Atorvastatin and ezetimibe (Oral)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 24, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Liptruzet

Pharmacologic Class: Atorvastatin

Uses for atorvastatin and ezetimibe

Ezetimibe and atorvastatin combination is used together with a proper diet to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride (fats) levels in the blood. Atorvastatin and ezetimibe may help prevent medical problems (eg, heart attack, stroke) caused by clogged blood vessels. It is also used to treat a condition called homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH).

Ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor and atorvastatin is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, or statin. These medicines will reduce the absorption of cholesterol from foods and the production of cholesterol in your body.

Atorvastatin and ezetimibe was available only with your doctor's prescription.

The atorvastatin/ezetimibe combination (Liptruzet(R)) was withdrawn from the United States market on June 2, 2015.

Before using atorvastatin and ezetimibe

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For atorvastatin and ezetimibe, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to atorvastatin and ezetimibe or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of atorvastatin and ezetimibe combination in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of atorvastatin and ezetimibe combination in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have muscle weakness, which may require caution in patients receiving atorvastatin and ezetimibe.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using atorvastatin and ezetimibe.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking atorvastatin and ezetimibe, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using atorvastatin and ezetimibe with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Posaconazole
• Ritonavir

Using atorvastatin and ezetimibe with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If bo...