Cholesterol medications are used when a patient has not responded well to lifestyle and dietary changes. If you have tried everything you can to keep your cholesterol in check with little or no success then it may be time to look into the option of cholesterol medications. There are different medications that will do different things. All the medications have different possible side effects.

Your cholesterol levels, family history and other risk factors towards developing heart disease will help your doctor decide what medication is best for you. It should be remembered that you should not rely on the medication alone to help you, lifestyle changes are still important.

Statins

Statins are very popular cholesterol medications. They work to reduce your body's ability to produce LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, as well as triglycerides. This medication may also help to increase good cholesterol slightly. Unfortunately there are side effects to taking the drug. You may experience diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, muscle soreness and it is not advisable to take this medication with grape fruit juice. Some people take this drug with no complaints but you should discuss any side effects you experience with your doctor right away.

Bile Acid Binding Resins

This is one of the cholesterol medications that work to reduce LDL levels but a side effect may be that you experience an increase in triglycerides. Other side effects associated with this drug are bloating, gas, nausea and constipation.

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors

This medicine does exactly what the name says. It inhibits your body's ability to absorb cholesterol from the food you eat. This will decrease LDL levels as well as slightly decrease triglyceride levels. Your HDL levels may also increase slightly though continued exercise and consumption of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats is advised to keep increasing HDL levels.

Fibrates

These drugs do not decrease the level of LDL cholesterol in your body. Instead it will lower the level of triglycerides and increase the level of HDL cholesterol in your body. There is a risk of developing gallstones, nausea and stomach pain in terms of side effects.

Niacin

Niacin is one of the rare cholesterol medications that are available over the counter. It is however advisable to seek prescription niacin to obtain the correct dosage. The benefits of this medication are that you will be able to up your HDL cholesterol while decreasing your LDL and triglyceride levels. Some of the more serious side effects include high blood sugar, peptic ulcers and gout.