MyFatDog        

Statins.

Statins lower cholesterol (mainly LDL cholesterol) by increasing cholesterol removal from blood.  Statins currently on the market include:

Crestor (rosuvastatin) made by AstraZeneca.

Pravachol (pravastatin) made by Bristol Myers Squibb.  Pravastatin is also available in generic form.

Lipitor (atorvastatin) made by Pfizer.

Zocor (simvastatin) made by Merck.  Simvastatin is also available in generic form.

Lescol (fluvastatin), made by Novartis.

Pitavastatin (recently made available in US), made by Novartis. Licensed by Kowa.

Lovastatin, the first statin widely used, is available in generic form.

Fibrates.

Fibrates lower triglycerides (and VLDL cholesterol) by increasing triglyceride removal from blood. Fibrates also increase the amount of HDL made and can increase HDL by up to 12%.  Companies that market fibrates include:

Fenofibrate, available as a generic is also marketed as: 

    - Tricor (fenofibrate) made by Abbott. 

    - Lipofen (fenofibrate) made by ProEthic Pharmaceuticals. 

    - Antara (fenofibrate) made by Oscient Pharmaceuticals.

    - Fenoglide (low-dose fenofibrate, 40 mg) made by Sciele Pharma / LifeCycle Pharma.

A newer formulation of fenofibrate available from Abbott, called Trilipix, was recently approved.  Here is a link to a Trilipix fact sheet (PDF document).

Simcor (simvastatin + niaspan) made by Abbott.

Gemfibrozil, marketed as Lopid (Pfizer) or Gemcor.

Niacin.

Niacin lowers cholesterol (mainly LDL cholesterol) and increases HDL.  Niacin and niacin derivatives currently on the market include:

Niacin (vitamin B6) is made by a number of companies specializing in drug supplements.

Niaspan (Niacin) made by Abbott.

Olbetam (Acipimox). A niacin derivative approved outside the US.

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Cholesterol absorption inbibitors lower cholesterol (mainly LDL cholesterol) by preventing cholesterol from being absorbed by the gut.  Sterol absorption inhibitors currently on the market include:

Zetia (ezetimibe) made by Schering Plough Ezetimibe.

Welchol (colsevelam) made by Daiichi Sanyo.  

Cholestagel (colsevelam) made by Genzyme.