Ezetimibe

Description

Ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. Rather than reducing the cholesterol the liver makes, as a statin does, it acts in the lining of the small intestine to reduce how much cholesterol is absorbed from food and from bile. It is licensed for primary hypercholesterolaemia, generally added to a statin when a statin alone has not brought cholesterol low enough, and it can be used on its own when a statin is unsuitable or not tolerated.

One 10mg tablet is taken once a day, at any time, with or without food, alongside a diet lower in saturated fat. If you take a bile acid binding medicine such as colestyramine, the doses must be separated. Tell your prescriber about unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, particularly if you also take a statin, and about any liver problems. It is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

• Cholesterol absorption inhibitor, not a statin
• Reduces cholesterol absorbed from food and bile in the small intestine
• One 10mg tablet daily, at any time, with or without food
• Used with a statin, or alone when a statin is not tolerated
• Separate the dose from bile acid binding medicines
• Report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness