Cholesterol Lowering
Cholesterol-lowering medications are crucial in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke by managing high cholesterol levels.
Statins: These are the most common type, including Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Simvastatin (Zocor). They work by blocking a liver enzyme that produces cholesterol, effectively lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Bile Acid Sequestrants: Such as Cholestyramine, help lower cholesterol by binding with bile acids, leading the liver to use excess cholesterol to make more bile.
PCSK9 Inhibitors: Newer drugs like Evolocumab (Repatha) are used especially for genetic conditions causing high cholesterol. They target a liver protein, PCSK9, to increase the removal of LDL from the blood.
