Ezetimibe

Generic Name

• Ezetimibe.

Brand Names

• Zetia.

General Information

Ezetimibe reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body. Ezitimibe should be taken alone or with other cholesterol reducing drugs. Ezetimibe should be taken only if prescribed by the doctor. Ezetimibe is used together with lifestyle changes (diet, weight-loss, exercise) to reduce the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance) and other fatty substances in the blood. It may be used alone or in combination with a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. It works by preventing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. Ezetimibe is used with a low cholesterol diet and, in some cases, other cholesterol lowering medications. It does not affect the absorption of triglycerides or fat-soluble vitamins. It is not known if ezetimibe passes into human breast milk. However, it should not be used during breast-feeding because it may cause serious unwanted effects in nursing babies. Ezetimibe comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Alcohol and ezetimibe and simvastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation.

Ezetimibe Dosage

• The dose of ezetimibe will be different for different patients.
• The recommended dose of ezetimibe is 10 mg daily.
• Ezetimibe can be taken with or without food and at the same time as statin drugs.

Side Effects of Ezetimibe

Some common side effects reported with this medicine include:

• Difficulty in breathing.
• Back and abdominal pain.
• Diarrhea.
• Weakness and tiredness.
• Sore throat.
• Unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Chest pain.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Warnings and precautions before taking Ezetimibe

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking ezetimibe, call your doctor.
• Do not take any non-prescribed medicine without consulting your doctor.
• If you are allergic to ezitimibe or any other medicine of this class, you should not take this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
• Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
• If you are taking any bile acid sequestrant, you should keep a gap between ezitimibe and bile acid sequestrant of at least four hours.

Overdosage

• You should not use double dose at a time.
• Symptoms of an ezetimibe and simvastatin overdose may include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.
• In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

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