Really no muscles pain?.....from google.... Nexletol (bempedoic acid) is used as an add-on medication to diet and statin therapy to treat conditions related to high cholesterol. It's available as a tablet that's taken by mouth once per day. Side effects include upper respiratory tract infection and (muscle spasms). Nexletol (bempedoic acid) is currently only available as a brand medication; there's no lower-cost generic yet. muscle spasms!!
Thank you for your comment. You're correct about bempedoic acid being an adjunct treatment to diet and statin therapy for high cholesterol. It is indeed taken orally once a day. However, it's also important to note that muscle spasms and myalgias occur far less frequently with Bempedoic acid than with statins. As explained in the video, the main reason is that bempedoic acid is a prodrug that requires an enzyme called ACSVL1 to transform into its active form. This enzyme is not present in the skeletal muscle cells; hence bempedoic acid remains inactive in these cells. In a most recent trial, it was shown that the number of people who complained of "muscle pain" in the group who were taking bempedoic acid was similar or even lower compared to the individuals who were taking a placebo (sugar-pills), which means bempedoic acid was not the real reason behind those symptoms. (link below) www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2215024 And yes, as of now, Nexletol is only available as a brand medication, and there's no lower-cost generic available yet.
Headache and Nausea are not typically listed as side effects of bempedoic acid. However, everyone's reaction to medication can vary. If you're experiencing these symptoms after starting this medication, it's important to discuss them with your healthcare provider.
You are correct that oxidized LDL (oxLDL) plays a crucial role in plaque formation and atherosclerosis, but it's important to understand that oxLDL comes from 'regular' LDL. When there's too much LDL in the blood, it is more likely to get trapped in the arteries and oxidized, leading to plaque formation. Reducing high levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood is a strategy that can help decrease the risk of atherosclerosis. This doesn't mean we're trying to eliminate all LDL. Our body needs some LDL to carry cholesterol to cells that require it. The goal is to maintain a healthy balance and prevent excessively high levels. Bempedoic acid, the drug mentioned in the video, is one of the options to help lower high LDL levels in certain situations and not "blindly". As with all treatments, it should be used under medical guidance, considering an individual's overall health condition and other risk factors. Healthy lifestyle habits like a balanced diet, regular exercise, and not smoking are also crucial in maintaining cardiovascular health.
Totally agree with you. Nothing beats a healthy-lifestyle. I usually reserve medical therapy for those who have developed heart disease, despite their best efforts or due to genetic predisposition. Although a healthy-lifestyle is crucial, it doesn't fix a heart attack!
