Statins are the main type of drug used to reduce cholesterol levels. Simvastatin and pravastatin are the only two statins available in the UK to have been tested in long-term trials. Statins are not suitable for people who have liver disease or who are pregnant or breastfeeding. They are effective in treating heart failure, where there is an excess of water and salt in the body, and in lowering high blood pressure. To treat high blood pressure they are used alone or in combination with beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors or other drugs.
Diuretics can cause low potassium levels, and in diabetics, high blood sugar levels.
Nitrates Nitrates relax the muscles in the walls of the veins and arteries and make them wider. They are useful for relieving angina pain and preventing predictable attacks. A throbbing headache can result when GTN tablets are first taken, but symptoms tend to fade with time. Potassium channel activators Potassium channel activators, a new type of drug for angina, have a similar effect to nitrates as they relax the walls of the coronary arteries and therefore improve blood flow. Repeat doses should not be given for several years.