 Prior to the introduction of the statins, clofibrate (an older fibrate that often caused gallstones), probucol (especially in large xanthomas) and thyroxine were used to reduce LDL cholesterol levels.More controversial is the addition of ezetimibe, which inhibits cholesterol absorption in the gut.While it reduces LDL cholesterol, it does not appear to improve a marker of atherosclerosis called the intima-media thickness.