Cholesterol Medications

Question 1

What are the medication options for cholesterol?

Answer 1

1. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins)
2. Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
3. Fibrates
4. Bile-Acid sequestrants
5. Monoclonal antibodies
6. Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Question 2

What are the statin medications that you should know?

Answer 2

1. Atorvastatin
   2.Lovastatin
2. Pravastatin
3. Rosuvastatin
4. Simvastatin

Question 3

Statin Common Uses

Answer 3

-prevent heart attacks and stoke in patients that are at high risk
-prescribed following a heart attack or stroke to prevent subsequent events.

Question 4

Formation of Cholesterol

Answer 4

1. Partway through the cholesterol formation process, a molecule called HMG-CoA is formed.
2. an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase chops off part of this, leaving something called mevalonate. Mevalonate is an essential building block for cholesterol.

Question 5

Statins Mechanism of Action

Answer 5

Statins block the action of an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. This halts a crucial step in the formation of cholesterol, causing a decrease in LDL and VLDL cholesterol.

Question 6

Statins Side effects

Answer 6

1. Hepatotoxicity
2. Myopathy & Rhabdomyosis

Question 7

What time should statins be taken?

Answer 7

during the evening

Question 8

which statin medication should be taken with supper?

Answer 8

Lovastatin since food increases its absorption

Question 9

which food should be avoided when taking statin medications?

Answer 9

Grapefruit

Question 10

What contraindicates statin medication

Answer 10

active liver disease
pregnancy

Question 11

What is Ezetimibe’s common uses?

Answer 11

-prescribed to lower cholesterol, especially LDL
-often combined with other statins

Question 12

ezetimibe mechanism of action

Answer 12

Ezetimibe binds to proteins in the GI tract (NPC1L1) responsible for absorbing dietary cholesterol. Thus, when a person eats a high-cholesterol meal, less of the cholesterol gets absorbed. This lowers LDL cholesterol by about 19%. It works even better when combined with a statin

Question 13

What is ezetimibe?

Answer 13

a cholesterol absorption inhibitor

Question 14

Ezetimibe High Yield Concepts

Answer 14

Ezetimibe is very well tolerated. When combined with a statin, which is a common practice, the risks of myopathy and hepatoxicity are slightly increased.

Question 15

What are the Fibrates that you should know?

Answer 15

1. Fenofibrate
2. Gemfibrozil

Question 16

Fibrates Common Uses

Answer 16

-Fibrates are prescribed for patients with high triglyceride (VLDL) and LDL levels
-Fibrates are prescribed for patients with high triglyceride (VLDL) and LDL levels

Question 17

Fibrates Mechanism of Action

Answer 17

significantly lower triglyceride (VLDL) and can increase HDL levels.

Question 18

Fibrates High Yield Concepts

Answer 18

There is a risk of myopathy and hepatotoxicity. There is also a risk of gallstones (cholelithiasis). Fibrates can also cause diarrhea.

Question 19

Fibrates High Yield Concepts

Answer 19

There is a risk of myopathy and hepatotoxicity. There is also a risk of gallstones (cholelithiasis). Fibrates can also cause diarrhea.