New cholesterol pill, Nexletol, lowers heart attack risk for patients who can't take statins: study
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A drug called bempedoic acid (brand name Nexletol) has been shown to be an effective alternative for lowering cholesterol and reducing heart attack risk, according to a major study.
A drug called bempedoic acid (brand name Nexletol) has been shown to be an effective alternative for lowering cholesterol and reducing heart attack risk, according to a major study published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Saturday. Most cholesterol medications are statins, which work by "blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol," per the Mayo Clinic. Some examples of statins are atorvastatin (brand name Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (brand name Crestor). BE WELL: ADD AN EGG (OR 3) TO YOUR DAILY DIET FOR HEART HEALTH Although statins are effective in reducing cholesterol, not everyone can tolerate them. Some common side effects include headaches, nausea and muscle/joint pain. In rare cases, statins can trigger a spike in blood sugar (which could lead to type 2 diabetes), memory problems and damage to the liver, muscles or kidneys. Like statins, Nexletol also works by blocking the production of LDL…