Heart Health
The new cholesterol-lowering drugs
Persistently high “bad” LDL cholesterol leads to heart attacks and strokes. New drugs can help, but they are not appropriate for all men. A new type of medication for lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol has won FDA approval. The new drugs, alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha), can slash LDL up to 60% on top of reductions from diet and the currently available medications—chiefly statins. They work differently from statins, so the two classes of drugs can be combined. (See "Three tools for lowering LDL cholesterol" below.)
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
