Drug Detail:Ezetimibe (Ezetimibe)
Drug Class: Cholesterol absorption inhibitors
Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipidemia
10 mg orally once a day
Uses:
- For use as monotherapy or in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol (total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hyperlipidemia
- For use as combination therapy with fenofibrate as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia
- As an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial sitosterolemia
- For use as combination therapy with atorvastatin or simvastatin to reduce elevated total-C and LDL-C levels in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable
Usual Adult Dose for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
10 mg orally once a day
Uses:
- For use as monotherapy or in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol (total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hyperlipidemia
- For use as combination therapy with fenofibrate as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia
- As an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial sitosterolemia
- For use as combination therapy with atorvastatin or simvastatin to reduce elevated total-C and LDL-C levels in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable
Usual Adult Dose for Sitosterolemia
10 mg orally once a day
Uses:
- For use as monotherapy or in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol (total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hyperlipidemia
- For use as combination therapy with fenofibrate as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia
- As an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial sitosterolemia
- For use as combination therapy with atorvastatin or simvastatin to reduce elevated total-C and LDL-C levels in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable
Usual Pediatric Dose for Hyperlipidemia
10 years or older: 10 mg orally once a day
Uses:
- For use as monotherapy or in combination with a statin as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hyperlipidemia
- For use as combination therapy with a fenofibrate as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia
- As an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial sitosterolemia
- For use as combination therapy with atorvastatin or simvastatin for the reduction of elevated total-C and LDL-C in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable
Usual Pediatric Dose for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
10 years or older: 10 mg orally once a day
Uses:
- For use as monotherapy or in combination with a statin as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hyperlipidemia
- For use as combination therapy with a fenofibrate as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia
- As an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial sitosterolemia
- For use as combination therapy with atorvastatin or simvastatin for the reduction of elevated total-C and LDL-C in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable
Usual Pediatric Dose for Sitosterolemia
10 years or older: 10 mg orally once a day
Uses:
- For use as monotherapy or in combination with a statin as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hyperlipidemia
- For use as combination therapy with a fenofibrate as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated total-C, LDL-C, Apo B, and non-HDL-C in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia
- As an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial sitosterolemia
- For use as combination therapy with atorvastatin or simvastatin for the reduction of elevated total-C and LDL-C in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g., LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable
Renal Dose Adjustments
No adjustment recommended.
Liver Dose Adjustments
Mild liver dysfunction: No adjustment recommended.
Moderate to severe liver dysfunction: Not recommended.
Precautions
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 10 years nor in premenarchal girls.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- Take orally once a day, with or without food
- Take at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after administration of a bile acid sequestrant
- May be taken at same time as the statin or fenofibrate, according to the dosing recommendations for the respective medications
- Consult appropriate manufacturer product information when using this drug in combination with a statin or fenofibrate.
Storage requirements:
- Protect from moisture.
General:
- Therapy with lipid-altering agents should only be a single component of multiple risk factor intervention in patients at significantly increased risk for atherosclerotic vascular disease due to hypercholesterolemia.
- Drug therapy is indicated as an adjunct to diet when response to a diet restricted in saturated fat and cholesterol and other nonpharmacologic measures alone has proven inadequate.
- This drug has not been studied in Fredrickson Type I, III, IV, and V dyslipidemias.
Monitoring:
- Hepatic: When used concomitantly with a statin, liver tests should be performed prior to initiating therapy and according to the recommendations of the statin.
- Metabolic: Periodically measure fasting lipid panel.
Patient advice:
- Promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.
- Adhere to recommended diet, exercise program, and periodic testing of a fasting lipid panel.
Frequently asked questions
- Can it cause weight gain or loss?
- Does Zetia (ezetimibe) cause memory loss?
- What happens if you stop taking it?
- Can Zetia (ezetimibe) cause liver damage?
- When should you take it?
- Does it lower triglycerides?
- When is the best time to take it?
- Is it a statin drug?
- When is the best time to take it?
- How does it work to lower cholesterol?
- Can it be used with statin drugs?
