It's no secret that excessive cholesterol in the blood is harmful to health, especially for the work of the cardiac and vascular systems. With an excess, this substance begins to be deposited over time on the walls of the vessels, while cholesterol plaques are formed that impede the movement of blood, which contributes to the occurrence of heart pathologies and vascular abnormalities.
Varieties of cholesterol
It should be understood that cholesterol is necessary for the body, without it, the existence of a person is impossible. This substance is part of the cell membranes, it is necessary for the functioning of the nervous system and other organs.
When talking about the excess content of an element, we mean the so-called bad cholesterol, which binds to protein, forming a lipoprotein - a completely new compound. There are two types of lipoproteins: low and high density. So, the increased content of low density lipoprotein in the blood poses a threat to health.
In the initial stages of the disease, it is recommended to adhere to a special diet and conduct classes involving physical activity. But these measures are not enough, and cleaning of blood vessels from cholesterol with drugs is required.
Scientists have long been trying to create a drug that effectively lowers cholesterol. However, an ideal solution does not yet exist, and each group of medications that help lower cholesterol has both advantages and disadvantages.
The use of statins
To date, statins are the best cure for cholesterol. They are recommended to be taken primarily with elevated levels of the substance. Most often, doctors prescribe the following groups of drugs:
- simvastatin ("Zokor", "Vasilip");
- atorvastatin (“Tulip”, “Torvakard”, “Liprimar”, “Atoris”, “Liptonorm”);
- rosuvastatin (Rosucard, Acorta, Crestor, Roxer).
In rare cases, use statins related to the first generation of drugs for high cholesterol. This group includes: fluvastatin (Leskol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Holetar), pravastatin. Each category of drugs has its own effectiveness and severity of lipid-lowering effects. The most powerful statins to date are rosuvastatins and atorvastatins. The maximum allowable daily dosage of the first group is 40 mg, the second is 80 mg.
It is necessary to take medicines for cholesterol once a day in the afternoon. This is due to their mechanism of action. Statins block the liver enzyme, which stimulates the formation of cholesterol. And since the maximum reproduction of cholesterol is observed at night, then you should use statins before bedtime. This rule is especially applicable to medicines of the first two generations (simvastatin, lovastatin and pravastatin). Modern rosuvastatins and atorvastatins are longer excreted from the body, so the time of their use does not matter.
There is a stereotype that medicines for blood cholesterol are harmful to the liver. However, this judgment is not true. In some liver ailments, statins help to improve the condition of the organ (for example, treatment of fatty hepatosis). But with serious hepatic pathologies, statins are forbidden to be taken, since a high concentration of elements in the blood can lead to the development of dangerous negative effects: renal failure and rhabdomyolysis. Thus, it must be remembered that statins are serious medicines that cause (rarely) adverse reactions, their use is possible only for medical purposes after a detailed medical examination.
The benefits of statins
The drugs not only lower cholesterol, but also reduce the likelihood of developing cardiac and vascular complications. They have a high degree of safety during prolonged use. The effect of taking statins occurs only two weeks after the start of use.
disadvantages
The presence of negative reactions of the body (in rare cases): pain in the muscles, abdomen, nausea. During treatment, once every six months, liver tests are required . When taking high doses, life-threatening side effects may occur.
Use of Fibrates
These medicines are derivatives of fibroic acid. The group of drugs for cholesterol includes fenofibrates, ciprofibrates, bezafibrates, gemfibrozil and clofibrates. The most effective drug is Tricor, which belongs to the category of fenofibrates.
Fibrates are inferior to statins in terms of their effect on the level of low density of lipoproteins and total cholesterol, however, in terms of their effect on high density, lipoproteins and triglycerides exceed them. Due to the use of fibrates at the genetic level, there is a change in cholesterol transport. These cholesterol drugs are second-line drugs used after statins for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Drugs are recommended for use with a high level of triglycerides, isolated hypoalphacholesterolemia.
Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
Today in Russia only one drug of the ezetimibe group is used. The name of the cholesterol medicine is Ezetrol. Inegi is also prescribed, which combines a combination of simvastatin with ezetimibe. The mechanism of action of these funds is to disrupt the absorption of cholesterol from the intestinal system, which allows to lower the level of the substance in the blood.
The advantages of ezetimibe include the high safety of medicines, since the medicine does not penetrate the blood. They can be taken for people with hepatic pathologies, as well as for patients who, for various reasons, are contraindicated in the use of statins. This medicine for cholesterol (reviews say this) can be used with statins, which can enhance the therapeutic effect.
The disadvantages of ezetimibe are less effective than statins, as well as high cost.
Sequestrants of bile acids
Cholesterol promotes the reproduction of bile acids, which the body needs for digestion. The use of sequestrants promotes the binding of bile acids, their conversion into insoluble compounds and excretion. The body, sensing a lack of bile acids, begins to intensively reproduce them from cholesterol, the content of which decreases. Actually, in medical practice, these drugs for cholesterol are used very rarely. In total, two drugs are included in the bile acid sequestrant group - Colestipol and Cholestyramine. However, in Russia they are not implemented.
The advantage of these drugs is their local effect, they are not absorbed into the blood. The disadvantages include unpleasant taste, duration of intake, impaired absorption of fats and vitamins. A medication can provoke increased bleeding.
The drug "Niacin"
Vitamin PP or nicotinic acid is well known to many. Medication "Niacin" - a medicine for cholesterol - doctors recommend that patients take large doses (daily volume up to 4 grams). A drop in cholesterol levels occurs after a couple of days of using nicotinic acid. The hypolipidemic effect of the drug "Niacin" is not fully understood. Researchers suggest that vitamin PP inhibits the release of acids from the fat depot, which helps lower bad cholesterol.
The advantage of the medication is a quick result, the possibility of the simultaneous use of satins. The medicine improves microcirculation, has a vasodilating effect. The lack of medication is the use of large doses to obtain a lipid-lowering effect, the presence of side effects in the form of facial redness.
Use of Omega-3 Fatty Polyunsaturated Acids
This group is widely represented by various active biological additives and drugs. The most famous are fish oil and Omacor. The principle of action is to reduce the reproduction of triglycerides in the liver and increase the number of receptors involved in the oxidation of fatty acids. The result is a decrease in the volume of low density lipoproteins. The advantages of the drugs are high safety, antiarrhythmic concomitant action.
Low efficiency, use only as a complement to conventional treatment (fibrates and statins) is the lack of these medications.