High levels of cholesterol can lead to a number of health complications. Maintaining normal levels benefit health in many ways. While lifestyle changes comprise the cornerstone of treatment, some people require medication. Several medications work in different ways to lower cholesterol.

Statins

Doctors like to prescribe statins for high cholesterol because they tend to have fewer interactions with other medications you might require, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These drugs prevent your liver from producing a substance necessary for cholesterol production and might also encourage your body to reabsorb cholesterol deposits in the arteries. Commonly prescribed statins include Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor.

Bile Acid

Your liver needs cholesterol to produce bile acids, which aid in digestion. Medications like Prevalite and Questran attach to bile acids, prompting your liver to use excess cholesterol to produce more bile acids. You should not use these medications if you also have high triglycerides.

Reducing Absorption of Dietary Cholesterol

The drug Zetia blocks excess cholesterol absorption in the small intestine, reducing the amount in your bloodstream. Doctors often combine it with statin drugs.

Medications for Combination High Cholesterol and High Triglycerides

If you suffer from both high cholesterol and high trigylcerides (a form of fat used for energy), your doctor might give you niacin supplements, fibric acid derivatives like Tricor or a combination medication like Simcor that includes niacin and a statin drug.

Considerations

Unless your initial cholesterol check comes in at 200 mg/dL or higher, your doctor will typically recommend lifestyle changes before resorting to medications. If these changes do not produce sufficient results, you will then use medication, but this does not preclude you from maintaining a good diet and exercising.

Source:

The Mayo Clinic

The University of Maryland Medical Center