The fluctuations in triglycerides levels may raise the risk of stroke and heart diseases. Diet, metabolic disorders, drugs and certain diseases are considered to be the main cause of cholesterol achieving the harmful level. These symptoms should be kept in mind while making a plan of treatment to gain healthy cholesterol level.
The triglycerides level can be altered by modifications in diet, routine exercises and other crucial changes in the lifestyle of the patient alongwith deciding on medications as advised by the doctor. It is a serious mater to be followed to gain healthy cholesterol level from bad cholesterol level. The change in lifestyle is the preferred option to the medication as it is compulsory even with medications as suggested by the doctor.
Statins: HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) group of drugs, popularly known as Statins, can give additional help alongwith change in lifestyle and exercises to make a change in Triglyceride levels. Pravachol, Lescol, Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor, are some of the drugs containing Statins that are in use extensively for the purpose. They normally do not effect adversely though some may report for skin irritations or rashes, disturbed sleep, headaches and gastrointestinal problems. You should take of consuming grapes juice or alcohol while taking th treatment of Statins as they reacts with the chemicals in the body to adversely react with Statins which may cause muscle aches, extreme tiredness, and the possibility heart malfunctioning increases.
Fibrates: Fibrates are another group of drugs that can be used to lower the high triglyceride level, which are in usse since 1960’s in the form of fenofibrate, bezafibrate, Lopid and gemfibrozil. The main effect of these drugs is to minimize the VLDL in the blood which is the basic ingredients of triglycerides. Fibrates have few minor and temporary side effects like skin rash, muscle aches, gastrointestinal discomfort, increasing of cholesterol gallstones, liver problems, nausea, and headaches. Diabetic patients of high triglycerides can be treated with Fibrates. Though high triglycerides patients can be treated with Statins and Fibrates side by side but it may increase the chances of side effects in the patient.
Derivatives of Nicotinic acid: Derivatives of nicotinic acid are another group of drugs that is used to treat high triglycerides level. These derivatives, usually known as niacin (vitamin B3), work in the lever to reduce the level of triglycerides and cholesterol. Nicolar, Niacor, Niaspan, Slo-Niacin, Nicotinex Elixir etc. are some of the derivatives of nicotinic acid that are commonly used for this purpose. Major side effects that are experienced with the use of niacin are flushing sensation occuring on the face, neck, chest, and back, with features of redness, itching, or tingling which lasts for almost one hour. You should avoid the use of alcohol, hot drinks, and spicy foods to minimize flushing. Nicotinic acid derivatives should be avoided by the people who have liver disease, arterial bleeding or peptic ulcers.
Thus, there are many options to modify the triglycerides level through medication but they should be used with extreme care from their side effects on the patient.
