Triglyceride Medication, Side Effects & Safe Alternatives

There are a number of conventional triglyceride medication available in the market used for triglyceride lowering purposes.

More than 85 million Americans with elevated triglyceride and /or cholesterol levels seek medical help in U.S alone per year.

The American Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel’s’ current policy on fasting blood triglyceride levels in adults recommends medical intervention in patients with triglyceride levels in range of 200 - 499 mg/dL (2.3–5.64 mmol/L).

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Following are the triglyceride lowering drugs you can find in the market.

1. Triglyceride Medication – Group 1 - Statins

Statins belongs to a famous class of cholesterol-lowering drugs commonly prescribed for cholesterol and triglyceride level reduction.

Statins block a key liver enzyme involved in production of cholesterol in liver thus slows down its production. Statins enhance uptake of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) by the liver and removing extra cholesterol out of blood.

Other important use of statins is in people at high risk of developing heart disease particularly those with: high blood pressure, family history of heart disease, diabetes, and with high levels of bad cholesterol.

1.1 Statins: Side-Effects

Statins are safe and free of side-effects. However, in some people following side- effects have been observed:

• Gastrointestinal upsets

• Skin rash

• Sleep disturbances

• Headache

- Statins are not recommended in:

• Person allergic to any of its components

• Patient with advanced liver disease

• Pregnant or breast feeding women

1.2 Statins: Brands Available

There are number of statins available in tablet or capsule form including:

Zocor, Lescol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, and Crestor.

Zocor is the most famous and one of the best selling statins around the world. It is added to diet, if diet control alone has failed to achieve target levels.

1.3. Statins + Grapefruit Juice: Not a Good Idea

If you are using statins for as Triglyceride medication to lower high cholesterol and/or triglyceride levels, you should not use Grapefruit juice.

Grapefruit juice is known to contain a chemical which deactivates the liver enzymes required to breakdown the statins.

This can lead to abnormally higher concentrations of drug in blood causing toxicity.

2. Triglyceride Medication – Group 2 – Fibrates.

Fibrates are group of triglyceride lowering drugs known to reduce the triglyceride levels by 20 to 50 percent. Fibrates are available in capsule and tablet form and most common brand is Lopid (Gemfibrozil).

Lopid is a prescription only drug used as a triglyceride medication and used primarily in patients having raised cholesterol levels associated with high levels of triglycerides.

Lopid is also given in patients with very high levels of triglycerides thus at risk of developing inflammation of pancreas (pancreatitis) and blood clotting problems. Other benefit of fibrates is that they increase your good cholesterol (HDL) by 10-15 percent.

Fibrates are commonly prescribed in patients with hyperlipidemia in diabetes. In these patients abnormal levels of lipids are often associated with high levels of triglycerides and low levels of good (HDL) cholesterol.

Only minimal side-effects of Fibrates are known and include:

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Gastrointestinal discomfort

• Headache

• Skin rashes

• Muscle aches

• Liver disturbances

3. Triglyceride Medication – Group 3 - Nicotinic Acid Derivatives.

Commonly called niacin (Vitamin B3), nicotinic acid derivatives are both cholesterol and triglyceride lowering drugs. Niacin available in capsule, tablet or solution form and most common brands include: Niaspan, Niacor, Slo-Niacin, Nicolar, and Nicotinex.

Niaspan is approved in U.S. for increasing good (HDL) cholesterol and it is known to increase HDL levels by 14-32 percent. Patients using Niaspan may experience flushing on the face, chest, neck, and back. However, in most cases flushing sensation lasts only for one hour or so.

Niaspan is not prescribed in patients with active liver disease, bleeding disorder, and have peptic ulcer. Diabetics using Niaspan also need to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly as it causes increase in blood sugar levels.

Conclusion

You can find only few of conventional triglyceride medication in the market sold to be used in patients with high triglyceride and/or cholesterol levels.

Commonly, these drugs are prescribed only after exercise, life-style changes, and diet control has failed to achieve the normal triglyceride levels.

None of these triglyceride lowering drugs is without side-effects and you should not use any of these without prior consulting your health-care provider.

You will hear every health professional saying that exercises, changing the life-style and diet changes are essential for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

And more you read, you will find that “NO SINGLE” conventional medicine is without side-effects. Now, the missing part of Jigsaw puzzle is the ultimate “ALL NATURAL” supplement formula that promotes well-being and healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

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The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. The information and claims made in this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.