Deposition of cholesterol in the body can cause serious problems. It can be a major cause of heart attacks and other heart – related diseases like coronary artery attacks. Thus, reducing the increased levels is the best way to protect the body from these grave medical conditions. It may be possible that some people are benefited from exercises and healthy, balanced diet with lesser amount of fats in reducing cholesterol values; others may need medication for the same. Some commonly used drugs which are effective in lowering of blood cholesterol can be categorized under the following categories:

1. Resins: Resins function in intestines to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the body. Bile is manufactured in liver from cholesterol. Resins bind themselves to the bile, making it unavailable for the digestion process. Liver responds to this unavailability by producing more bile juice and using more cholesterol, thereby, reducing the cholesterol levels in the blood.
   This is the reason, why resins are also called bile acid – binding drugs or bile acid – sequestrants. Colestipol, HCl, colesevelam and cholestyramine are commonly used resins. But, they may have some side – effects like constipation, belching, bloating, stomach pain, headache, vomiting and weight loss.
2. Fibrates: The principle on which these fiber acid derivatives or fibrates work is quite simple. They reduce cholesterol by decelerating the production of triglycerides in the body and accelerating the removal of triglycerides from the blood. They are usually recommended for people who have high value of triglyceride levels. Examples of fibrates are Tricor, Atromid-S and Lopid. These fibrates may lead to decreased liver functioning, indigestion problems and pain in the abdomen. Side effects of the digestive system can be avoided by taking these drugs with meals.
3. Niacin: It is one of the B Vitamins also known as nicotinic acid. It works by making the body use carbohydrates for producing energy. It also aids in raising the levels of good cholesterol in the body. Physicians usually recommend high doses of niacin for this purpose. It is sold under the names of Niacor, Slo-Niacin and Niaspan. Side effects commonly noticed are Flushing of skin, itching, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, cramps, pain in muscles, belching and sweating.
4. Selective cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: They reduce cholesterol by preventing absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. Apart from lowering levels of bad cholesterol, they also help in increasing the good cholesterol levels and reducing the amount of triglycerides in the body. They may cause side-effects like numbness, runny nose, back pain, joint pain, dizziness, stomach pain and diarrhea.