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| Prevalite |
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Review
Summary |
 There are many types of cholesterol-lowering medications available, but it is statins that we hear about most often, which may have some severe side effects. However, there are other drugs available which seek to address this issue through different avenues. For instance, there are medications which are known as “Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors”, which is actually a fairly new class of cholesterol-lowering medications. They are used to prevent the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.
These drugs have been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol levels, thereby reducing an individual’s risk of developing conditions, such as: heart disease, angina (chest pain), stroke and heart attack. Prevalite, which is manufactured by Upsher Smith Laboratories, is a member of this class of drugs. Let’s take a more in-depth look at this generation of drugs in general, and Prevalite in particular.
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| Medication at a Glance |
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Prevalite is a prescription-grade medication, which is usually prescribed for one of two reasons – to lower levels of “bad” cholesterol, or to control itching that is related to partial biliary obstruction.
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| Medication in Focus |
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Prevalite belongs to a generation of drugs often referred to as “bile acid sequestrants”. These medications are able to bind to bile acids in the intestines, thereby preventing these acids from being reabsorbed back into the body. We know some readers may be wondering what this has to do with lowering cholesterol - bile acids are actually created in the liver from degraded cholesterol. By removing the bile acids from the cholesterol equation, the body is prompted to lower blood cholesterol. Prevalite has been shown to lower both total and LDL cholesterol.
Prevalite is usually combined with a low cholesterol diet and a moderate exercise plan. It is also often used in conjunction with other cholesterol lowering statins, such as Crestor®, Pravachol®, Lescol®, Mevacor® or Lipitor, to further lower blood cholesterol levels.
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| Lifestyle |
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Most cholesterol-lowering medications come along with potential side effects, and Prevalite is no different; although not all individuals may develop these side effects. These side effects range from minor to severe, but when this medication is combined with other cholesterol-lowering drugs, there may be more side effects. The most frequent side effects associated with the use of Prevalite are reported to be: constipation, stomach discomfort, gas, nausea, burping, loss of appetite, indigestion, diarrhea, osteoporosis, unexplained rash, unexplained bleeding and vomiting.
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| Positives |
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• May lower levels of bad cholesterol
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| Negatives |
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• May have many side effects for some individuals
• By prescription only
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| Final Thoughts |
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Prevalite has been valuable for individuals who are looking to lower their levels of bad cholesterol, but as of review, it has not been shown to be effective in boosting levels of good cholesterol, which is the other half of the cholesterol equation. For this reason, it is often teamed up with statins, which may do both. However, this may double the risk of side effects, and some individuals opt out of using these medications.
Many start to lower their cholesterol levels by instating lifestyle modifications, which includes instituting a low cholesterol diet, as well as lowering their intake of saturated fats, limiting alcohol use and increasing exercise to boost cardiovascular health.
Also, as noted above, Prevalite is used to prevent the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines, and some people have started using Plant Sterols to do the same thing. This plant-based complex has a molecular make up that resembles cholesterol, and it has been shown to mimic cholesterol in the intestines, so that it is absorbed, and dietary cholesterol is flushed out. This mechanism has been shown to lower “bad” dietary cholesterol in significant amounts, while also increasing good cholesterol, which Prevalite cannot do.
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| Our
Reader's Poll Top Choice: |
Week
of: Tue Jan 06th, 2009 |
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CholesterClear®:
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