Generic name: ezetimibe [ ez-ET-i-mibe ]
Brand name: Zetia
Dosage form: oral tablet (10 mg)
Drug class:Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
What is ezetimibe?
Ezetimibe is a medicine used to lower cholesterol in people who have high blood cholesterol. Ezetimibe works by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs from your intestines. High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to form in your blood vessels which increases your risk of heart disease.
Ezetimibe is used in patients who cannot control their cholesterol levels by diet and exercise alone.
You can take ezetimibe as a single ingredient tablet or it is also available in a tablet that contains both ezetimibe and another cholesterol lowering medication called simvastatin.
Warnings
Ezetimibe is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Some cholesterol medications should not be taken at the same time. If you take ezetimibe with another cholesterol medicine, follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.
You should not use ezetimibe if you have moderate to severe liver disease. You should not use this medicine with a "statin" cholesterol medicine if you have active liver disease, or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding a baby.
Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use ezetimibe if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
moderate to severe liver diseas...
