If after three to six months of improved diet and regular exercise however you are still showing no signs of improvement, then it may be time to consider using medication to lower you cholesterol levels and you physician will probably recommend a course.

Generic cholesterol meds can help decrease LDC while raising HDL, and should also decrease Ld(a) and triglycerides. These can work both by preventing the liver from producing the same amount of cholesterol or by preventing the body from absorbing as much of the cholesterol from food.

Perhaps the most common/popular of the generic cholesterol meds are statins which come in many different forms including Lescol (fluvastatin), Mevacor and Altocor (lovostatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Crestar (rosuvastatin) & and perhaps the most well known brand Lipitor (atorvastatin). These statins work by inhibiting the enzyme known as HMG-CoA reductase which controls the amount of cholesterol the liver produces. Statins have been shown to lower cholesterol levels by 20% to 60% and have been shown to be significantly more effective than other generic cholesterol meds, perhaps explaining their popularity.

Statins come in the form of tablets or capsules to be taken with meals. Some side effects of statins however include upset stomach, constipation, gas ab pain, cramps and nerve pain. Statins can also interact with a variety of different medications, supplements, birth control pills and herbal remedies creating potentially lethal cocktails. Before accepting a course in statins then, patients should be sure to check with their doctors that they aren’t taking anything else that could cause such a reaction. Statins also should not be used by anyone who is pregnant, breast feeding, has a liver condition, drinks a lot of alcohol, or has a history of myopathy. Some statins have been developed for use by children though certain tests need to be carried out initially.

In some rare extreme cases, patients might suffer widespread break down of muscle known as ‘rhabdomyolysis’ which is a serious medical emergency. This again is most common in patients on other medicines, as well as those with prior liver problems, but can affect anyone. If you experience muscle soreness coupled with brown urine, then you should stop taking the statins immediately. Due to these side effects and potential problems a fair amount of controversy surrounds statins, but fortunately there are various other generic cholesterol meds on the market including niacin.

Niacin, or nicotinic acid, exists in two different forms – immediate release and timed release. Generally it is recommended that patients begin on immediate release. Niacin is a water-soluble B vitamin that improves lipoproteins when used in doses above the RDA, lowering bad LDL cholesterol and raising good HDL cholesterol. Symptoms include nausea, sickness, gas and vomiting as well as hot flushes. Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors such as ezetimibe meanwhile work by preventing absorption of cholesterol by the intestine which lowers LDL. Resins meanwhile work with the intestines to aid in the disposal of LDL. Statins however remain the most effective and commonly used drugs despite their side effects and risks. Alternatively, supplementation can also be used to lower cholesterol, fish oils and other essential fatty acids for example are used to increase levels of HDL.

Mack LeMouse

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