• A Number of Cholesterol Lowering Drugs Prevent Heart Disease"Drugs Love by Photos8.com" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Photos8.com (Sam Photos8.com) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
  
  

Lovastatin

• Sold under the brand names Mevacor and Altoprev, lovastatin was found to reduce LDL, the bad cholesterol, as much as 30 percent, a known risk factor in heart disease and stroke
  
  

Pravastatin

• Pravastatin, brand name Pravachol or Selektine, is a statin medication that has been available in the U.S. since 2006. It has been found effective in lower LDL cholesterol and helping to prevent heart disease. Pravastatin can interact with other medications. Your physician should always be notified that you are taking statin drugs.
  
  

Simvastatin

• Marketed under the brand name, Zocor, simvastatin has been used to reduce risk of hearth disease when used in conjunction with diet, exercise and weight control measures. It has a good record of effectiveness with few side effects. It is an enzyme blocker like all statin medications
  
  

Atorvastatin

• Atorvastatin, brand name Lipitor, is the most prescribed statin medication on the market. It has been shown to be effective in reducing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides that lead to heart disease and stroke, particularly in those with diabetes and with multiple risk factors. It also raises the level of good cholesterol. Those who take Lipitor must get liver tests done regularly.
  
  

Using Cholesterol Lowering Drugs To Prevent Heart Disease

• Studies show the lowest dose that will lower LDL should be taken to prevent heart disease and stroke, as higher doses of cholesterol-lowering statins may cause more side effects. There seems to be little advantage to taking newer, more expensive drugs over older cholesterol-lowering medications. Generic drugs are as effective as name brand drugs in reducing the risk of heart disease. Your physician may prescribe a combination of cholesterol-lowering medications to maximize the preventive effects.
  
  In clinical studies, atorvastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin have been shown to reduce the risk of having a coronary event both in those with and without a history of coronary heart disease. Lovastatin has been shown to reduce the risk of coronary events in those without any known coronary disease. All statins have been associated with elevated liver enzymes, so periodic liver tests are recommended for all those taking statin medications.