Has Your Doctor Suggested Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?

The basics on this often misunderstood medication.

A Necessary Pill

Ideally, lifestyle changes are all you need to bring your cholesterol levels into the "safe" zone and reduce your risk of heart disease. But for some people it won't be enough.

If your doctor suggests that you take a prescription drug, don't get upset. It doesn't mean you've failed, nor does it mean you should stop following your new habits. Rather, it means you need a bit of help. Maybe you have a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. In that case, making dietary changes, getting more exercise, and even taking supplements simply might not do the trick. So be thankful for the cholesterol-lowering drugs now available.

One major reason people live longer today than they did 50 years ago is the plethora of safe, effective medications at our disposal. True, all drugs have potential side effects, but so does crossing the street. Chosen wisely, medication is much more likely to contribute to your health, well-being, and longevity than to cause harm.

However -- and this is critical -- taking medication doesn't give you permission to dump your lifestyle changes and start living on steak and potato chips. One major study found that only half of those people taking a cholesterol-lowering drug alone reached their cholesterol goals, compared to 80 percent of those who followed a diet and took medication. (Imagine the percentage if the researchers had also considered weight loss and exercise!) You should also continue with any supplements that you've been on. But make sure your doctor knows what you're taking. Depending on the supplements you're using and the medication prescribed, you may be able to get by with a lower dose of the drug.

Who Needs Medication?
Your levels of cholesterol, combined with your other risk factors for heart disease, determine your need for medication. Your doctor will likely recommend prescription medication if your LDL level remains between 160 and 189 after making serious lifestyle changes and if you have none of the following risk factors:

• A history of coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, or hypertension, or a family history of premature CHD.


• Smoking.


• An HDL level below 40 milligrams per deciliter.

If you don't have any of these risk factors and your LDL level is more than 190, your doctor will likely recommend that you start on medication at the same time that you begin making diet and exercise modifications. But it's worth noting that the use of medication doesn't have to mean a permanent commitment. If you improve your diet and increase your activity level, in the process you may reduce your cholesterol enough to get off the medication and stay off it.

If you do have any of the above risk factors, your doctor will likely recommend medication even when your LDL level is lower. Once you start on a cholesterol-lowering medication, you may need to remain on it for the rest of your life. These drugs don't "cure" your high cholesterol; they merely prevent your body from producing or absorbing cholesterol while you're taking the drug. Once you stop, your cholesterol levels will return to their premedication levels, unless the lifestyle changes you've made have had an impact.

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