The Basic Classes of Cholesterol Medication

Should your doctor diagnose you with elevated cholesterol, chances are you will be given a prescription for some sort of cholesterol medication. Here is some information about the basic classes of cholesterol medication, and what type of cholesterol they impact.

Just about every class of cholesterol drug will act to decrease the presence of LDL cholesterol in the system. Statins, Bile acid binding resins, absorption inhibitors and fibrates all fall into this category. These classes of cholesterol drug also share some of the same side effects as well, most of them having to do with abdominal complaints. You may experience constipation, nausea, bloating, and stomach cramps from any of these types of cholesterol drugs. 

Some forms of cholesterol drugs work on triglycerides as well, helping to moderator and decrease their presence in the body.  Statins, absorption inhibitors, and fibrates fall into this category. As with the LDL cholesterol side effects, all these may cause similar abdominal problems to some degree.

Along with decreasing the bad or LDL cholesterol in your system, a few of the classes will also promote a modest increase in HDL or good cholesterol. Among these are statins, absorption inhibitors and fibrates. Again, be on the lookout for any side effects that you may experience, and let your doctor know if they seem to be more severe than you think they should be.

All of these classes of cholesterol medication have a number of brand names that would be easily recognizable to most people. Your doctor will be aware of which of these types of cholesterol medication would be best for your situation. When it comes to side effects, you may be among those that experience none at all, or very mild ones that fade with time. As always, if you believe your medication is causing a problem you should not be having, consult your physician immediately. There is always another cholesterol medication that you can try.