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Medical Author:

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors

Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a commonly prescribed cholesterol absorption inhibitor.

How does ezetimibe work?

Ezetimibe was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late 2002. Ezetimibe by itself reduces LDL cholesterol by 18%-20% by selectively decreasing cholesterol absorption. It mildly reduces triglycerides. Ezetimibe is most useful in people who cannot take statins or as an additional drug for people who take statins but notice side effects when the statin dose is increased. Adding ezetimibe to a statin increases the cholesterol-lowering effect by a 2- to 3-fold factor.

Who should not use these medications?

Individuals who are allergic to ezetimibe (Zetia) should not take it.

Use: Ezetimibe is taken once daily, with or without food. It is often combined with statins to increase effectiveness.

Drug or food interactions: Bile acid sequestrants bind to ezetimibe and reduce its absorption from the intestine by about 50%. Take ezetimibe at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants. Fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and cyclosporine increase the blood levels of ezetimibe.

Side effects: Diarrhea, abdominal pain, back pain, joint pain, and sinusitis are the most commonly reported side effects. Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema (swelling of the skin and underlying tissues of the head and neck that can be life-threatening) and skin rash rarely occur. Nausea, pancreatitis, muscle damage (myopathy or rhabdomyolysis) and hepatitis have also been reported.