Cholesterol Medications

Niacin

Brandname: Niaspan        Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: Nicotinic Acid Products

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: May cause flushing • should be taken with food

Cholestyramine

Brandname: Questran       Dosage form: Oral powder for suspension

Drug class: Bile Acid Sequestrants

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: May cause constipation • Should be seperated from other oral meds at least 1 hour before, or 4 to 6 hours after, depending on the med • should be taken with food

Colesevelam

Brandname: Welchol       Dosage form: Oral powder for suspension

Drug class: Bile Acid Sequestrants

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: May cause constipation • should be separated from other oral meds at least 1 hour before, or 4 to 6 hours after, depending on the med • should be taken with food

Fenofibrate

Brandname:  Antara      Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: Fibrates

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Available as many different brand names •Should be taken with a meal

Gemfibrozil

Brandname: Lopid        Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: Fibrates

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Should be taken with a meal

Atorvastatin

Brandname: Liptior       Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Interacts with grapefruit and certain medications (cimetidine, digoxin, etc)

Lovastatin

Brandname: Mevacor        Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Interacts with grapefruit and certain medciations (erythromycin, ketoconazole, etc.) • IR version must be taken with a meal

Pitavastatin

Brandname: Livalo       Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Interacts with certain medications (cimetidine, cyclosporine, etc)

Pravastatin

Brandname: Pravachol       Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Interacts with certain medications (cimetidine, cyclosporine, etc)

Rosuvastatin

Brandname: Crestor       Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Interacts with certain medications (cimetidine, cyclosporine, etc)

Simvastatin

Brandname: Zocor       Dosage form: Oral liquid + Solid

Drug class: HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Interacts with grapefruit and certain medications ( (erythromycin, ketoconazole, etc)

Alirocumab

Brandname: Praluent       Dosage form: Injectable

Drug class: PCSK9 Inhibitors

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Can cause injection site reactions

Evolocumab

Brandname: Repatha        Dosage form: Injectable

Drug class: PCSK9 Inhibitors

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Can cause injection site reactions

Ezetimibe

Brandname: Zetia       Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: Interacts with certain medications (cyclosporine, etc)

Icosapent Ethyl

Brandname: Vascepa       Dosage form: Oral solid

Drug class: Fish Oils

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: May cause bleeding, especially it taken with other blood thinners (warfarin, Xarelto. etc)

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Brandname: Lavaza (Rx only)     Dosage form: Oral liquid + Solid

Drug class: Fish Oils

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: May cause bleeding, especially if taken with other blood thinners (warfarin, Xarelto, etc)

• Use with caution in pantients allergic to fish and/or to shellfish

Ezetimibe/simvastatin

Brandname: Vytorin        Dosage form: Oral solid

Combination Drug class:

• Ezetimibe: Cholesterol absorption inhibitor

• Simvastatin: Statin

Indications: Dyslipidemia

Side effects: See above for considerations with each individuals with each individual med