Question

Anti-lipemic Medications: 1. What are the main subclasses of antilipemic medications? 2. Describe, briefly, how each works 3. What is the most clinically important adverse effect of HMG-CoA class of medications? Why is it so important? 4. How would you determine if a patient may be at risk for developing this adverse reaction? s. In order for atorvastatin to be most effective, when should it be administered? 6. What are the contraindications for bile acid sequestrant medications? 7. What do patients need to be taught about bile acid sequestrants and taking other prescribed medications? 8. For patients taking fibrates, what interaction would you consider the most important? 9. Long term use of anti-lipemic medications can result in what dietary issue? 10. How should a patient take niacin based anti-lipemic meds? 11. A patient taking niacin as an anti-lipemic medication complains about his face looking like his cheeks are sunburned. What would you tell him?

Answer 1

1. Subclasses of anti-lipemic medications.

• HMG-CoA inhibitors(hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase)
• Bile acid sequestrants
• Niacin
• Fibric acid derivatives
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors

2. How each works?

• HMG-CoA inhibitors

This class of anti-lipemic drugs reduces cholesterol production by hindering HMG-CoA reductase, by which the liver produces cholesterol.

• Bile acid sequestrants

It averts the absorption of bile acids from the small intestine.

• Niacin

It helps in lessening the metabolic process of cholesterol and triglycerides.

• Fibric acid derivatives

Fibric acid derivatives transport cholesterol from the tissues, reduces the production of lipoproteins and triglycerides and strengthen the excretion of cholesterol into the bile.

• Cholesterol absorption inhibitors

It hinders the absorption of cholesterol from the small intestine leading to decreased cholesterol and triglycerides level.