HMG-CoA INHIBITORS
HMG-CoA stands for Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme. What is a HMG-CoA inhibitor? It is a reductase inhibitor, which is a substance that blocks an enzyme needed by the body to make cholesterol and it lowers the amount of cholesterol in the body. HMG-CoA inhibitor drugs are called statins.
So what exactly do HMG-CoA inhibitors, or statins do? They block an enzyme called 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme, a reductase. Basically it blocks one of the steps that the body goes through to convert fat into cholesterol. These are the best, most effective cholesterol lowering drugs available today. In some recent years these HMG-CoA inhibitors have also received attention for their benefits other than helping patients with high cholesterol. In 2003, researchers found that people with heart failure but not coronary artery disease received benefits after only 14 weeks of statin therapy. Research has shown a connection between the drugs and a reduced risk for depression and dementia.
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How do they work? HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are a group of prescription drugs used to lower cholesterol,. Cholesterol is a word that we all have heard of but maybe don't know as much about it as we would like. Cholesterol is a substance that our bodies make naturally, but we also get cholesterol from the foods that we eat. When we get too much cholesterol in the bloodstream it can result in clogged arteries, heart disease, and strokes. HMG-CoA inhibitors work by slowing down the ability that the body has to make cholesterol.
It is important to know the names of HMG-CoA inhibitor medication because your doctor may prescribe the brand name while the pharmacy may give you a generic medication. Some of the HMG-CoA inhibitor drugs are: atorvastatin, and the brand name is called Lipitor, fluvastatin, and the brand name is Lescol, lovastatin, where the brand name is called Mevacor, pravastatin, where the brand name is called Pravachol, and simvastatin, where the brand name is called Zocor. These drugs all fit into a category called statins. You may notice the word statin in many of the generic names.
Doctors often prescribe HMG-CoA inhibitors or statins when a low-fat high fiber diet, weight loss, and adding exercise to the daily routine don't work to lower a patient's cholesterol enough to get it under control. Statins lower the LDL (bad cholesterol) cholesterol level in the blood and also decreases the triglycerides (another fat that is in the bloodstream). Statins also increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels in the bloodstream.
Statins are available as a tablet or capsule and taken once a day mostly in the evening or just before you go to bed. The dose will depend on your specific cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Remember to take the HMG-CoA inhibitor exactly how it has been prescribed to you and that includes the time of day, each day that you take the medication.
HMG-CoA inhibitors like all medication have some side effects. Statins in general are well-tolerated and the side effects are rare but some people on these types of drugs experience some constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle inflammation, gas, heartburn, and headaches. HMG-CoA inhibitors should be used with caution in patients suffering from liver diseases.
If you think that you have a high cholesterol level and a low-fat, high fiber diet and daily exercise has not helped, you may be a candidate for a HMG-CoA inhibitor. It is wise to go to a doctor and discuss your cholesterol levels, as well as your diet and the amount of exercise that you get each day. Your doctor can inform you on any changes that you may need to make to your lifestyle and can explain any medications that you have questions about, and discuss with you which medication is best for you.
