Blood fats (cholesterol)
Blood fat medications
Below are the common medications for reducing your blood fats (cholesterol)
Statins
These work by reducing the production of cholesterol from the liver, drawing ‘bad’ cholesterol out of the bloodstream and hence lowering cholesterol levels.
Drugs in this group: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin.
Side effects include: stomach disturbances, eg constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, nausea and vomiting, headache, feeling of pins and needles. Inflammation of the muscles causing muscle pain/tenderness/ weakness.
This should be reported to your doctor promptly.
Fibrates
These reduce triglyceride levels and some can also decrease cholesterol in the blood.
Drugs in this group: bezafibrate, ciprofibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil.
Side effects include: nausea, stomach pain, headache, inflammation of muscles.
Resins
These reduce the LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood but can increase triglyceride levels. These work by binding bile acids and preventing the re-absorption of cholesterol.
Drugs in this group: colestyramine, colestipol.
Side effects: constipation, diarrhoea, stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting.
Ezetimibe
Inhibits the intestinal absorption of cholesterol in the body.
Side effects: diarrhoea, abdominal pain, headaches.