ZETIA – Ezetimibe

Zetia Medication Used For

Zetia (Ezetimibe) is precribed for patients with high levels of blood cholesterol. Its active ingredient ezetimibe inhibits the absorption of cholesterol into the blood and helps lower the total cholesterol level in the blood, especially LDL (bad) cholesterol. It is specifically prescribed for patients who are unable to control their cholesterol levels through diet alone.

Directions for Zetia drug

The recommended dose of Zetia is 10 mg once daily, with or without food. Zetia may be combined with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor for better effect. For convenience, the daily dose of Zetia may be taken at the same time as the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor.

How Zetia medication works

Zetia is not recommended for people who are allergic to its active ingredient ezetimibe or the other inactive ingredient of the drug. People with active liver disease should not combine Zetia with the cholesterol lowering statins. Pregnant and breast feeding women on statins should also avoid this drug. It is advisable to put the patient on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before starting and also during the course of Zetia treatment.

Zetia Ezetimibe side effects

Most common side effects of Zetia include stomach pain and feeling of tiredness. Immediate medical care should be sought for certain other allergic reactions like swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing, rash, inflammation of the pancreas, nausea, gallstones & inflammation of the gallbladder.

Other Zetia medication Information

The tablet may be split and taken at half the dose but only after medical advice. Zetia can be prescribed by itself or with other medicines to treat high cholesterol. A cholesterol-lowering diet while taking this medicine is highly advisable. Zetia works to reduce the amount of cholesterol that the body absorbs but does not help in weight loss.