They often reduce LDL or bad cholesterol by up to 50% and increase a patient’s HDL or good cholesterol … These patients may be put on statin therapy. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs. Response and Effectiveness. Lowering cholesterol takes effort. In other cases, you may have been taking cholesterol medication … Some statins work best in the evening while others work just as well in the morning. In those people, they really do benefit from cholesterol lowering drugs. Peak levels are seen within three to five hours of oral administration; however, it may take one to two weeks of regular dosing before improvements in your cholesterol level are seen, and up to four weeks before the maximal cholesterol-lowering … The best time to take statins depends on the specific drug. This may lead you to wonder if it's worth it. It requires a multi-faceted approach centered around diet, lifestyle, and, if needed, medication. But how long does it take to lower cholesterol? Cholesterol-lowering drugs have benefits, but they also come with a few side effects, as do most medications. In many patients, healthy diets and exercise is not enough to lower cholesterol. 6. Statins work by reducing the formation of artery-clogging plaque.