Which cholesterol lowering drug has the least side effects?

Cholesterol – we all know it’s important for our bodies, but what exactly is it? Well, cholesterol is a fatty substance found in some foods and produced by our liver. It plays an essential role in helping build cells and produce hormones.

But if you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, it can lead to health problems such as heart disease. That’s why many people take medication to help lower their cholesterol levels. However, like any medication, cholesterol-lowering drugs can come with side effects.

In this article, we’ll explore which of these drugs has the least side effects without getting into ‘science’y’ details (because let’s face it: who cares about that?). So grab your cup of coffee or tea (or both), relax on that couch and enjoy!

Introduction: What Are Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?

Before we jump right into which drug has fewer side effects than others, let’s take a quick look at what they are actually used for.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs are medications that help reduce the amount of LDL or “bad” cholesterol in your blood. They do this by either blocking its production or increasing its removal from your body.

There are several types of these drugs available today including statins (lipitor etc.), bile acid sequestrants (welchol etc.) niacin supplements(got any better name?) among others . Each type works differently but ultimately aims towards reducing bad cholestrol(lipoprotein). Statin, being one of them easily wins over rest as most prescribed across globe.

What Do Statins Do?

Statins work specifically by blocking a key enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase which produce more harmful lipoproteins usually known as low density lipo proteins(LDL) . These bothersome lipids increase risks of stroke and heart attack. Inhibiting this enzyme lowers the LDL produced and thereby reduces the risk . Statins has countless varieties available in market today .

Which Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Has The Least Side Effects?

Now, coming to what we have all been waiting for: which of these drugs comes with fewer side effects than others? Well, as much as we hate to be boring, the answer is not that simple.

Every medication brings its own side effects ranging from mild symptoms like muscle ache (colloquially known as mommy-joints). Like Paracetamol or Asprin pepping us up on a bad flu day there are reports stating individuals experiencing nausea due to statins and loss of appetite caused by bile acid sequestrants.With nice pro-verbiatial covering this does start trickling into become aggravating thing.

Pros & Cons

So let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of each cholesterol-lowering drug below so you can weigh them yourself!

Statins

Pros

• Most common perscription across globe
• All considered “low intensity”.
• Can lower heart risks for those that already took strokes
• Reduces inflammation in arterial-wall
  (A big shoutout who liked their walls inflammed)

Cons

Although statins are widely used worldwide show positive results alongwith lesser concerns over time they can give following conditions:

1. Muscle Pain
2. GI Issues(Nausea etc)
3. liver dysfunction

Out of many people taking it , chances(reportedly) exist one might even develop type II diabetes.
One thing worth mentioing here is that despite above issues; stopping medicine without counselling generelly not recommended.

Bile Acid Sequestrants

Pros

The fancy formaldehyde name being deceiving,the ones such as cheristyna,calditol(sevelamer??) fall under group helping:
-Stable blood sugar
-Fight agains diabetes
-Alternate solutions for those that do not tolerate statins

Cons

One thing you’ll probably notice about bile acid sequestrants is that they are less effective than statins. Not saying they’re useless in any way, after all poor man’s cholesterol medicine also does come at very lesser price too.

Some side-effects of Bile Acid Sequestrants are gastrointestinal issues (i.e., constipation) or deficiences caused by impeding absorption(complicating deficiency developiong processes).

Oats

You heard right — even oats can help reduce your “bad” cholesterol levels, while simultaneously increasing the good.

Mostly known fact id card desigines these as ‘food’ but actually this is true.Last I checked it doesn’t get over when a restaurant fills them up. How? Because oats contain beta-glucan ,a tale widely told to be significant for reducing bad cholestrol.So, if its just minor-high,beta glucans could offer supplementery approach.

Conclusion: Which Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Should You Choose?

At the end of the day, choosing which cholesterol-lowering drug to take comes down to several factors such as age,gender,family health history previously mentioned pre-existing conditions (if applicable),and other unique variables.

Not only should these medications be taken as perscribed but schedule healthy diet and physical exercise on daily menu preferably before marching out with prescription pad .

Remember ;Always consult with healthcare professionals and together decide which medication suits best keeping overall health in mind.

So there you have it – a brief overview into some of the most popular types of drugs used to lower “bad” cholesterol levels . So next time someone approaches asking about specifics redirect them back here or else play safe and figure outside ways.

Cause thats easier said than done!