By Dave Warner
You’ve tried eating better, exercising more, quitting smoking, reducing your stress – and your cholesterol readings are still high.
Don’t give up hope. Medical science has developed an entire arsenal of drugs to help.
One of the primary weapons is a class of drugs known as statins. You may have seen some of the brand names advertised – Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravacol, Zocor and Crestor.
Essentially, they work by blocking a type of protein that makes cholesterol in your liver.
The good news is that they usually work. There’s really no bad news, but there are some things you need to be aware of:
- You’ll most likely be taking them for the rest of your life. If you stop, your cholesterol readings rise again.
- You may feel some muscle pain. You should tell your doctor if that happens.
- Some people also report memory loss when they are taking statins.
- Some research has shown that people taking statins may also have trouble sleeping as they once did.
Other weapons that doctors have include the use of fibrate drugs, used mostly to reduce the levels of another blood lipid, triglycerides. They can also help you raise the level of the “good” cholesterol, HDL. Some people who take fibrates company about gastrointestinal complaints. Some common brand names for these drugs include Lopid, Tricor, Antara, Lofibra, and Trilipix
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