| Category |
Brand Name |
Generic Name |
Manufacturer |
Minimum DailyDose |
Maximum DailyDose |
Special Considerations* |
| HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) |
Lipitor |
atorvastatin |
Pfizer |
10 mg |
80 mg |
Main action: Lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol.Have blood tests for liver enzyme concentrations. Notify physician immediately of muscle pain.Use caution if combining with fibric acid derivatives or bile acid sequestrants (described below).(increased risk of rhabdomyolysis) |
| Lescol |
fluvastatin |
Novartis |
20 mg |
80 mg |
| Lescol XL |
fluvastatin |
Novartis |
80 mg |
80 mg |
| Mevacor |
lovastatin |
Merck |
10 mg |
80 mg |
| |
lovastatin |
generic† |
10 mg |
80 mg |
| Altocor |
lovastatin (extended-release) |
Aura Labs |
20 mg |
60 mg |
| Pravachol |
pravastatin |
Bristol-MyersSquibb |
10 mg |
80 mg |
| Zocor |
simvastatin |
Merck |
5 mg |
80 mg |
| Cholesterol absorption inhibitors |
Zetia |
ezetimibe |
Merck Schering-Plough |
10 mg |
10 mg |
Main action: Lowers LDL cholesterol; inhibits absorption of cholesterol.If used with a statin, take together. If used with bile acid sequestrant, ezetimibe should be taken 2 hr before or 4 hr after bile acid sequestrant. |
| Nicotinic acid (niacin) |
Niaspan |
nicotinic acid (extended-release) |
Kos |
300 mg (starting dose) |
2,000 mg |
Main action: Lowers LDL cholesterol increases HDL ("good") cholesterol, lowers triglycerides.Take with food. May cause flushing. May increase blood glucose levels. Have blood tests for liver enzyme concentrations. Long-acting forms may be more likely to cause liver malfunction. |
| |
nicotinic acid |
generic† |
300 mg |
2,000 mg |
| Lipid combinations |
Advicor |
lovastatin niacin |
Kos |
20 mg
500 mg |
40 mg
2,000 mg |
Main Action: Reduces LDL, TC, and TG and increases HDL due to the individual actions of niacin and lovastatin. |
| Fibric acid derivatives |
Lopid |
gemfibrozil |
Pfizer |
1,200 mg |
1,200 mg |
Main action: Lowers triglycerides, increases HDL cholesterol. Perform blood tests for liver enzyme concentrations. Notify physician of muscle pain immediately. |
| |
gemfibrozil |
generic† |
1,200 mg |
1,200 mg |
| Tricor |
fenofibrate |
Abbott |
54 mg |
160 mg |
| Bile acid sequestrants |
LoCHOLEST |
cholestyramine |
Warner Chilcott |
4 g |
24 g |
Main action: Lowers LDL cholesterol. May cause constipation and stomach upset. May need to be taken at a different time than other medications to avoid drug interactions.
May increase triglycerides blood concentrations. |
| LoCHOLEST light |
cholestyramine
light |
Warner Chilcott |
4 g |
24 g |
| Questran |
cholestyramine |
Par Pharmaceuticals |
4 g |
24 g |
| Questran light |
cholestyramine
light |
Par Pharmaceuticals |
4 g |
24 g |
| Prevalite |
cholestyramine |
Upsher Smith |
4 g |
24 g |
| |
cholestyramine |
generic† |
4 g |
24 g |
| |
cholestyramine light |
generic† |
4 g |
24 g |
| Welchol |
colesevelam |
Sankyo |
1,875 (3 tablets) |
4,375 (7 tablets) |
Adapted from Kings Publishing, Inc. For subscription information call 1-800-488-8468.
HMG-Coa = LDL = low-density lipoprotein HDL = high-density lipoprotein TC = total cholesterol TG = plasma triglycerides
†generic = generic drug manufacturers |
|
