What medications are available to lower high triglycerides in the blood?
Triglycerides are blood lipids and in normal doses, they are necessary and beneficial for our bodies. However, high triglyceride levels are a major risk for heart disease. Normal triglyceride levels are less than 150 milligrams per deciliter. A triglyceride level between 150 and 200 milligrams per deciliter is considered to be borderline high and already should be treated. At levels of 200 to 500 milligrams per deciliter, triglyceride levels are in the high range, and anything above 500 milligrams per deciliter is extremely dangerous to health.
Types of Triglyceride-Lowering Medications
The most common types of medication for the treatment of excess triglycerides in the blood are statins such as simvastatin, rosovastatin, and atorvastatin. Statin HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are an organic lipid-reducing drug that inhibits the activity of an enzyme responsible for the production of blood lipids. When suffering from high triglyceride levels in the blood, doctors often recommend the use of statin-type drugs. These drugs also lower cholesterol.
Attached is a list of common statins often prescribed to treat lipid problems:
- Rosuvastatin
- Atorvastatin
- Pravastatin
- Simvastatin (Zocor)
- Fluvastatin
Along with lifestyle and dietary changes, another class of triglyceride-lowering medications are fibrate drugs. These medications may be:
- Norlip
- Lipanor
- Antara
- Tricor
- Fibricor
Concentrated Omega-3s as a Triglyceride-Lowering Drug
Another drug for the treatment of lowering triglyceride levels is to take high doses of Omega-3 fatty acids. High-dose omega-3s are used in medications such as Epanova, Lovaza, and Vascepa.
As with any heart-healthy lifestyle plan, it is recommended that you consult your physician and dietician to make the necessary lifestyle changes to incorporate into your new health regimen.
