What is Ezetimibe used for?
Zetia (Ezetimibe) belongs to the group of medications known as cholesterol absorption inhibitors. It lowers cholesterol levels by decreasing the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol from the digestive system. It is used in addition to exercise and a healthy diet to lower cholesterol levels for people with high cholesterol. It can also be used alongside cholesterol-lowering medications also called “statins” or fenofibrate in situation when therapy alone isn’t enough to sufficiently reduce your cholesterol levels to a safe level. Ezetimibe might be available under multiple forms and under several different brand names. Any specific brand version of Ezetimibe might not be available in all forms or might not be usable for all conditions discussed here.
This medication may be recommended by your doctor for conditions other than the ones listed here. Always talk to your doctor if you are unsure of why you’re taking a medication. Don’t stop taking Ezetimibe or take it more or less frequently without consulting to your doctor. Even if someone has the same symptoms as you, never give anyone else your Ezetimibe as their doctor has not prescribed it and it could be potentially harmful to them.
Ezetimibe Information
How to Use Ezetimibe?
In general the recommended Ezetimibe dose for adults and children 10 years or older is 10 mg once per day. It can be taken with food or without at any time of the day, ideally at the same time daily. There are many things that can affect the dosing of medications that someone needs like body weight, other medication and other medical conditions. If your doctor recommends a dose different from what is mentioned do not change the way you take Ezetimibe.
It is crucial to take Ezetimibe exactly the way your doctor has told you. If you miss a dose of Ezetimibe, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule of dosing. Don’t take twice as much to make up for a missed dose.
Ezetimibe Drug Interactions
Sometimes there can be adverse reactions between different medications. This doesn’t always mean you have to stop taking the medications in questions, but your doctor will need to discuss how to take the medications with your doctor.
The following medications can interact with Ezetimibe:
- Cholestyramine (Questran)
- Colestipol (Colestid)
- Cyclosporine (Neoral)
- Eltrombopag
- Fibrates (e.g., fenofibrate, gemfibrozil)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
There might be medications other than these listed here that can interact with Ezetimibe. Tell your health care professional about all prescription, non-prescription, and herbal products that you’re taking before you buy Ezetimibe. Also let your prescriber know if you use cigarettes, caffeine, or street drugs.