What medicine is better for high blood lipids

The number of patients with high blood lipids is gradually increasing in our lives. This disease is actually related to everyone's living habits. Some patients just like to eat high-fat foods, which will lead to high blood lipids over time. For patients with hyperlipidemia, if the condition is unstable, they need to take medication to suppress it.

1. Statins

Statins are a commonly used drug for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and are widely used by many people because of their cholesterol-lowering effects. British research has warned that people who are not at high risk of heart disease should be cautious about taking statins because they may have some side effects. Statins may damage the liver and kidneys and cause side effects such as muscle pain.

Common statin lipid-lowering drugs include:

Lovastatin, pravastatin, mevastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, rosuvastatin, etc.

2. Beta-type:

Fibrates are a type of lipid-lowering drug that is currently widely used. They have a strong and significant effect in lowering triglycerides. At conventional doses, they can reduce triglycerides by 20-60%. They are very effective for hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia with increased triglycerides as the main feature.

The side effects of this type of drug when taken in the short term are mild, mainly gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal distension and diarrhea, and occasionally headache, fatigue, rash, hair loss, muscle pain, blurred vision and mild anemia. However, long-term use has resulted in transient elevations in transaminase and may increase the incidence of gallstones. Patients with liver, gallbladder or severe kidney disease should not use this medicine.

Common fibrate drugs include: clofibrate, lifibrate, bezafibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, etc.

3. Nicotinic acid lipid-regulating drugs:

Nicotinic acid drugs have a broad-spectrum lipid-regulating effect and can be used as a single or adjuvant treatment for patients with hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, especially when HDL-C is reduced or triglycerides are increased.

The maximum dose of niacin should not exceed 3 to 9 grams, otherwise it will increase the incidence of adverse reactions (hepatotoxicity, hyperglycemia, peptic ulcer and gout). The most common adverse reactions are temporary skin flushing, itching, and rash. To reduce or avoid adverse reactions, you can start with a smaller dose, or add aspirin, or take this medicine after meals.

At the same time, this type of drug has the effect of dilating small blood vessels. Therefore, patients are prone to symptoms such as facial flushing and skin itching. Some patients may also experience adverse reactions such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, atrial arrhythmias, and increased blood uric acid levels. Therefore, it is forbidden for people with existing ulcers, gout, liver dysfunction and pregnant women to use it.