|
Sunday, 21 September 2008 02:08 |
|
 The following table contains an overview of cholesterol and triglyceride drugs, together with a rating of their effectiveness, tolerability and safety:
| Active Ingredient Class | Example Drugs | Effects | Efficacy | Toler-ability# | Safety## | | Statins | Lipitor®, Zocor®, Crestor®, Lescol®, Mevacor®, Altocor®, Pravachol®, Selektine®, Vytorin® | Lowers:
* LDL-C by 30-50%
* Triglyfcerides by 20-40% Raises:
* HDL-C by 10% | ***** | **** | **** | | Fibrates (="Fibric Acids") | Bezalipf®, TriCor®, Lopid® | Lowers:
* LDL-C by 10%
* Triglycerides by 40-60% Raises:
* HDL-C by 10-20% | **** | *** | *** | | Ezetimibe | Zetia® | Lowers:
* LDL-C by 20% | *** | **** | **** | | Nicotinic acid | Niaspan® | Lowers:
* LDL-C by 0-15%
* Triglycerides by 30-50% Raises:
* HDL-C by 15-30% | *** | ** | *** | | Bile acid sequestrants ("resins") | Questran®, Welchol®, Cholestagel®, Colestid® | Lowers:
* LDL-C by 20% Raises:
* HDL-C by 0-10% | *** | * | **** |
Scale: * (poor) to ***** (excellent)
#Tolerability = frequency of uncomfortable, but harmless side effects
#Safety = overall severity and frequency of side effects
LDL-C = LDL cholesterol, HDL-C = HDL cholesterol I previously mentioned the difference between the "active ingredient" (which is the substance in a pill responsible for the pharmacological effect) and the trade-name of a drug (refering to the whole pill with all the additives). On the next pages, I will describe the different drug classes and their effects in more detail.
|
|
Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 10:18 |
|
Menu
Articles in this Category
National Cholesterol Eduation Program:
It is as yet unproven whether supplementation with antioxidants such as vitamin C and E will reduce the risk for coronary heart disease.
Read more
|
|
|
|
Heart Attack Risk Calculator
This calculator estimates your risk of getting a heart attack within the next 10 years. It is based on the Framingham Heart Study.
Convert cholesterol units
 Please use this little tool to convert cholesterol and glucose measurements from mmol/L to mg/dL and vice versa.
Your Ad Here. Please contact us if you would like to place your ad on this site.
|
