The drugs for hyperlipidemia serve to counteract the harmful presence of an excessive concentration of lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipids) in the blood plasma. Hyperlipidemia are pathological conditions characterized by an increase in blood levels of cholesterol and lipoproteins, leaders of the main pathologies of the cardiovascular system: atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, thrombosis, and myocardial infarction. Based on the mechanisms of action, drugs for hyperlipidemia can be divided into several groups:
- Statins: group of effective pharmacological agents used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, which act by inhibiting the synthesis of cholesterol;
- Fibrates: drugs used in the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia by acting on specific receptors that play a key role in adipogenesis;
- Resins sequestering the bile acids: drugs used to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, which act by inhibiting the reabsorption of a portion of the bile acids removed from the enterohepatic circulation;
- Probucol: cholesterol-lowering drug that can cause a modest decrease in blood levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol. Its use is recommended for patients with elevated plasma concentrations of LDL that cannot be reduced with dietary treatment alone or with other medicines;
- Ezetimibe: antidyslipidemic medications used in hypercholesterolaemia for its ability to decrease the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine by binding to mediators of this process;
How should Hyperlipidemia medications be taken?
The drugs for hyperlipidemia are available in the form of tablets or capsules to be taken orally or in the form of solutions for injections. The drugs for hyperlipidemia should always be used under prescription and by strictly following the instructions of a doctor regarding the dosage and mode of application. Not doing so can reduce the absorption of the drug or render the treatment useless as well as cause a life risk, especially given the fact that treatments with these drugs more frequently accompany patients for many years, often becoming chronic.
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Hyperlipidemia medications
The drugs for the treatment of hyperlipidemias may give rise to several side effects depending on the type of drug used. The most frequent side effects associated with these medications include:
- Gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain;
- Musculoskeletal disorders: muscle and joint aches;
Some less frequent side effect include:
- Metabolic disorders: hepatic dysfunction (elevations of transaminase-hepatotoxicity), renal dysfunction;
- Central disorders: headaches;
- Musculoskeletal disorders: severe muscle and joint aches, rhabdomyolysis;
In cases of pregnancy and nursing, administration of drugs for hyperlipidemia requires careful evaluation of the clinical benefit to the mother and the potential risk to the unborn child. Contraindications exist even in the case of patients with asthma, renal disease, liver disease, and diabetes.
