What is niacin and lovastatin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Advicor is an oral drug that is used for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. It is a combination of extended-release niacin and lovastatin. It reduces blood levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides and increases blood levels …
Read More »
What is evolocumab? Repatha is used along with diet, exercise and maximum tolerated doses of statins to reduce LDL cholesterol in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (and inherited disorder that causes high levels of LDL) or adults with heart problems related to excess cholesterol in the body. Repatha is also used along with diet and other LDL-lowering treatments, for example, …
Read More »
What is fluvastatin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Fluvastatin is an oral, cholesterol-lowering drug. It belongs to a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, commonly called "statins." Other statins include lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), and rosuvastatin (Crestor). Statins reduce cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver (HMG-CoA reductase) that is necessary for the …
Read More »
What is colesevelam, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Colesevelam is an oral drug that lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. It also improves control of blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Cholesterol made by the liver or from the food we eat can be converted into bile acids by the liver. The bile acids are secreted by …
Read More »
What is verapamil, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Verapamil belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers (CCBs), which includes amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia) as well as others. These medications block the movement of calcium into the muscle cells of the coronary arteries (the arteries supplying the heart with blood) as …
Read More »
What is niacin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Niacin (nicotinic acid, vitamin B3) is a part of the normal diet that is essential to various chemical reactions in the body. It is used medically to treat individuals with deficiency of niacin. Advanced deficiency of niacin can lead to a condition called pellagra in which individuals develop diarrhea, …
Read More »
What is gemfibrozil? Gemfibrozil is a blood lipid and cholesterol-altering medicine. Why is gemfibrozil prescribed to patients? Gemfibrozil is used for reducing elevated triglyceride levels that are high enough to cause pancreatitis. Because gemfibrozil raises HDL and decreases triglycerides it is prescribed for preventing coronary heart disease in individuals without a history or symptoms of coronary heart disease who have …
Read More »
What is lovastatin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Lovastatin belongs to a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or, more commonly "statins." Other statins include simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), and rosuvastatin (Crestor). Statins reduce cholesterol by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver (HMG-CoA reductase) that is necessary for the production of cholesterol. In …
Read More »
What is pravastatin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Pravastatin is an oral drug for lowering the cholesterol in the blood that contributes to the formation of plaques in the walls of arteries that obstruct the flow of blood, known as arteriosclerotic vascular disease. Obstruction of the flow of blood to the heart causes heart attacks. Obstruction of …
Read More »
Lipitor vs. Zetia: What’s the difference? Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Zetia (ezetimibe) are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Lipitor and Zetia belong to different drug classes. Lipitor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (a “statin” drug) and Zetia is a cholesterol-lowering drug. Side effects of Lipitor and Zetia that are similar include diarrhea and joint pain. Side effects of Lipitor …
Read More »