When diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle are just not enough to bring your cholesterol down to a healthy level, cholesterol-lowering medications may be the next reasonable step.

If cholesterol lowering medication is the path your doctor recommends you take, he will more than likely recommend on of these different types of cholesterol-lowering medications:

* Statins
* Niacin
* Bile-acid resins
* Fibric acid derivatives

Statins

Statins work by blocking the production of cholesterol from the liver itself. They lower LDL which is the bad cholesterol, and triglycerides, and minimally raise HDL, the good cholesterol. This is the most common type of medication your doctor will prescribe to treat your high cholesterol. Some of the side effects to look out for are intestinal problems, liver damage, and rarely, muscle tenderness. Some of the more popular statins are: Crestor, Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Zocor.

Niacin

Niacin is a B complex vitamin that is found in food, but is found in high dose concentrate via prescription. It lowers LDL cholesterol, and raises HDL cholesterol a little more than statins. The side effects are itching, tingling, flushing, and headaches. Some of the more popular brands of Niacin include Nicolar and Niaspan.

Bile-Acid Resins

Bile-acid resins work in the intestines by binding to bile that resides in the liver and prevent it from being reintroduced into the circulatory system. Since bile is made largely of cholesterol, it reduces the total amount of cholesterol in the body. The side effects are to look out for are constipation, gas and upset stomach. Some of the more popular brands of bile-acid resins are: Questran, Questran Light, Colestid, and WelChol.

Fibric Acid Derivatives

Fibric acid derivatives are a little less effective in lowering LDL, but do improve overall cholesterol health by raising HDL levels and decreasing triglyceride levels. Some side effects are mild stomach ache, muscle pain, and an increased risk for gallstones. Some of the popular brands of fibrates are: Atromid, Tricor, and Lopid.

Make sure if you begin taking cholesterol medications to avoid taking any anticoagulants. Also, avoid eating or drinking grapefruit.

I hope this will help shed some light on cholesterol lowering medication for those of you that are currently or about to start taking them.

Remember if you don’t have insurance and have to pay for your medications out of pocket, there is no reason to pay the inflated prices at your corner pharmacy. Order from a safe, verified, Canadian online pharmacy and save.