Experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. Some common side effects include: Skin rashes Upset stomach or stomach pain Vomiting Gas Headache or dizziness Muscle pain If you have side effects, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider.

Niacin Nicotinic acid Niacin is one of the B vitamins. Raises the good cholesterol. Niacin should be taken with food. Tell your healthcare provider if you have: Gout, liver or gallbladder problems Diabetes.

Niacin can affect your blood sugar. It may need to be monitored. Some common side effects include: Flushing redness, burning or itching sensation Dry skin or rash Upset stomach Diarrhea Headaches Be Aware: Most of these side effects last two to six weeks.

You will probably start with a low dose and gradually increase it. If you stop taking niacin, then go back, start over at the low dose.

Some people take a regular-strength ASPIRIN ® ASA, mg 30 to 60 minutes before the niacin to reduce flushing.

This is not suitable for everyone. Talk with your healthcare provider first. If you have side effects, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Resins Bile acid sequestrants Cholestyramine Questran ® Colestipol Colestid ® What does it do?

Resins lower your cholesterol. Instead, it passes in your stool poop. This forces your body to make more bile. And to use more cholesterol. The result is less bad cholesterol circulating in your blood. Usually taken once or twice a day with meals. Cholestyramine: a coarse powder.

Colestipol: powder or tablet. Never take the powder dry. Either: Mix with water, milk, a flavoured drink, juice, soda.

Or, with cereal, thin soups, yogurt, pudding, cottage cheese or fruit cocktail. Drugs and supplements are not the only options for lowering cholesterol. People may also benefit from making the following lifestyle changes :. While lifestyle can strongly affect cholesterol levels, it is not the only factor.

Even otherwise healthy people may have high cholesterol, particularly when it runs in the family. Cholesterol may also increase with age.

When lifestyle remedies do not work, a person may need to use prescription medications, especially if they have a high risk of heart disease. A person can talk to a cardiologist about the best options for lowering cholesterol. If one drug is ineffective or causes serious side effects, another medication may work better.

Open communication with a doctor can help a person lower their cholesterol and attain better overall health. In this article, we look at a variety of lifestyle changes and natural supplements that help lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart….

Statins are drugs that can reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood. Learn about the types, their uses, and the risks of taking statins here. There are a few natural alternatives to statins that may help lower cholesterol levels. Learn more. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health?

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Drugs to lower cholesterol Natural remedies Other tips Summary. How we vet brands and products Medical News Today only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.

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Was this helpful? Drugs to lower cholesterol. Share on Pinterest Prescription drugs, such as statins, and natural remedies, such as omega-3 fatty acids, may help lower cholesterol. Natural cholesterol remedies.

Lowering cholesterol without drugs. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

They can also prevent existing plaque from getting worse. Their effect on plaque is powerful but slow. Be aware: The anti-plaque effect goes away if you stop taking your statin. So statins are usually taken for life, even if your cholesterol levels return to normal limits.

Statins are taken once a day, usually at night. You can take atorvastatin Lipitor and rosuvastatin Crestor in the morning if it is easier. Some non-prescription and herbal medications can also affect statin medications.

They may even cause other health problems. Tell your healthcare provider and pharmacist about all the medications you are taking. These include:. Tell your healthcare provider if you are having problems. Lowering the dose or switching to a different statin may help.

Visit heartandstroke. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist are your best sources of information. You can also learn more about medications at any of these trusted sites. Managing your medications. Health Canada - Drugs and Health Products Provides health and medical information for Canadians to maintain and improve their health.

Your ministry of health also offers health resources in your province or territory.

Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines. Minus Related Pages. What are the types of medicines that treat high cholesterol? 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. They may also increase removal of LDL particles and increase apoA-I and apoA-II in the liver which may contribute to increase in HDL cholesterol levels.

This results in a decrease in LDL cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream. Last Reviewed: May 15, Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention.

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More than 31 percent of Americans have LDL levels that are too high. People with high LDL levels have twice the risk of heart disease compared to people with healthier cholesterol levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC.

Almost 28 percent of Americans ages 40 to 59 use a cholesterol-lowering medication. Slightly more than 23 percent of adults report using statin medications alone. Overall treatment for high cholesterol has increased in the past 15 years.

As treatment numbers have increased, disease numbers have fallen. Still, less than half of adults with high LDL are receiving treatment, according to the CDC.

Your cholesterol levels are closely related to your overall health. When it comes to drugs, skipping doses could cost you your life. A study found that skipping your medication doses more than doubles your risk for a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event.

Make and keep regular appointments for blood tests and checkups. Often, blood tests are the first and best way for your doctor to spot a potential problem before it becomes dangerous.

All drugs have side effects. Statins are no exception. Some people who take statins may notice side effects, including muscle pain and weakness.

Each statin is different, so your doctor may have you switch to a new medication to see if it reduces your side effects. Medications can certainly help, but the ultimate way to improve your health is to eat better, move more, and take care of your body. But an overall healthy lifestyle can help prevent many conditions and diseases, including ones that increase your risk for heart disease.

If your LDL levels are higher than they should be, talk to your doctor about the best way to return your numbers to a safe and healthy range. Your doctor may first suggest a change in diet and exercise.

Sometimes these lifestyle changes are enough to reverse your cholesterol numbers. Statins are an option, but they may not be the first step your doctor wants to try. The most important thing is that you take the initiative to meet with your doctor and find a solution that helps you live a healthy, happy life.

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