Which of the following medications work to lower cholesterol? Select all that apply.

ACE inhibitors
Nitroglycerin
Bile acid sequestrants
Statins
Diuretics

1 answer

The medications that work to lower cholesterol from the options provided are:

  • Bile acid sequestrants: These medications help lower cholesterol levels in the blood by binding bile acids in the intestine, which helps reduce the absorption of cholesterol.

  • Statins: Statins are a class of drugs that effectively lower cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in cholesterol synthesis in the liver.

The other options do not primarily work to lower cholesterol:

  • ACE inhibitors: These are primarily used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, and while they may have some indirect effects on cholesterol, they are not primarily cholesterol-lowering medications.

  • Nitroglycerin: This is used to treat angina (chest pain) and works by dilating blood vessels, not directly lowering cholesterol levels.

  • Diuretics: These are used to reduce blood pressure and manage fluid retention but do not have a primary effect on lowering cholesterol.

So, the correct choices are Bile acid sequestrants and Statins.