Zetia (Ezetimibe)

General information

Zetia is part of a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs from your diet. Reducing cholesterol may help prevent strokes and heart attacks. Zetia is used to treat high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and sitosterolemia. Ezetimibe is sometimes given with other cholesterol-lowering medications.

Directions

Take Zetia exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Take this medication by mouth, usually once daily with or without food. Take ezetimibe at the same time each day. The recommended dosage is 10 mg once a day. If taking a bile acid sequestrant (such as cholestyramine, colestipol), take Zetia at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid sequestrant.

Precautions

Before taking Zetia you should talk with your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, gallbladder disease, gallstones, any muscle problems, any allergies, if you use steroid medicine or hormones or if you drink alcohol regularly. Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol.

Contraindications

Do not take Zetia if you are are allergic to ezetimibe or to any component of this medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have active liver disease or unexplained high liver enzymes.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have unusual muscle weakness, tenderness, nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), chest pain, pancreatitis, vomiting, fast heart rate, sore throat, headache, peeling, red skin rash, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, numbness, depressed mood, dizziness, diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, joint pain, back pain. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: cholestyramine (prevalite, questran), colestipol (colestid), colesevelam (welchol), gemfibrozil (lopid), cyclosporine (neoral, sandimmune, gengraf), blood thinners (warfarin). Interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Tell your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking.

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Don't take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

The overdose symptoms are unknown. If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once.

Storage

Store the medicine at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store the drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.