What medication is primarily used to reduce high triglyceride levels?

Nicotinic acid, also known as Niacin or Niaspan, is primarily recognized for its ability to effectively lower triglyceride levels in the blood. Niacin works by inhibiting the liver's ability to produce more triglycerides and has the added benefit of raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. It is particularly beneficial for patients who have elevated triglyceride levels, as it addresses both triglyceride reduction and HDL enhancement.

While atorvastatin and benzafibrate are also used to manage lipid abnormalities, their primary roles differ slightly in focus. Statins like atorvastatin are mainly utilized for lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and have modest effects on triglyceride levels, but they are not the primary choice for triglyceride reduction. Benzafibrate (Tricor) does target triglycerides and can be effective in specific circumstances, but nicotinic acid remains a well-established first-line option to reduce high triglycerides.

Gemfibrozil is another medication that is effective in lowering triglycerides and is commonly used for this purpose. However, it is more commonly prescribed in conjunction with statins rather than alone as the go-to medication specifically for reducing triglycerides.

Thus, while gemfibrozil may be