What Is The Best Cholesterol Drug?

If you have a high cholesterol reading then there is a chance that you may be prescribed a course of medication to get the reading down. In most cases people aren't given medication until they have changed poor lifestyle habits that may have caused high cholesterol and undoubtedly are exacerbating the condition. However some people with extremely high cholesterol may be advised to take medication. If lifestyle habits don't reduce the cholesterol level then medication will be taken in conjunction with better eating habits and a regular exercise program. If you fit into one of the situations where you will be taking some form of drug for your cholesterol, you may be interested in what is the best cholesterol drug. This article will cover some of them and give you some ideas.

To begin with there is really no best drug. All drugs have different aims and people will react differently based on their circumstances. With this in mind here is an overview of some of the common cholesterol drugs.

At the moment there are several types of drugs that are being marketed as the best cholesterol drug. The generic name for these is statins. Statins are widely used to lower cholesterol however they are thought to cause some side effects in rare instances. There is a research that suggests that raised liver enzymes and skeletal muscle damage can result in some people. However, similar instances were observed by people in a placebo group during the same testing so it is hard to draw conclusions from the test. A fact that can't be denied is that one statin brand was taken off the market by the manufacturers because of concerns over skeletal muscle damage. Other side effects of statins which are disconcerting but not as serious are muscle cramps but these are also quite rare.

For some people taking medication to reduce cardiovascular risk is not necessary. For others it is essential to start medication right away. If you fall into this category then you need to discuss what side effects might affect you once you start using statins.

Alternate Medications

Before statins were used so widely there were other medications that were considered the best cholesterol drug. You might want to explore these options if you are afraid of the side effects that come with using statins. These drugs also have side effects but some of them are mild enough that you can either treat them or tolerate the side effects.

Nicotinic acid is one medication that might be considered the best cholesterol drug. If you are concerned with ingesting too many chemicals then this might be the best cholesterol drug. It is found in food but when prescribed it is in a high and concentrated dose. There are side effects but these are easily manageable such as headaches, flushing, tingling, and itching.

Another alternate medication that might qualify as the best cholesterol drug for you are bile acid resins. This kind of medication helps to reduce bile in the body. You can deplete the levels of cholesterol in your body with this drug without serious side effects. It must be noted that the side effects associated with this drug are embarrassing and unpleasant. You may experience gas, constipation, and upset stomachs.