A category of medications employed to address and shield against hyperlipidemia, which entails elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream. These drugs aid in the prevention or gradual advancement of substantial atherosclerosis, marked by artery narrowing due to fatty deposits, as well as coronary artery disease.
The majority of lipid-lowering drug categories target the liver, inhibiting the transformations that turn fatty acids into lipids. Statins prompt the liver to generate less cholesterol, whereas fibrates and nicotinic acid curtail the synthesis of both cholesterol and triglycerides. Omega-3 marine triglycerides contribute to diminishing triglyceride levels.
Medications that attach to bile salts decrease the uptake of these salts (which carry significant amounts of cholesterol) from the small intestine into the blood circulation. This leads to decreased levels of bile salts in the bloodstream, prompting the liver to increase the conversion of cholesterol into bile salts.
Medications that attach to bile salts can potentially result in constipation, and on occasion, induce feelings of nausea and diarrhea. This occurs due to the heightened presence of bile within the digestive tract. Additionally, these drugs might diminish the uptake of fat-soluble vitamins.
Fibrates might enhance the likelihood of developing gallstones, whereas statins should be employed cautiously in individuals with a history of liver disease. In rare instances, combinations of liver-affecting medications could lead to a painful muscular condition known as rhabdomyolysis.