Overview of ideal antilipidemic drugs: Past, present and the future

Atherosclerosis, a disease which affects large and medium sized arteries, is now a leading cause of death in many developed countries. High serum LDL (low density lipoproteins) and VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) levels are considered as atherogenic, whereas high HDL (High Density Lipoproteins) over 60 mg/Dl has a protective effect.Literature reviews were conducted by me from different articles on hypolipidemic drugs and the present review looking forward ideal hypolipidemic drugs with their target of action in the treatment of atherosclerosis.Statins are the first line antilipidemic drugs which possess dose dependent adverse effects like muscle pain, neuropathy, hepatic dysfunction and rhabdomyolysis. Reducing the statin dose, adding drug like proproteinconvertasesubtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, supplements with coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitinie are some of the approaches to reduce statin advderse effects. In future for those patients who cannot tolerate statin and for those who can’t achieve LDL target, squalene synthase inhibitors are the best choice. We focused on current existing hypolipidemic drugs, their targets and mechanism of actions and also the new ideal antilipidemic drugs of future. Ideal antilipidemic drug is one which should produce target lipid level, cause fewer side effects and drug interactions.