OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to collect comparable and reliable data on the lipid lowering therapy in Slovakia during the period 1996 – 2004. The special interest was paid to the trend of the statin and fibrate usages. METHODS: Data of wholesalers (following ATC/DDD), who are legally obliged provide this information to the Slovak Institute for Drug Control, was used for the analysis. The results were expressed in the numbers of the packages, finance units (€) and defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DID). RESULTS: The collected data showed large increases in hypolipidemic consumption from 1996 to 2004 in term of DID (in 1996 (4.18), in 2000 (12.79) and in 2004 (31.50). A significant increase in statin consumption (in 1996 (1.97), in 2000 (6.27) and in 2004 (22.33) and slight increase in fibrate consumption (in 1996 (3.59), in 2000 (6.38) and in 2004 (9.13) in term of DID can be seen from this analysis. From the reimbursement point of view, simvastatin (in 2000 was reimbursed at the level of €0.84 per DDD, in 2004 the reimbursement level was at €0.24), fluvastatin (in 2000 was reimbursed at the level of €0.75 per DDD, in 2004 the reimbursement level was at €0.47), atorvastatin (in 2000 was reimbursed at the level of €0.89 per DDD, in 2004 the reimbursement level was at €0.51). Financial expenditures were for statins (in 1996 (€989,000), in 2000 (€10,335,000) and in 2004 (€13,043,000) and for fibrates (in 1996 (€2,743,000), in 2000 (€4,546,000) and in 2004 (4€,478,000). CONCLUSIONS: Usage of generic drugs for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia brought about a dramatic increase in hypolipidemic consumption and the financial expenditures for health insurance funds have been remained under control.