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What Is The Best Medicine For High Triglycerides

Prescription Drugs For Cholesterol And Triglycerides

High Triglycerides: The Latest Recommendations

From statins like Lipitor to PCSK9 inhibitors like Repatha to niacin and beyond, several kinds of medications are regularly prescribed to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Which is most appropriate for you depends on several factors, but its likely your healthcare provider will want you to begin taking prescription medication if diet and exercise are not enough to lower your levels, or if your risk for cardiovascular disease is particularly elevated.

Keeping your lipidcholesterol and triglyceridelevels from getting too high is an important part of preventing atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease , stroke, and peripheral artery disease.

This article will help you learn about the possible prescription options your healthcare provider might suggest so you can take an active role in your treatment discussions and decisions.

Limit Your Sugar Intake

Added sugar is a big part of many peoples diets.

While the American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 100150 calories of added sugar per day, one study found that the average American eats about 308 calories of added sugar daily .

Added sugar is commonly found in sweets, soft drinks, and fruit juice.

Extra sugar in your diet may be turned into triglycerides, which can lead to an increase in blood triglyceride levels, along with other heart disease risk factors.

A 2020 review that included data on 6,730 people found that those who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages regularly were over 50% more likely to have high triglycerides, compared with those who did not drink them regularly .

Another study found that consuming high amounts of added sugar is also associated with higher blood triglyceride levels in children .

Fortunately, several studies have shown that low carb diets can lead to a decrease in blood triglyceride levels .

Even a simple change such as replacing sugar-sweetened beverages with water could decrease triglycerides in some people .

Summary

Minimizing added sugar in your diet from sugary beverages and sweets can reduce your blood triglyceride levels.

What Is The Best Treatment For Hypertriglyceridemia

Hypertriglyceridemia treatment includes:

  • Managing underlying causes of your high triglycerides.

You may need one or more of these approaches. Your provider will recommend the best treatment plan for you.

Lifestyle changes to lower your triglycerides

In general, treatment begins with lifestyle changes. Guidelines include:

Managing underlying causes of hypertriglyceridemia

Your healthcare provider will work with you to manage underlying causes. The goal is to make adjustments thatll help your triglycerides return to a normal level. You may need new medications to manage a medical condition. Or you may need changes to your current drug regimen. Ask your provider if you have questions or concerns about your treatment plan.

Read Also: Why Is High Cholesterol Bad For Your Heart

Plant Sterols And Stenols

Plant sterols and stenols can reduce the amount of cholesterol absorbed by your body. Theyre found in many plant foods in small amounts. Larger amounts are found in plant sterol and stenol-fortified foods, including:

Usually, two servings of a fortified food will provide the FDA-recommended amount of plant stenols or sterols each day.

Plant stenols and sterols are thought to be able to reduce cholesterol by as much as 8 to 12 percent. But more evidence is needed to understand their long-term safety and efficacy.

Side effects can include diarrhea and fat in the stool.

Supplements And Medications To Lower Triglycerides

5 Home Remedies for High Triglyceride Levels
  • Fish oil, in doses of 3.5 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day, can effectively lower triglycerides. Lower doses are ineffective,” explains says Scott Shurmur, MD, cardiologist and professor of medicine at Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Medicine in Lubbock. When prescription medication is needed, lowering triglycerides usually starts with medication that lowers LDL cholesterol levels many of the same medications used to lower cholesterol will also lower triglycerides.
  • Statins are usually effective and well tolerated, and are the most commonly prescribed drugs to lower cholesterol. Examples include Lipitor , Crestor , Zocor , Lescol , Pravachol , and Mevacor . Severe side effects that last are rare, but side effects may include forgetfulness, abdominal pain, constipation, and muscle aches. You shouldn’t take one of these medications if you are pregnant or have active liver disease. Statins may interact with other drugs, including antibiotics and antivirals, so be sure to discuss all your medications with your doctor.
  • Fibrates like Tricor are used specifically to lower triglyceride levels. Side effects include stomach upset, gallstones, and muscle aches. You should not take fibrates if you have kidney disease or severe liver disease.
  • Some diabetes medications, Actos , for example, will also lower triglycerides, says Shurmur. However, this drug may cause or worsen congestive heart failure, warns the FDA.

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    What Are The Best Medications For Lowering Cholesterol

    Here are five of the best medication options for lowering cholesterol. Some of the items in this list are herbal/natural supplements.

    • Concerning Life Cholestro Destroyer
    • Dr. Tobias Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil

    Overview:

    This is a 100% natural cholesterol management supplement. Its primary function is to lower harmful cholesterol levels. An add-on function is helping improve the patients immune system while keeping the heart healthy and protected.

    UltaLife Premium Cholesterol Support is made of the most exquisite heart-healthy ingredients like niacin, plant sterols, cayenne herb powder, guggulipids, policosanol, and garlic herb powder. Cayenne helps eliminate or lessen the build of plaque on the arterial walls.

    Effect On Clinical Outcomes

    As described above in the description of the effect of volanesorsen on lipid/lipoprotein levels in patients with FCS and hypertriglyceridemia there is suggestive evidence that lowering the very high TG levels with volanesorsen treatment will reduce the risk of pancreatitis and improve the quality of life.

