6Treatments
Medication Options
Not everyone requires medications to treat hypercholesterolemia. This depends on the risk of stroke and heart attack as well as how the body responds to some diet changes. In general, there are 5 kinds of cholesterol-lowering drugs. When it comes to reducing LDL cholesterol, statins should always be the first option. These include rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, or lovastatin. They work by inhibiting the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, which is important for cholesterol production.
Recently, scientists have found out a new medication to lower cholesterol levels known as PCSK9 inhibitors. This drug is more potent and especially useful for those with extremely high levels of cholesterol. However, it is also much more expensive and needs to be injected. Other cholesterol-lowering medications include fibrates, niacin, and colestid. [7]
