What Are the Different Prescription Drugs for High Cholesterol?
According to the American Heart Association, in 2006 alone, 34.4 million adults in the United States had a blood cholesterol level of more than 240 mg/dL. Levels this high often qualify the patient for blood cholesterol treatment methods involving prescription medications. Combined with the proper lifestyle changes (such as diet and exercise), cholesterol-lowering medications can help decrease the chance of health problems such as heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Absorption Inhibitors Cholesterol absorption inhibitors are one prescription option for treating high cholesterol. In order for cholesterol from the foods you consume to make it into the bloodstream, they must first be absorbed by the small intestine. Prescription cholesterol absorption inhibitors, such as Zetia (ezetimibe), work by partially preventing the small intestines from being able to absorb cholesterol. Since cholesterol is still an important part of body function, only some of the cholesterol is blocked from b