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Medication Resources
Statins
Rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, and pitavastatin
High intensity statins recommended for patients with history of or are high risk for heart disease.
Benefits: 1) decreases risk of heart attacks, stroke, death, revascularization, and open-heart bypass surgery; 2) decreases inflammation; 3) stabilizes plaque in arteries; 4) strengthens blood vessels; and 5) lowers cholesterol.
Aspirin
Aspirin comes in 2 doses in the USA: 81mg and 325mg
For those taking aspirin every day for heart protection, I recommend buying "enteric coated" aspirin to decrease risk of stomach side effects.
Studies have shown that 81mg daily of aspirin offers the same level of heart protection as 325mg daily, but has a lower risk of bleeding. Therefore, most patients should receive aspirin 81mg daily for heart protection as directed by their provider.
If you believe you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.
Natural Supplements
Disclaimer: No herbal/natural supplements may be marketed to treat or cure a disease. The reason being that herbal/natural supplements are not regulated by the FDA for safety or efficacy and, therefore, have not been proven effective or safe. Please let your pharmacist or other provider know if you are taking any herbal/natural supplements to ensure safety and avoid drug-herbal interactions.
Some herbal/natural supplements are generally safe to take. The following is a list of herbal/supplements that are generally safe at therapeutic doses (although you should ALWAYS discuss with a pharmacist or other provider): Omega-3 Fatty Acids (fish oils), vitamin D, vitamin C, calcium, folic acid, daily multivitamin
Some herbal/natural supplements are not generally safe to take! Some interact with prescription or over-the-counter medications, some worsen certain conditions (diabetes, heart disease, etc.). Caution use of ANY supplement that has a "proprietary blend" or "roots" listed in the ingredients.
Look for supplements that are USP Certified. These have been tested in labs to ensure that what the bottle states is inside is actually inside!
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oils)
Fish oil helps lower triglycerides, but not all fish oil is considered equal!
"Fish oil" is the overall term for any oil coming from fish. You can get fish oil from cod, salmon, krill, etc. No one fish source has been shown superior, so the choice is yours.
Things to consider:
- Omega-3 fatty acids are the component within "fish oil" that lowers triglycerides! EPA and DHA are forms of omega-3 fatty acids.
- When looking at a product, don't be fooled by the front of the label. It may say it has "1000mg of fish oil," but the key ingredient is the EPA/DHA (omega-3 fatty acids).
- For adequate triglyceride lowering effects, we recommend at least 1000mg of omega-3 fatty acids daily. Some people may need doses even as high as 4000mg daily.
- Look at the back of the label, about halfway down. It will state how many milligrams (mg) of DHA, EPA, and total omega-3 fatty acids are in each SERVING. Add up the DHA + EPA to get the total omega-3 fatty acid dose. Example: DHA = 220mg, EPA = 420mg --> total omega-3 fatty acid dose if 640mg per serving.
- If the SERVING is 1 capsule, then it takes 1 capsule to get the dose of omega-3 fatty acid on the label. If the SERVING is 2 or more capsules, then it takes 2 or more capsules to get the dose of omega-3 fatty acid on the label.
- You may choose ANY product, but remember, you are aiming for at least 1000mg of omega-3 fatty acids daily. So, I recommend high dose fish oils that have around 1000mg of omega-3 fatty acids per capsule to avoid excessive pills.
- If fishy burps are a nuisance, put the fish oil in the freezer and swallow it frozen! ;)
Blood Pressure Medications
There are 5 main classes of blood pressure medications: ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, and beta-blockers. The choice of which agent to start depends on your medical history.
Click the link below to be taken to the "Blood Pressure Medication Information" handout.
Diabetes Medications
There are many types of medications approved for the treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The link below will bring you to a handout that reviews common medications.
A hormone in the body, called insulin, is used to help move sugar from the blood stream into storage cells for later use. Some people develop problems with insulin over time which leads to more sugar in the blood. More sugar in the blood leads to multiple complications such as kidney disease, nerve pain, blindness, heart attacks, and strokes.
Type 1 Diabetes is called "insulin dependent diabetes." This means that the body is making little to no insulin and, therefore, external insulin is necessary for survival.
--- Available medications for Type 1 Diabetes include: insulin!
Type 2 Diabetes is called "insulin resistant diabetes." This means that the body is either having a hard time making the insulin or is not using the insulin effectively. Many people do not need insulin supplementation if certain medications can help the body make or use insulin correctly. However, over time, insulin resistance worsens and, eventually, some people will need insulin supplementation.
--- Available medications for Type 2 Diabetes include: metformin, sulfonylureas, DPP4 inhibitors, GLP1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, meglitinides, and thiazolidinediones.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications are convenient and inexpensive medications that can treat many ailments. However, just because the medicine is available over-the-counter (I.e. without a prescription) it doesn't mean you shouldn't be cautious!
Make sure you are following the label directions to avoid overdoses or other issues. Pay special attention to the cautions/contraindications section and ask your pharmacist or provider if you are unsure if you should take a medication.
