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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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, …
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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 …
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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 …
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Lipitor vs. Vytorin: What’s the difference? Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Vytorin (simvastatin and ezetimibe) are used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Lipitor and Vytorin contain HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (“statins”). Vytorin also contains another cholesterol-lowering drug. Side effects of Lipitor and Vytorin that are similar include diarrhea and headache. Side effects of Lipitor that are different from Vytorin include constipation, …
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What is ezetimibe and simvastatin, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Vytorin is a combination of ezetimibe (Zetia) and simvastatin (Zocor) that is used for treating high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Vytorin reduces total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol while it increases high density lipoprotein (HDL or "good") cholesterol. The ezetimibe component …
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What is fenofibrate? Fenofibrate is a derivative of fibric acid that is used to treat lipid disorders. Why is fenofibrate prescribed to patients? Fenofibrate is used with dietary modifications for the treatment of lipid disorders. It helps reduce levels of LDL-C, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B, and increase HDL-C. It is prescribed to patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed …
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What is colestipol, and how does it work (mechanism of action)? Colestipol is an oral cholesterol-lowering drug that is not absorbed from the intestine into the body. Rather, it works by binding to bile acids in the intestine and promoting the elimination of bile acids in the stool. Bile acids are formed in the liver from cholesterol, secreted into bile …
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