Medication Information Leaflet
Ezetimibe belongs to the class of medications called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. It works by reducing the cholesterol absorbed in the small intestine. Ezetimibe lowers the amount of ‘bad cholesterol’ (low density lipoprotein or LDL-cholesterol) and ‘fat’ (triglyceride) as well as increase the amount of ‘good cholesterol’ (high density lipoprotein or HDL-cholesterol) in the blood.
High ‘bad cholesterol’ levels can cause your blood vessels to clog up and lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack or stroke. Hence, this medication may reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional. If you stop taking your medication, your cholesterol level may rise again.
You may take this medication with or without food.
If you are taking cholestyramine or colestipol, take it 4 hours before or 2 hours after ezetimibe.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
You have liver or kidney problems.
Stomach disturbances, e.g. diarrhoea, stomach pain
Feeling tired
Joint pain
Inform your healthcare professional if these side-effects do not go away and interfere with your daily life.
Very rarely, ezetimibe may cause muscle or liver problems. These symptoms may include one or more of the following:
Breakdown of muscles - Unexplained, severe muscle pain that does not go away, muscle weakness/ cramps all over your body or dark tea-coloured urine
Liver injury - Dark coloured urine, light coloured stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellowing of skin or eyes
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
Some medications may interact with ezetimibe and affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of side-effects. However, these medications may also be important for your treatment. Inform your healthcare professional of the medications you are currently taking. Examples include:
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
Throw away all expired medications.
This article was last reviewed on Tuesday, July 06, 2021