Some medicines to lower high cholesterol, such as simvastatin, ezetimibe, bezafibrate or alirocumab, help reduce levels of total cholesterol, bad cholesterol (LDL), VLDL and triglycerides, reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke .
Cholesterol medications can be used alone, or in combination to improve their effect, but should only be used under the guidance of a cardiologist, as they have contraindications and several side effects, and should not be used by pregnant women or people with serious liver diseases. or in the kidneys, for example.
Furthermore, as a complement to medicines to lower high cholesterol, a healthy lifestyle should be adopted, which includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, weight loss and reducing the use of cigarettes or alcohol intake. . See how you should eat to lower high cholesterol.
10 remedies to lower high cholesterol
Some of the medicines most recommended by doctors to lower high cholesterol are:
1. Simvastatin
Simvastatin, like pravastatin, is a medicine from the statin class, which acts by inhibiting the production of cholesterol by the liver, and in this way, helps to lower total cholesterol, bad cholesterol (LDL).
Furthermore, this medicine also helps to reduce triglyceride levels in the blood and increase good cholesterol (HDL).
How to use: simvastatin and pravastatin must be taken orally, generally taken once a day, with simvastatin being taken at night, after a meal, and pravastatin can be taken with or without food, at night.
Atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and fluvastatin can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food. Check out other statins to lower cholesterol.
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2. Rosuvastatina
Rosuvastatin is another medicine from the statin class indicated to lower bad cholesterol (LDL), total cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase good cholesterol (HDL).
This medicine works by inhibiting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase, and thus prevents the production of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Other statins with a similar effect are atorvastatin and fluvastatin.
How to use: atorvastatin, rosuvastatin and fluvastatin should be taken orally, at any time of the day, with or without food, and are generally indicated once a day, at night before bed.
3. Cholestyramine
Cholestyramine, as well as colesevelam, are drugs from the class of bile acid sequestrants, which act on the intestine, binding to bile acids and preventing dietary fats from being absorbed by the intestine.
In this way, there is greater elimination of fats through feces, helping to lower high cholesterol.
These medications must be used under medical advice and can be used alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins or ezetimibe, for example.
How to use: Cholestyramine or colesevelam must be taken orally, and the doses must be indicated by the doctor, as they vary when they are administered alone or with other medicines to lower high cholesterol.
In general, cholestyramine should be taken in the morning and evening, with a meal, or as directed by a doctor, as it may interfere with the absorption of other medications. Colesevelam, on the other hand, should be taken with food 1 to 2 times a day, as advised by your doctor.
4. Ezetimiba
Ezetimibe is a medicine that helps lower total cholesterol, bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride levels, in addition to increasing good cholesterol (HDL), as it works by reducing the absorption of fats by the body.
This medicine may be recommended by your doctor to be used alone when other medicines have not been effective in lowering high cholesterol.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend the use of ezetimibe to be taken together with fenofibrate or used in combination with simvastatin, when treatment with statins was not enough to lower cholesterol.
How to use: The normally recommended dose of ezetimibe for adults or children over 6 years of age is 1 tablet of 10 mg, orally, per day, before or after a meal, or as per medical advice.
5. Bezafibrato
Bezafibrate is a medicine from the fibrate class, which acts by increasing fat metabolism, which helps to lower high cholesterol, LDL and VLDL, and triglycerides, in addition to increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
Other fibrates with similar action that may be recommended by the doctor are fenofibrate, gemfibrozil or clofibrate, for example.
How to use: Fibrates must be taken in the doses recommended by the doctor, as they may vary according to the type of medicine indicated. Bezafibrate and clofibrate should be taken during or after a meal. Fenofibrate should be taken with food and gemfibrozil should be taken 30 minutes before a meal.
6. Nicotinic acid
Nicotinic acid or niacin is a vitamin from the B complex, vitamin B3, which acts by inhibiting the production of triglycerides in the liver and reducing levels of total cholesterol and bad cholesterol (LDL), in addition to increasing good cholesterol (HDL).
This medicine can be found under the trade name Metri and should be used with medical advice.
How to use: Nicotinic acid should preferably be taken at night, after a light, non-greasy and non-spicy diet. The doses of nicotinic acid and the duration of treatment must be advised by the doctor individually.
7. They are still happy
Alirocumab is a monoclonal antibody indicated to lower cholesterol or prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with atherosclerosis. Understand what atherosclerosis is.
Generally, alirocumab is indicated for people who cannot tolerate treatment with statins, or when statins alone were not enough to lower cholesterol levels.
Alirocumab is found under the name Praluent and works by blocking a specific protein, PCSK9, produced by liver cells, helping to remove bad cholesterol from the body, lowering its blood levels.
How to use: alirocumab should be used through subcutaneous injection, that is, under the skin of the belly, thigh or upper arm, and the normally recommended dose is 75 mg, once every 2 weeks, or as per medical advice.
8. Evolocumab
Evocolumab is another monoclonal antibody that also works by blocking a PCSK9 protein, helping to lower bad cholesterol, and can be used alone or in combination with statins.
This medicine is available in injection form, called Repatha, and should only be used under medical advice.
How to use: evocolumab must be applied under the skin, in the belly, thigh or upper arm region, and the doses must be guided by the doctor, and can vary from 140 mg, every 2 weeks, or 420 mg, once a month.
9. Omega-3
Omega-3 is a type of good fat with anti-inflammatory action, which can help treat high cholesterol with medications recommended by your doctor, as it helps lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. See other benefits of omega-3.
In addition, omega-3 also helps to increase good cholesterol, control blood pressure and reduce cell damage, keeping blood vessels healthy.
How to use: Omega 3 can be found in the form of supplements and the dose varies with age, with daily doses of 1600 mg for men and 1100 mg for women being normally recommended for adults. Find out how to take an omega-3 supplement.
10. Inclisiran
Inclisiran (Leqvio) is a medicine approved in other countries to lower cholesterol, as it works by helping the liver reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood.
In Brazil, this medicine is not yet available, however, it is awaiting approval from Anvisa for its use and commercialization.
How to use: inclisiran is used as an injection under the skin, with a recommended adult dose of 284 mg at the beginning of treatment, again after 3 months and then every 6 months.
Natural remedies to lower cholesterol
Natural remedies, such as green tea or artichoke tea, have antioxidant properties that can help reduce bad cholesterol levels and triglycerides in the blood, and can be used to complement lifestyle changes and treatment indicated by the doctor. doctor. See other options and how to prepare natural remedies to lower bad cholesterol.
Furthermore, another natural way to lower high cholesterol is to consume foods rich in omega-3, such as salmon, tuna or sardines at least 3 times a week or chia seeds and flaxseeds, chestnuts, walnuts and olive oil, every day. . Check out the main foods rich in omega-3.
It is important to emphasize that the use of these, or any other natural remedy, should not replace the medicines/treatments recommended by the doctor.
In addition to natural remedies to lower high cholesterol, it is also important to eat a balanced diet low in fatty foods and fried foods.
