to an increased chance of potentially life-threatening conditions like heart disease, stroke, and thrombosis. It’s little wonder, then, that advice is prolific for lowering your LDL levels.

While a low fat diet and moderate exercise are both recommended as a way to lower LDL, sometimes that isn’t enough. If cholesterol levels remain high even after these lifestyle changes, your physician may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication.

Research in recent years has led to the introduction of several prescription medications that can help you lower your levels LDL.

Types of LDL-Lowering Prescription Medications

Cholesterol medications are generally divided into four categories – statins, niacin, fibrates, and bile acid sequestrants.

You’re probably familiar with statins because they are the most widely used cholesterol lowering medications on the market. Marketed under names like Lipitor, Mevacor, or Zocor, these drugs work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body.

Niacin-based medications are a form of Vitamin B. In addition to lowering LDL, they can also lower overall cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The down side? This type of medication does have potentially serious side effects and complications and should be used only under the supervision of your physician.

Fibrates are derived from fibric acid. You might recognize them under their brand names, Lopid and Tricor. Fibrates are a good bet for lowering levels of triglycerides, but are less effective at lowering LDL unless used in conjunction with another medication.

Lastly, bile acid sequestrants, sold under the names LoCholest and Colestid, bind with cholesterol-containing bile and force it to be eliminated from the body.

Treating High LDL with Medication

Because the different types of medications have differing effects on total cholesterol, your physician may treat your elevated LDL level with more than one medication. Statin-Niacin combinations are especially effective, and have been shown to make significant reductions in LDL, and even to raise levels of HDL, commonly called “good cholesterol”. Medications are usually taken once or twice daily.

Follow-up care usually consists of a retest of LDL levels after 4-6 weeks on the medication, and again after three months. Your doctor may also prescribe periodic liver function tests to be sure the medications aren’t impairing your liver’s ability to do its job.

Like all prescription medications, cholesterol-lowering medications can have side effects. Some of the reported side effects are sensitivity to light, muscle pain or tenderness, skin flushing, and weakness. If you experience any of these side effects call your doctor immediately.

Try to be patient. It may take a couple of tries for your physician to find the right combination of medication, in the right doses, for you. But the pay-off is a better cholesterol “score” and the knowledge that you’re taking action to increase your chances of living a long and healthy life!