General Information and Indications:
Ezetimibe is used with diet changes
(restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) to reduce the amount of
cholesterol and certain fatty substances in the blood. It may be used alone
or in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). Ezetimibe is
in a class of medications called cholesterol-lowering medications. It works
by preventing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. Buildup of
cholesterol and fats along the walls of the blood vessels (a process known
as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply
to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Lowering blood levels of
cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain),
strokes, and heart attacks.
Information For Users:
Ezetimibe comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is
usually taken once a day with or without food. To help you remember to take
ezetimibe, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on
your prescription label, ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any
questions. Take ezetimibe exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of
it or take it more often than prescribed by your health care provider.
Continue taking ezetimibe even if you feel well. Do not discontinue taking
ezetimibe without informing your doctor.
special precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
allergy to ezetimibe or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are
taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: cyclosporine (Neoral,
Sandimmune), fenofibrate (TriCor), and gemfibrozil (Lopid). Your doctor may
need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for
side effects.
o if you are taking cholestyramine (Questran), colesevelam (WellChol), or
colestipol (Colestid), take it 4 hours before or 2 hours after ezetimibe.
o inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding liver disease.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are
breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking ezetimibe, call your
doctor.
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Ezetimibe may cause adverse effects. Inform
your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:
o headache
o diarrhea
o dizziness
o sore throat
o runny nose
o sneezing
o joint pain
o muscle pain
Some adverse effects could be serious. The following symptom is uncommon,
but if you experience it, call your doctor without delay:
o chest pain
Brand Name(s):
o Vytorin® (combination with simvastatin)
o Zetia®
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