It's no secret that excessive cholesterol in the blood is harmful to he alth, especially for the functioning of the heart and vascular systems. With an excess, this substance begins to be deposited over time on the walls of blood 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 human existence is impossible. This substance is part of cell membranes, it is necessary for the functioning of the nervous system and other organs.
When we talk about the excess content of the element, we mean the so-called bad cholesterol, which binds to the protein, forming lipoprotein - a completely new compound. There are two types of lipoproteins: low and high density. So, increased levels of lipoprotein in the bloodlow density and poses a he alth risk.
In the initial stages of the disease, it is recommended to follow a special diet and exercise classes. But these measures are not enough, and cleaning of blood vessels from cholesterol with medicines is required.
Scientists have long been trying to create a drug that effectively lowers cholesterol. However, there is no perfect solution yet, and each group of cholesterol-lowering drugs has both advantages and disadvantages.
Using statins
Today, statins are the best cure for cholesterol. They are recommended to be taken first of all with an increased level of the substance. Most often, doctors prescribe the following groups of drugs:
- simvastatin ("Zokor", "Vazilip");
- atorvastatin ("Tulip", "Torvacard", "Liprimar", "Atoris", "Liptonorm");
- rosuvastatin ("Rozucard", "Akorta", "Crestor", "Roxera").
In rare cases, statins are used, which are first-generation drugs for high cholesterol. This group includes: fluvastatin (Leskol), lovastatin (Mevacor, Choletar), pravastatin. Each category of drugs has its own effectiveness and severity of lipid-lowering action. The most powerful statins today are rosuvastatins andatorvastatins. The maximum allowable daily dosage of the first group is 40 mg, the second - 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 a liver enzyme that 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 applies especially to the first two generations of drugs (simvastatins, lovastatins and pravastatins). Modern rosuvastatins and atorvastatins are excreted from the body longer, so the time of their use does not matter.
There is a stereotype that cholesterol drugs are bad for the liver. However, this judgment is not true. In some diseases of the liver, statins help to improve the condition of the organ (for example, the treatment of fatty hepatosis). But with serious liver pathologies, it is forbidden to take statins, since a high concentration of elements in the blood can lead to the development of dangerous negative effects: kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis. Thus, it must be remembered that statins are serious drugs that cause (rarely) adverse reactions, their use is possible only under medical prescription after a detailed medical examination.
The benefits of statins
Drugs not only lower cholesterol, but also reduce the likelihood of developing heart and vascular complications. They have a highdegree of safety in long-term use. The effect of taking statins occurs after two weeks from the start of use.
Flaws
The presence of negative reactions of the body (in rare cases): pain in the muscles, abdomen, nausea. During treatment, liver tests are required every six months. Life-threatening side effects may occur at high doses.
Using fibrates
These medicines are derivatives of fibric acid. Cholesterol medications include fenofibrates, ciprofibrates, bezafibrates, gemfibrosils, and clofibrates. The most effective drug is Traykor, which belongs to the category of fenofibrates.
Fibrates are inferior to statins in their effect on low-density lipoproteins and total cholesterol, but they are superior in their effect on high-density lipoproteins and triglycerides. Through the use of fibrates at the gene level, there is a change in the transport of cholesterol. These cholesterol drugs are second-line drugs used after statins for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The drugs are recommended for use in high triglyceride levels, isolated hypoalphacholesterolemia.
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
Today, only one drug of the ezetimibe group is used in Russia. The name of the medicine for cholesterol is "Ezetrol". They also prescribe the drug "Ineji", which combines a combination of simvastatin with ezetimibe. Mechanismthe action of these funds is to disrupt the absorption of cholesterol from the intestinal system, which reduces the level of the substance in the blood.
The advantages of ezetimibes include the high safety of medicines, since the medicine does not penetrate into the blood. They can be taken by people with hepatic pathologies, as well as by patients who, for various reasons, are contraindicated in the use of statins. This cholesterol medicine (reviews say this) can be used together with statins, which allows you to enhance the therapeutic effect.
The disadvantages of ezetimibes are lower efficacy compared to statins, as well as high cost.
Bile acid sequestrants
Cholesterol promotes the production of bile acids, which the body needs for digestion. The use of sequestrants promotes the binding of bile acids, their transformation into insoluble compounds and excretion. The body, feeling a lack of bile acids, begins to intensively reproduce them from cholesterol, the content of which decreases. In fact, in medical practice, these drugs for cholesterol are used very rarely. In total, two drugs included in the group of bile acid sequestrants, Colestipol and Cholestyramine, have been registered. However, they are not sold in Russia.
The advantage of these drugs is their local action, they are not absorbed into the blood. The disadvantages include an unpleasant taste, duration of administration, impaired absorption of fats and vitamins. Medicationmay cause increased bleeding.
Drug "Niacin"
Vitamin PP or nicotinic acid is well known to many. The drug "Niacin" - a cure for cholesterol - doctors recommend taking it in large doses (daily volume up to 4 grams). A drop in cholesterol levels occurs after a couple of days of using nicotinic acid. The lipid-lowering effect of the drug "Niacin" has not been fully studied. Researchers suggest that vitamin PP prevents the release of acids from the fatty depot, which helps reduce bad cholesterol.
The advantage of the drug is a quick result, the possibility of simultaneous use of satin. The medicine improves microcirculation, has a vasodilating effect. The disadvantage of the drug is the use of large doses to obtain a hypolipidemic effect, the presence of side effects in the form of facial redness.
Using Omega-3 fatty acids
This group is widely represented by various active biological supplements and medicines. 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. As a result, there is a decrease in the volume of low density lipoproteins. The advantages of drugs are high safety, antiarrhythmic concomitantaction.
Low efficacy, only used as an adjunct to conventional treatments (fibrates and statins) is a drawback of these medications.
