Final answer:
The claim that providers are advised to not prescribe additional cholesterol-lowering drugs alongside statins when targets are not met is false. Statins can be combined with other agents like ezetimibe and fibrates, under close supervision, to effectively lower cholesterol levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false; current guidelines do not advise providers to stop prescribing additional cholesterol-lowering drugs to patients who do not reach their cholesterol targets with statins alone. Additional medications, such as ezetimibe, niacin, and bile acid sequestrants, may be added to statin therapy to help reduce cholesterol levels. Other options include plant sterol-containing products and fatty acids. Combination therapy may also include fibrates, particularly if triglyceride levels are markedly high, though such combinations should be monitored closely due to the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Consider statins like Atorvastatin (Lipitor) and Rosuvastatin (Crestor), which are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that effectively reduce cholesterol synthesis in the body. While dietary modification is essential, medication like statins is often necessary to reduce cardiovascular risk and achieve target cholesterol levels.