Controlling blood lipids: part 2: when and how to use medication.

Drug treatment for abnormal blood lipids includes bile acid sequestrants, fibric acid derivatives, statins, and niacin. Statins generally offer the best combination of safety and effectiveness. Hormone replacement therapy reduces the risk of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women. The National Cholesterol Education Program offers clear guidelines as to what levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) should trigger consideration of drug treatment, and the authors suggest what levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol should prompt treatment. Measurements of small dense LDL-C and lipoprotein(a) may also be helpful in decisions about drug treatment for selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]