Cholesterol-Lowering Medication

Hypolipidemic agents, or antihyperlipidemic agents, are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals that are used in the treatment of hyperlipidemias. They are called lipid-lowering drugs (LLD) or agents.

There are several classes of hypolipidemic drugs. They may differ in both their impact on the cholesterol profile and adverse effects.

For example, some may lower the “bad cholesterol” low density lipoprotein (LDL) more so than others, while others may preferentially increase high density lipoprotein (HDL), “the good cholesterol”.

Clinically, the choice of an agent will depend on the patient’s cholesterol profile, cardiovascular risk, and the liver and kidney functions of the patient, evaluated against the balancing of risks and benefits of the medications.