    The effect of volanesorsen on cardiovascular disease has not been determined. However, epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that increased Apo C-III levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events and coronary artery calcification . Moreover, carriers of rare heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in Apo C-III have reduced TG levels and reduced cardiovascular disease risk . One can speculate that lowering Apo C-III and TG levels with volanesorsen will have beneficial effects on the development of cardiovascular disease.

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    Dos And Donts In Managing High Triglycerides:

    • DO exercise regularly.
    • DO eat more fruits and vegetables and high-fiber foods such as oat bran. Cook with monounsaturated fatsolive, peanut, and canola oils.
    • DO stop smoking.
    • DO lose weight by changing your diet and doing aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, bicycling, or swimming. Exercise at least 30 minutes daily.
    • DONT forget to treat other medical conditions such as diabetes and underactive thyroid.
    • DONT drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day.
    • DONT change your diet or medicines without your doctors approval.

    How To Cope With Side Effects

    Medicines that Actually Cause High Triglycerides (The List)

    What to do about:

    • stomach pain try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Puttinga heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help. If youre in a lot of pain, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
    • diarrhoea drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. Speak to a doctor if diarrhoea lasts for more than a week after you start ezetimibe.
    • farting try to not eat foodsthat cause wind . Eat smaller meals, eat and drink slowly, andexercise regularly. There are pharmacy medicines that may also help, such as charcoal tablets or simeticone. Peppermint tea may also help.
    • feeling tired try to relax when possible and avoid intense exercise to see if that helps. If these symptoms do not go away after 1 to 2 weeks, ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice.

    Read Also: How To Prevent High Cholesterol

    Also Check: What Is Normal Total Cholesterol Level For A Woman

    Moderate Hypertriglyceridemia Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease

    In the era of statin therapy, it is uncertain whether lowering TG levels in patients on statin therapy will further reduce cardiovascular events. As discussed in detail in the sections on individual drugs, the studies carried out so far have not shown that adding niacin or fibrates to statin therapy is beneficial with regards to cardiovascular disease. As also discussed, the available studies have major limitations because many of the patients in these outcome studies did not have substantial elevations in TGs and therefore the issue is an open question that requires additional studies. Notably, the REDUCE-IT trial, which tested the effect of high dose EPA in patients with elevated TG levels and the JELIS trial which tested the effect of EPA 1.8 grams per day in patients with high cholesterol levels demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular events. However, in both of these trials the decrease in cardiovascular events was considerably greater than one would expect based on the reduction in TG levels suggesting that the decrease in cardiovascular events was not solely due to lowering TG levels and that other effects of EPA likely played a role.

    How To Lower Triglycerides Fast Without Medications

    Unlike many illnesses, much of the treatment centered around how to lower triglycerides actually has a lot to do with lifestyle factors like diet and physical activity. In fact, moderate to slightly high levels of triglycerides may be managed in this way alone, without the use of prescription medications. Since what raises triglycerides in the first place is often the foods that we eat, it is not a wonder that a mere change in ingestibles can provide long term benefits in the form of lower triglycerides levels. And, the long term management of the amounts of these fats circulating in the blood can often be well managed with a diet to lower triglycerides combined with an increase in moderate exercise.

    Fats are also best left alone as much as possible for anyone trying to stave off ever rising levels of the manufactured blood fats. As such, fried foods and those that contain trans fat or saturated fat should be eliminated from diets entirely. Not only does this decrease the likelihood that triglycerides will remain on the rise, a low fat diet also contributes to a reduced risk of obesity. Being overweight or obese is a major contributing factor to the increase of triglycerides in the blood, and adhering to a low fat diet can reduce this risk dramatically.

    References:

    Read Also: Do You Need To Fast For Cholesterol Test

    What Are The Symptoms Of Hypertriglyceridemia

    Most people with hypertriglyceridemia have no symptoms. People with severe hyperglyceridemia may develop xanthomas. These are skin bumps that form when lipids build up under your skin. The xanthomas usually appear around your eyelids. But they may also appear on your knees, elbows or palms of your hands.

    Establish A Regular Meal Pattern

    Cholesterol &  Triglyceride Lowering Supplement for High Blood Pressure ...

    Insulin resistance is another factor that can contribute to high blood triglycerides.

    After you eat a meal, the cells in your pancreas send a signal to release insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin is then responsible for transporting sugar to your cells to be used for energy.

    If you have too much insulin in your blood, your body can become resistant to it, making it difficult for your body to use insulin effectively. This can lead to a buildup of both sugar and triglycerides in the blood.

    Fortunately, setting a regular eating pattern can help prevent insulin resistance and high triglycerides. For instance, research shows that not eating breakfast can lead to decreased insulin sensitivity .

    An American Heart Association statement suggested that irregular eating patterns seemed less likely to achieve healthy cardiometabolic levels. They recommended intentional eating at regular times .

    However, the evidence is mixed when it comes to meal frequency.

