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Lipids are biological molecules that are soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in aqueous solution. Lipids include triglycerides and cholesterol. Cholesterol is divided into two groups: Low density protein (LDL) or bad cholesterol which causes hardening of arteries and high density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol which clears cholesterol from the arteries.
The term dyslipidemia is used to describe disruption of lipid level in the blood. Most people in western countries suffer from hyperlipidemia which means elevated level of lipids in the blood caused due to faulty diet and lifestyle. Lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities are very common in general population and are regarded as high risk factor for cardiovascular diseases due to influence of cholesterol which is most prominent constituent of lipids, which in turn causes atherosclerosis. High level of bad cholesterol (LDL) is one of the major cause for various cardiovascular diseases.
Drugs that lower lipid levels are prescribed to patients suffering from high lipid levels. These drugs are known as lipid lowering drugs. These drugs are also called as anti-lipid drugs.
Broadly these anti lipid drugs are classified into five categories: Statins, fibrates, anion exchange resins, fish oils and nicotinic acid. These drugs are prescribed for patients who are suffering from coronary artery disease, heart diseases and have not responded to dietary changes and also lifestyle change
If a person has very high levels of lipids, initial therapy with one of the above category may not be sufficient; in that case combination of categories may be used as lipid lowering drugs; however combination of statin with fibrates or nicotinic acid may have increased side effects.
Statin is the class of drugs prescribed to treat high cholesterol (hyper cholestermia). Stain drugs include atoravastatin (lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), Rosuvastatin (crestor), pravastatin (lipostat). Statin class of drugs is very effective in treating high cholesterol but less effective than fibrates. Fibrates are more effective in lowering LDL and increasing HDL, but they have their own associated side effects. In general they are effective in lowering heart strokes, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
The metabolism of statin in liver is similar to that of protease inhibitors using P450 CYP3A4 pathway. These protease inhibitors are dangerous and cause muscle damage and hence lot of side effects with drug interactions.
In contrast to other members of the drug class, rosuvastatin is not metabolised by the P450 pathway, hence less potential for drug interactions.
Ofcourse as they say prevention is the best cure. Proper diet and lifestyle prevents most of the cardiovascular diseases.
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