Healthy lifestyle: weight loss, regular exercise and a diet low in saturated fat and low cholesterol. Drugs that reduce the levels of "bad" cholesterol, are appointed by, when positive lifestyle changes do not significantly affect the levels of "bad" cholesterol. The most effective and widely used drugs to reduce levels of "bad" cholesterol is statins. Studies have shown that statins can reduce levels of "bad" cholesterol and thus prevent heart attacks and strokes. Other drugs that are used to reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, are: nicotinic acid (niacin), fibrates, such as lopid, resins such as cholestyramine and ezetimibe, zetia.