Is ezetimibe a statin drug?

No, ezetimibe is not a statin drug, it is from the drug class cholesterol absorption inhibitor

Ezetimibe and statins are cholesterol lowering drugs that work different ways to reduce cholesterol.

• Ezetimibe has its effect in the small intestine where it blocks cholesterol from being absorbed, so there is less cholesterol being delivered to the liver.
• Statins lower the amount of cholesterol and lipoproteins that the body produces, by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. Statins also increase the LDL receptors on liver cells which increases the amount of LDL-cholesterol that can be absorbed out of the bloodstream and then the LDL-cholesterol is disposed of by being broken down.

Ezetimibe can be taken alone as a sole cholesterol lowering agent, or together with a statin or fenofibrate.

Bottom line:

• Ezetimibe is not a statin medication, it is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
• Ezetimibe,fenofibrate and statins are cholesterol lowering medications.
• Ezetimibe can be taken together with statins or fenofibrate as their cholesterol lowering effects are complementary.
• You should not use ezetimibe, with a "statin" cholesterol medicine if you have active liver disease or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding a baby.