ezetimibe
Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a medication used to treat high cholesterol. It belongs to the drug class called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. It works to lower how much "bad" cholesterol you have in the blood. Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a tablet that you take once a day. It's often taken in addition to or as an alternative to statins. Some side effects include joint pain and upper respiratory tract infections. To get the most out of treatment, remember to also follow a heart-healthy diet.
What is Ezetimibe (Zetia)?
What is Ezetimibe (Zetia) used for?
High cholesterol in certain adults and children
High plant sterol levels in people 9 years and older with a genetic condition called homozygous familial sitosterolemia
How Ezetimibe (Zetia) works
Ezetimibe (Zetia) is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. It works by blocking your small intestine from absorbing "bad" cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This helps lower the amount of "bad" cholesterol in your blood.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Ezetimibe (Zetia)?
Common Side Effects
- Upper respiratory tract infection (4%)
- Diarrhea (4%)
- Joint pain (3%)
- Inflamed sinuses (3%)
- Pain in arm or leg (3%)
Other Side Effects
- Tiredness
- Flu-like symptoms
Serious Side Effects
- Muscle problems: severe muscle pain, sore muscles, muscle weakness, dark urine, extreme tiredness
- Liver problems: yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes, nausea, vomiting, dark or brown urine
Source: DailyMed
More on Ezetimibe (Zetia) side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Frequency not determined
Abdominal fullness
black tarry stools
bleeding gums
blood in urine or stools
chills
darkened urine
fast heartbeat
gaseous abdominal pain
general tiredness or weakness
indigestion
large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, sex organs
loss of appetite
light-colored stools
muscle cramps or spasms
muscular tenderness, wasting or weakness
pains in stomach, side or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
pinpoint red spots on skin
recurrent fever
severe nausea
skin rash
unusual bleeding or bruising
upper right abdominal pain
vomiting
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Back pain
body aches or pain
chills
congestion
difficulty in moving
dizziness
dryness or soreness of throat
hoarseness
muscle pain or stiffness
pain in joints
pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones
shortness of breath or troubled breathing
stomach pain
tender, swollen glands in neck
tightness of chest or wheezing
trouble in swallowing
unusual tiredness or weakness
voice changes
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Ezetimibe (Zetia)
Pros
Can lower LDL-C by up to 20% in a few months
An option as an addition to or alternative to statins
Only need to take once a day
Few side effects
Cons
Doesn't work as well as statins to lower cholesterol if taken alone
Can interact with bile acid sequestrants like cholestyramine (Prevalite)
Not recommended for people with moderate-to-severe liver problems
Not known if safe while pregnant or breastfeeding
Pharmacist tips for Ezetimibe (Zetia)
You can take ezetimibe (Zetia) with or without food. It's best to take it around the same time each day.
If you accidentally miss a dose of ezetimibe (Zetia), take it as soon as you remember. Don't take two doses of ezetimibe (Zetia) at the same time to make up for any missed doses. This can raise your risk of side effects.
Take ezetimibe (Zetia) at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after any bile acid sequestrants. Examples are cholestyramine (Prevalite) and colesevelam (Welchol). If you take them too close together, it can interfere with how well ezetimibe (Zetia) gets absorbed into your body. This can make ezetimibe (Zetia) not work as well.
Remember to eat a heart-healthy diet and stay active while you take ezetimibe (Zetia). Eating healthy and exercising regularly are both important to help lower your cholesterol. Ask your care team about meal-planning and exercise strategies that work for you.
You'll need to have regular blood work done when taking ezetimibe (Zetia). These blood tests help check your cholesterol levels and make sure the medication is working well for you.
If you're pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk to your prescriber. They can discuss the risks and benefits of taking ezetimibe (Zetia). There isn't enough information to know if this medication is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions about Ezetimibe (Zetia)
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What are the risks and warnings for Ezetimibe (Zetia)?
Ezetimibe (Zetia) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe muscle pain and damage
Risk factors: Taking ezetimibe (Zetia) with statins or fibrates | Taking ezetimibe (Zetia) with other medications that raise the risk of rhabdomyolysis
Ezetimibe (Zetia) can cause muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.
It might also cause a rare but serious muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis. This happens when muscles break down and can lead to severe kidney problems. The risk of rhabdomyolysis might be higher when ezetimibe (Zetia) is taken with a statin or fibrate.
Stop taking ezetimibe (Zetia) and get medical help right away if you have signs of muscle problems. Look out for severe muscle pain, dark urine, unusual weakness, or extreme tiredness.
Liver problems
Risk factors: History of liver problems | Taking ezetimibe (Zetia) with a statin
Ezetimibe (Zetia) can sometimes affect your liver. This can especially happen if it's taken together with a statin. It can show up as higher liver enzyme levels, which is a sign of possible liver damage.
Also watch for symptoms of liver damage while taking ezetimibe (Zetia). This can include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, nausea, vomiting, or dark or brown urine. If this happens, call your prescriber right away. They'll order a blood test for you to do to check your liver. If your liver isn't doing well, you might need to stop taking the medication.
Ezetimibe (Zetia) dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg | 90 tablets | $10.81 | $0.12 |
Typical dosing for Ezetimibe (Zetia)
The typical dose is 10 mg by mouth once a day, with or without food.
Interactions between Ezetimibe (Zetia) and other drugs
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Bezafibrate
- Ciprofibrate
- Clofibrate
- Gemfibrozil
- Simeprevir
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Ezetimibe (Zetia) cost?
What are alternatives to Ezetimibe (Zetia)?
High cholesterol in certain adults and children
High plant sterol levels in people 9 years and older with a genetic condition called homozygous familial sitosterolemia
Add-on to diet for the treatment of high triglycerides (TG) in adults with TG levels greater than 500 mg/dL
Prevention of heart or blood vessel problems (e.g., heart attack or stroke) in high-risk adults (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, family history of cholesterol problems)
Treatment of high "bad" cholesterol and triglyceride levels in certain people
What is the latest news about Ezetimibe (Zetia)?
Ezetimibe (Zetia) images
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References
Best studies we foundAmneal Pharmaceuticals NY LLC. (2025). Ezetimibe tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Grundy, S. M., et al. (2018). 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation.
National Organization of Rare Disorders. (2021). Sitosterolemia.
Sizar, O., et al. (2023). Ezetimibe. StatPearls.
Xu, Z., et al. (2023). Concentric reversible visual field loss, nyctalopia, and dyschromatopsia with ezetimibe therapy. Case Reports in Ophthalmology.
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