    A 2013 study demonstrated that eating three meals per day significantly decreased triglycerides compared with eating six meals per day (

    36 ).

    Regardless of how many meals youre eating daily, eating regular meals can improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood triglyceride levels.

    Summary

    While studies are mixed on how meal frequency affects blood triglyceride levels, research suggests that sticking to a regular meal pattern can decrease many heart disease risk factors and prevent insulin resistance.

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    Symptoms Of High Triglycerides

    There are usually no clear symptoms of high triglycerides which is why it is so important to have blood work done regularly to monitor these levels before they get out of hand.

    In cases of severely high triglyceride levels, an individual may experience chest pain, numbness, dizziness or confusion. Consequently, when triglyceride levels get too high, the blood supply can become blocked to the heart and brain. Very high triglyceride levels can also cause fat deposits to develop under the skin and pancreatitis.

    Visit Ucf Healths Cardiologist Dr Bernard Gros Who Specializes In Lipid Disorders

    UCF Healths Dr. Bernard Gros is a board certified cardiologist who specializes in lipid disorders like high triglycerides. Dr. Gros completed his medical degree at Emory University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at University of Michigan, followed by a fellowship in Cardiology at the same location. Dr. Gros has been with UCF Health College of Medicine since 2011, as one of the founding health care providers.

    At UCF Health, our cardiologists use a collaborative care approach to serve patients in the best way possible and show you how to prevent heart disease. We strive to ensure that all members of the health care team are on board with the treatment plan and facilitate clear communication across specialties.

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    Medications May Be Needed For High Triglyceride Levels

    Sometimes, healthy eating and regular exercise cant lower high triglyceride levels. This may be the case, for example, if you have familial hypertriglyceridemia or if you already have heart disease. Your doctor may prescribe medication such as fibrates or nicotinic acids. Drugs to help lower high blood cholesterol may also be prescribed, if necessary.Suggestions for managing high triglyceride levels with medication include:

    • Always take prescription medications exactly as instructed.
    • See your doctor if you are having side effects from the medication. Known medication side effects may include indigestion, diarrhoea, fever or muscle problems.
    • Dont assume that medications will somehow overcome the hazards of an unhealthy lifestyle. A healthy diet, regular exercise and maintaining an appropriate weight for your height are the most important management strategies for high triglycerides.

    Drug Administration And Pharmacokinetics

    High Triglycerides: Is Your Medicine Causing It?? (11 Culprits)

    The recommended starting dose is 285 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly for 3 months after which the dose should be reduced to 285 mg every 2 weeks. If serum TGs decrease by less than 25% or are not below 2000 mg/dl after 3 months on volanesorsen 285 mg weekly, treatment should be discontinued .

    After 6 months of treatment one can consider increasing the dose frequency back to 285 mg weekly if the serum TG response has been inadequate and the platelet counts are in the normal range. Patients should return to 285 mg every 2 weeks if the higher 285 mg once weekly dose does not provide a significant additional TG reduction after 9 months .

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    Dangers Of High Triglycerides Levels

    Also, high triglycerides may appear as a side effect of some medications such as contraception pills, diuretics, but blockers or steroids. High triglycerides usually mean that there are some other health issues which can lead to heart diseases. If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, high level of sugar in the blood and high cholesterol, beside high triglycerides, you should seek advice from your doctor and consider changing your lifestyle.

    • Diet with high positive energy-intake balance and high fat or high glycaemic index.
    • Increased alcohol consumption per day in men and women, respectively).
    • Renal disease .
    • Paraproteinaemia.
    • Systemic lupus erythematosis.
    • Medications, including corticosteroids, oral oestrogen, tamoxifen, thiazides, non-cardioselective beta-blockers and bile acid sequestrants, cyclophosphamide, L-asparaginase, protease inhibitors, and second-generation antipsychotic agents .

    Moderate Hypertriglyceridemia Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease

    In the era of statin therapy, it is uncertain whether lowering TG levels in patients on statin therapy will further reduce cardiovascular events. As discussed in detail in the sections on individual drugs, the studies carried out so far have not shown that adding niacin or fibrates to statin therapy is beneficial with regards to cardiovascular disease. As also discussed, the available studies have major limitations because many of the patients in these outcome studies did not have substantial elevations in TGs and therefore the issue is an open question that requires additional studies. Notably, the REDUCE-IT trial, which tested the effect of high dose EPA in patients with elevated TG levels and the JELIS trial which tested the effect of EPA 1.8 grams per day in patients with high cholesterol levels demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular events. However, in both of these trials the decrease in cardiovascular events was considerably greater than one would expect based on the reduction in TG levels suggesting that the decrease in cardiovascular events was not solely due to lowering TG levels and that other effects of EPA likely played a role.

    Read Also: Is Peanut Butter High In Cholesterol

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    Will A Keto Diet Lower Triglycerides And Cholesterol

    No, keto diets have been shown to increase cholesterol levels. The Mediterranean diet, however, has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiac events.

    The Mediterranean diet promotes eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats daily eating fish, poultry, beans, and eggs weekly reducing portions of dairy and limiting red meat.

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