Ezetimibe 10 Mg Tablet

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Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk.

Ezetimibe – Uses, Side Effects, and More

Ezetimibe is used along with a low cholesterol/low fat diet and exercise to help lower cholesterol in the blood. Ezetimibe may be used alone or with other drugs (such as “statins” or fibrates). Ezetimibe works by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs from your diet. Reducing cholesterol may help prevent strokes and heart attacks.

How to use Ezetimibe

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking ezetimibe and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily with or without food.

The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

If taking a bile acid sequestrant (such as cholestyramine, colestipol), take ezetimibe at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid sequestrant. These products may bind to ezetimibe, preventing your body from fully absorbing the drug.

Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.

Keep taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high cholesterol do not feel sick. It may take up to 2 weeks before you get the full benefit of this drug.

Side Effects

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

This drug may increase the risk of liver damage (when taken with a “statin”) or muscle damage when taken with a fibrate or “statin”. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: signs of liver problems (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn’t stop, severe stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine), muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness).

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking ezetimibe, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.

Ezetimibe

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on May 16, 2022.

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 disease.

Ezetimibe is not approved for use by anyone younger than 10 years old.

You should not use ezetimibe with a “statin” cholesterol medicine (Zocor, Lipitor, Crestor, and others) if:

  • you have active liver disease;
  • you are pregnant; or
  • you are breastfeeding a baby.

Statin cholesterol medications can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. This happens more often in women, in older adults, or people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • liver disease;
  • kidney disease; or
  • unexplained muscle pain or weakness.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using ezetimibe with a statin medicine. Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant.

Do not breastfeed if you take ezetimibe with a statin medicine.

Related/similar drugs

How should I take ezetimibe?

Take ezetimibe exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Ezetimibe is usually taken once daily at the same time each day.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Ezetimibe may be taken at the same time with fenofibrate, or with a statin medication such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, or fluvastatin.

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Your treatment may also include diet, exercise, weight control, and blood tests.

You may need frequent medical tests, even if you have no symptoms.

Your cholesterol levels may not improve for up to 2 weeks.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipidemia:

10 mg orally once a day.

Usual Adult Dose for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia:

10 mg orally once a day

Usual Adult Dose for Sitosterolemia:

10 mg orally once a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hyperlipidemia:

10 years or older: 10 mg orally once a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia:

10 years or older: 10 mg orally once a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Sitosterolemia:

10 years or older: 10 mg orally once a day.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking ezetimibe?

Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or this medicine will not be as effective.

Ezetimibe side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to ezetimibe: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Ezetimibe can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, or dark urine.

Side effects may be more likely in older adults.

Common ezetimibe side effects may include:

  • diarrhea;
  • cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;
  • pain in an arm or leg;
  • joint pain; or
  • muscle pain while taking ezetimibe with a statin.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect ezetimibe?

If you also take other cholesterol medication: Take ezetimibe 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

  • cyclosporine;
  • fenofibric acid;
  • gemfibrozil; or
  • a blood thinner – warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with ezetimibe, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use ezetimibe only for the indication prescribed.

Popular FAQ

Memory loss is not a side effect of Zetia (ezetimibe) when it is used alone to treat high cholesterol. Zetia is often used with diet and other cholesterol lowering medications like statins which have been linked with cognitive impairment (memory loss, forgetfulness, or confusion). Continue reading

Yes, Zetia (ezetimibe) can cause liver damage, although it is very rare. Monitor liver enzymes for the development of serious toxic hepatitis and consider ezetimibe discontinuation if it develops. Perform liver tests during ezetimibe initiation and regularly thereafter and consider withdrawal of ezetimibe and/or the statin (if coadministered) should an increase in ALT or AST ≥3 X upper limit of normal (ULN) persist. Continue reading

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Ezetimibe, Oral Tablet

Ezetimibe is a prescription drug. It comes as an oral tablet.

Ezetimibe oral tablet is available as the brand-name drug Zetia. It’s also available in a generic form. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in all strengths or forms as the brand-name drug.

This drug may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other cholesterol-lowering medications.

Why it’s used

Ezetimibe is used to reduce cholesterol in people with high cholesterol levels.

How it works

Ezetimibe belongs to a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

Ezetimibe blocks the amount of cholesterol that’s absorbed from your intestines. This reduces cholesterol in your liver and blood.

Ezetimibe oral tablet can cause drowsiness. It can also cause other side effects.

More common side effects

Some of the more common side effects that can occur with use of ezetimibe include:

  • diarrhea
  • stuffy nose
  • viral infection of your nose, throat, and airways
  • joint pain

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

  • Liver problems. Symptoms can include:
    • pain in your abdomen
    • yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes
    • unexplained muscle pain in your shoulders, thighs, or lower back
    • trouble moving your arms and legs because of weakness
    • dark-colored urine
    • producing less urine than normal
    • nausea and vomiting
    • fever
    • confusion

    Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.

    Ezetimibe oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

    To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

    Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with ezetimibe are listed below.

