A Comprehensive Guide to Lipid-Lowering Drugs: A Scientific Guide to Weight Loss Medication for Obesity and Hyperlipidemia

Types of Lipid-Lowering Drugs:

Currently, there are four main classes of drugs used to treat hyperlipidemia:

1. Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors)

Simvastatin: Oral administration, 10-20 mg once daily after dinner.

Pravastatin: Oral administration, 20-40 mg once daily after dinner.

Lovastatin: Oral administration, 20-40 mg once daily after dinner.

Atervastatin (Lipitor): Oral administration, 10-40 mg once daily after dinner.

Statins are all potent inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutamyl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase. Except for sildenafil (which has been discontinued due to its rhabdomyolysis side effect), most lipid-lowering drugs are safe and effective.

2. Bile Acid Conjugating Resins
Cholestgramine: Oral administration, 4-8g twice daily.
Colestepol: Oral administration, 10-20g once or twice daily.

3. Fibrates
Gemfibrozil: Oral administration, 600mg twice daily.
Fenofibrate: Oral administration, 100mg three times daily.
Micronized Fenofibrate: Oral administration, 200mg once daily.

Bezafibrate: Also known as bezafibrate, oral administration, 200mg three times daily.

Doulip: Oral administration, 250mg two to three times daily.

4. Niacin and its derivatives
Niacin: Oral administration, initially 100mg three times daily, gradually increasing to 3-6g daily.

Acipimox: Oral administration, 250mg three times daily.

Inositol Hexanicotinate: Oral administration, 0.2-0.6g three times daily.

Different drugs have different effects on lipid components.