Although statins are often the first line of treatment for individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), not all patients achieve therapeutic goals with statins.
In those cases, a lipid specialist may recommend the use of a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, a type of drug that works in the small intestine by decreasing cholesterol absorption from your digestive tract.
Reducing LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol) to goal is important for those with FH. Plaque build-up occurs over the lifespan. Getting to goal prevents that plaque from leading to heart attacks and death.