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Ezetimibe: 7 things you should know

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Oct 23, 2023.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Ezetimibe is effective at lowering cholesterol levels when taken on a regular basis and can be combined with certain other cholesterol treatments in some patients to further reduce blood lipids (fats). Most people tolerate ezetimibe well, but some may have side effects like muscle pain or liver toxicity, especially if used with a statin. Ezetimibe has not been shown to reduce the risk for heart disease or a heart attack.

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

Ezetimibe has been shown in studies to lower total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C or “bad” cholesterol), apolipoprotein B (Apo B) levels, non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C or “good”) levels, compared to a placebo (an inactive product), when used with diet.

7. Interactions

Tell your healthcare provider if you take:

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with ezetimibe. Refer to the prescribing information for ezetimibe for a complete list of interactions.

References

Further 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.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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