Dietary and behavioral changes such as eating a low-fat diet and getting more exercise are always recommended for people with elevated cholesterol or triglycerides levels. A group of medications known as statins are also often used to lower cholesterol levels when non-pharmaceutical changes don't have the desired effect. Background and Guidelines Dyslipidemia is the term for abnormal levels of blood lipids.
Lipids are fats, and the term is usually used to refer to both cholesterol and triglycerides.
When lipid levels are measured, values are obtained for total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides. According to the Cardiovascular Disease Focus Group, these suggestions are appropriate for HIV-positive people. If dietary and behavioral changes fail to bring about the desired decrease in a person's lipid levels, medication may be considered. For high cholesterol, a group of drugs known as statins are usually prescribed. One is that PIs may interfere with the breakdown of statin drugs, causing the statins to remain in the body longer than they should.