    Blood thinner

    Taking warfarin with ezetimibe can cause warfarin to work too well or not well enough. Your doctor may monitor you more closely if you take a blood thinner with ezetimibe.

    Cholesterol-lowering drugs

    Taking certain cholesterol-lowering drugs with ezetimibe can decrease the amount of ezetimibe in your body. This means that ezetimibe may not work as well. You can avoid this interaction by taking your ezetimibe at least two hours before or four hours after taking your other cholesterol medication.

    Examples of these cholesterol drugs include:

    • cholestyramine
    • colestipol
    • colesevelam

    These cholesterol medications may cause gallstones when taken with ezetimibe:

    • fenofibrate
    • gemfibrozil

    Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or organ transplant drug

    Taking cyclosporine with ezetimibe increases the levels of both drugs in your body. Your doctor may monitor you more closely if you take these drugs together.

    Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

    This drug comes with several warnings.

    Allergy warning

    This drug can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:

    • swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
    • trouble breathing or swallowing
    • skin rash
    • hives

    If you develop these symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

    Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death).

    Warnings for people with certain health conditions

    For people with liver disease: You shouldn’t take this drug if you have moderate or severe liver problems. If your liver doesn’t work well, this drug may stay in your body longer. This can cause the drug to build up in your body and lead to more side effects. Your doctor may monitor your liver enzymes before and during your treatment with this drug.

    Warnings for other groups

    For pregnant women: This drug is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:

    1. Research in animals has shown adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
    2. There haven’t been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the fetus.

    Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk.

    For women who are breastfeeding: It isn’t known if this drug passes into breast milk. If it does, it may cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk to your doctor if you breastfeed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

    For seniors: The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, higher levels of a drug stay in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects.

    For children: This medication hasn’t been studied in children younger than 10 years or girls who haven’t started their menstrual cycle. It shouldn’t be used in people younger than 10 years.

    All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

    • your age
    • the condition being treated
    • how severe your condition is
    • other medical conditions you have
    • how you react to the first dose

    Drug forms and strengths

    Generic: Ezetimibe

    Brand: Zetia

    Dosage for high cholesterol

    Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

    • Typical dosage: 10 mg taken once per day.

    Child dosage (ages 10–17 years)

    • Typical dosage: 10 mg taken once per day.

    Child dosage (ages 0–9 years)

    • This medication hasn’t been studied in children younger than 10 years. It shouldn’t be used in children of this age group.

    Talk to your child’s doctor before giving this drug to your child.

    Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

    The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, higher levels of a drug stay in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects.

    Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

    Ezetimibe is used for long-term treatment. It comes with risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.

    If you stop taking the drug or don’t take it at all: Your cholesterol level may rise. If your cholesterol is high and not controlled for a long time, you can have narrowing of the arteries. This may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

    If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

    If you take too much: If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor or seek guidance from the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or through their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

    What to do if you miss a dose: Take your dose as soon as you remember. But if you remember just a few hours before your next scheduled dose, take only one dose.

    Never try to catch up by taking two doses at once.

    How to tell if the drug is working: You won’t be able to feel if this drug is working. Your doctor will check your cholesterol levels and tell you if it’s working.

    Keep these considerations in mind if your doctor prescribes ezetimibe for you.

    General

    • You can cut or crush the tablet.

    Storage

    • Store ezetimibe at room temperature between 59°F and 86°F (15°C and 30°C).
    • Keep this drug away from high temperatures.
    • Don’t store this medication in moist or damp areas, such as bathrooms.

    Refills

    A prescription for this medication is refillable. You should not need a new prescription for this medication to be refilled. Your doctor will write the number of refills authorized on your prescription.

    Travel

    When traveling with your medication:

    • Always carry your medication with you. When flying, never put it into a checked bag. Keep it in your carry-on bag.
    • Don’t worry about airport X-ray machines. They can’t harm your medication.
    • You may need to show airport staff the pharmacy label for your medication. Always carry the original prescription-labeled container with you.
    • Don’t put this medication in your car’s glove compartment or leave it in the car. Be sure to avoid doing this when the weather is very hot or very cold.

    Clinical monitoring

    You’ll need to have your cholesterol levels monitored while you take this drug. A cholesterol blood test will tell if your medication is working.

    During your treatment with this drug, you and your doctor should monitor other health issues as well. This monitoring can help make sure you stay safe while you take this drug. These issues include:

Alex Koliada, PhD

Alex Koliada, PhD

Alex Koliada, PhD, is a well-known doctor. He is famous for his studies of ageing, genetics and other medical conditions. He works at the Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics NAS of Ukraine. His scientific researches are printed by the most reputable international magazines. Some of his works are: Differences in the gut Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio across age groups in healthy Ukrainian population [BiomedCentral.com]; Mating status affects Drosophila lifespan, metabolism and antioxidant system [Science Direct]; Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum Increases Lifespan, Stress Resistance, and Metabolism by Affecting Free Radical Processes in Drosophila [Frontiersin].
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