Prescribed Medications for Lowering Cholesterol

Most doctors do not choose to prescribe medications for lowering cholesterol on the first visit. Doctors want to allow their patients to try to bring their cholesterol levels down themselves by changing their diets and more exercising. It is a proven fact that cholesterol levels can be lowered by just a few changes in a persons diet. People who never exercise, may find that creating a regular exercise routine can help in lowering their cholesterol. Just a few minor changes is what most people need. Doctors will give their patients recommended advice and charts on what foods to stay away from, and which foods are best to eat. The recommended foods to eat are nuts, fruits, vegetables, and any foods high in fiber. The recommended foods to stay away from are foods with trans fat and hydrogenated oils. Hamburgers, potato chips, french fries, cookies, sugar, and cakes. Especially Oreo cookies. Oreo cookies have some of the highest concentrations of hydrogenated oils in them. Basically all of the junk food that people grew up eating will become no no’s when it comes to lowering cholesterol. It is because of these foods that they ended up in the doctor’s office in the first place. Now they are doing a reversal by taking these foods off of their grocery list.

After a patient has been on a strict diet and exercise program for three months and it still has not helped in lowering their cholesterol, the doctor will usually give even more suggestions that are recommended to help. After six months of eating the right type of foods and exercising, and trying the other recommendations, and the patients cholesterol levels are still high. This is when doctors will prescribe medications to help the patient in lowering their cholesterol. Most medications that are prescribed by doctors are statins. Medications that have statins in them help in different ways. Some help to keep cholesterol from forming in the liver, and others help to decrease the amount of cholesterol in the foods that people eat.

Medications with statin in them are Lovastatin, Fluvastatin, and Pravastatin. Three other types of medications for lowering cholesterol is:

Lipitor

Atorvastatin is a lipitor that helps to reduce cholesterol and the risks associated with a stroke or a heart attack. It is to be used in conjunction with exercise and a good diet.

Zocor

Simvastatin is Zocor, which is a hypolipidemic type of medication that also fights cholesterol and other fatty substances that are harmful to a persons blood. It is also to be taken in conjunction with a good diet and exercise program.

Zetia

Zetia works a little differently than statin types of medications. Zetia decreases the magnitude of cholesterol that can be absorbed in the stomachs intestines after eating a meal.