Drugs being taken by millions of Americans looking to control their cholesterol levels may not work at all, according to the latest research.

In fact, ezetimibe – the main ingredient in Zetia and Vytorin – may actually raise the risk of heart attacks and other problems while failing to clear buildup off artery walls, according to a new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The study compared Zetia to a rival med, Niaspan, and was sponsored by Abbott Laboratories – makers of Niaspan. Looks like they got their money's worth from this one, but you're the real winner here and I'll tell you why in a moment.

Researchers followed 363 people who had been taking statins for an average of six years. Some got Zetia, the other were given Niaspan. The researchers stopped the study early once they got the results they were looking for: The Niaspan group had less plaque buildup in their arteries.

Zetia, on the other hand, appeared to do absolutely nothing to those plaque levels.

In addition, two of the 160 Niaspan patients had heart attacks or heart-related deaths or other heart-related problems, versus nine among the 165 who were taking Zetia.

It would be one thing if this was the only study to find problems or at least no benefits from Zetia. After all, it was sponsored by a competitor. But other studies point in the same direction: Zetia doesn't seem to do a thing for most people, and it may bring with it plenty of risk.

One study published last year linked Zetia and Vytorin to an increased risk for cancer.

Remarkable when you consider that these two meds have combined for $21 billion in sales since 2003. These are drugs that never should have been approved in the first place, yet millions are taking them.

But let's dig a little deeper here, because this study doesn't simply prove that Niaspan is better that Zetia, or that you should choose one drug over the other. It really proves that you don't need meds at all.

Niaspan is a prescription version of the B-vitamin niacin.

And that makes you the real winner, because you can get plenty of this B-vitamin on your own from espresso, oatmeal, peanuts, mushrooms, many kinds of fish, and more. You can even get an over-the-counter niacin supplement – they're cheap and easy to find.

Talk to your doctor if you think that's right for you – or if this supplement can help shift you away from potentially dangerous meds like Zetia and Vytorin.

Just remember, if you need help getting cholesterol levels under control, you can't just rely on a magic pill, whether it's a prescription statin with all its side effects or a simple niacin supplement.

The real answer is in your lifestyle. You can do it – if you're willing to change your eating habits. You can still enjoy many of the foods you love, you just have to be willing to cut out most of the foods you already know are bad for you... but can't seem to keep away from.

Some people find these changes easy to make, others need a little time to adjust – but just keep yourself focused on the real goal here: getting healthy the right way, without having to depend on a lifetime supply of expensive drugs and worry about their side effects.

The biggest step is always the first one – are you ready to take it?