What is ezetimibe?
Ezetimibe reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body.
Ezetimibe is used to treat high cholesterol. Ezetimibe is sometimes given with other
cholesterol-lowering medications.
Ezetimibe may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ezetimibe?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to ezetimibe, or if you have liver
disease.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or
special tests to safely take ezetimibe.
In rare cases, cholesterol-lowering medication can cause a condition that results in the
breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at
once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and
dark colored urine.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your
doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether ezetimibe passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby.
Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.
How should I take ezetimibe?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Ezetimibe is usually taken once a day, with or without food. Try to take ezetimibe at the same
time each day.
Some cholesterol medications
should not be taken at the same time
.
Do not take ezetimibe with cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam
(Welchol). Wait at least 4 hours after taking any of these medicines before you take ezetimibe. You
may also take ezetimibe 2 hours before taking any of these other medicines.
Ezetimibe
may be taken at the same time
with fenofibrate (Antara,
Lipofen, Lofibra, TriCor, Triglide), or with any of the "statin" drugs such as lovastatin (Mevacor),
simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), or atorvastatin (Lipitor).
It may take up to 2 weeks of using this medicine before your cholesterol levels improve.
For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Your cholesterol will need to be measured
using blood tests at regular intervals. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
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.
Store ezetimibe at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of ezetimibe?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about ezetimibe?
Your pharmacist has information about ezetimibe written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of ezetimibe?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
unusual muscle weakness, tenderness, or pain;
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
chest pain; or
-
pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading
to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
numbness or tingly feeling;
-
mild stomach pain, diarrhea;
-
tired feeling;
-
headache;
-
dizziness;
-
depressed mood;
-
runny or stuffy nose, cold symptoms;
-
joint pain, back pain; or
-
cough.
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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about ezetimibe?
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
.
Do not take ezetimibe with cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam
(Welchol). Wait at least 4 hours after taking any of these medicines before you take ezetimibe. You
may also take ezetimibe 2 hours before taking any of these other medicines.
Ezetimibe
may be taken at the same time
with fenofibrate (Antara,
Lipofen, Lofibra, TriCor, Triglide), or with any of the "statin" drugs such as lovastatin (Mevacor),
simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), or cerivastatin
(Baycol).
In rare cases, cholesterol-lowering medication can cause a condition that results in the
breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at
once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and
dark colored urine.
What should I avoid while taking ezetimibe?
Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Ezetimibe will not be as effective in
lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.
What other drugs will affect ezetimibe?
Before taking ezetimibe, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran);
-
colestipol (Colestid);
-
colesevelam (Welchol);
-
clofibrate (Atromid-S);
-
gemfibrozil (Lopid);
-
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf); or
-
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
ezetimibe. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This
includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using
a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of ezetimibe?