Table of contents:
- What Medicine Ezetimibe?
- What is ezetimibe for?
- How do I use ezetimibe?
- How to save ezetimibe?
- Ezetimibe dosage
- What is the dose of ezetimibe for adults?
- Adult dosage for hyperlipidemia
- Adult dosage for hypercholesterolemia
- Adult dosage for sitosterolemia
- What is the dose of ezetimibe for children?
- Children's dosage for hyperlipidemia
- Children's dosage for hypercholesterolemia
- Children's dosage for sitosterolemia
- In what dosage is ezetimibe available?
- Ezetimibe side effects
- What side effects can be experienced due to ezetimibe?
- Ezetimibe Drug Warnings and Cautions
- What should be known before using ezetimibe?
- Is ezetimibe safe for pregnant and lactating women?
- Ezetimibe Drug Interactions
- What medicines may interact with ezetimibe?
- Can food or alcohol interact with ezetimibe?
- What health conditions can interact with ezetimibe?
- Ezetimibe overdose
- What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
What Medicine Ezetimibe?
What is ezetimibe for?
Ezetimibe is a tablet that belongs to the class of cholesterol-lowering drugs that works by reducing cholesterol levels and other fatty substances in the blood.
This drug serves to treat high cholesterol levels by reducing cholesterol levels that are absorbed by the body. Reducing cholesterol levels can also help prevent strokes and heart attacks.
Ezetimibe can also be used in conjunction with other drugs, namely statin drugs to treat the condition. This drug is included in prescription drugs so that it can only be purchased at a pharmacy if it is accompanied by a doctor's prescription.
How do I use ezetimibe?
Some things that you should pay attention to when using ezetimibe are:
- This medication is taken by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily either before or after you eat.
- The dosage is based on your medical condition and your body's response to treatment.
- If you are taking other drugs to treat cholesterol that work by blocking the absorption of bile acids in the blood (cholestyramine, colestipol), take ezetimibe at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after using these drugs.
- You should not take this medication at the same time as gemfribozil
- Use this drug regularly and regularly to get the maximum benefits. So that you always remember to use it, use this medication at the same time every day.
- It is important that you continue to take this medicine even if you feel you are getting better. Most people with high cholesterol do not feel pain in their body parts. It can take up to 2 weeks for you to feel the benefits of this drug.
- While using this medicine you should have frequent blood checks to test your liver function if you are taking this medicine with statin drugs.
- In order for you to really feel the benefits of this drug you may have to use it for two weeks. Don't stop using the medicine if your doctor hasn't asked you to stop.
- Usually, this medicine is included in a series of treatments that are done to cure your condition. Treatment usually includes diet, exercise, and weight control.
How to save ezetimibe?
This medication is best stored at room temperature and away from direct light exposure and damp areas. Do not store ezetimibe in the bathroom and do not freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or staff from your local waste disposal agency about how to safely dispose of your medicines.
Ezetimibe dosage
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the dose of ezetimibe for adults?
Adult dosage for hyperlipidemia
10 milligrams (mg) taken by mouth once a day.
Adult dosage for hypercholesterolemia
10 milligrams (mg) taken by mouth once a day.
Adult dosage for sitosterolemia
10 milligrams (mg) taken by mouth once a day.
What is the dose of ezetimibe for children?
Children's dosage for hyperlipidemia
For children 10 years of age and over: 10 mg orally once a day.
Children's dosage for hypercholesterolemia
For children 10 years of age and over: 10 mg orally once a day.
Children's dosage for sitosterolemia
For children 10 years of age and over: 10 mg orally once a day.
The dosage for children under 10 years has not been determined. Consult your doctor for more information.
In what dosage is ezetimibe available?
Tablets, taken by mouth: 10 mg
Ezetimibe side effects
What side effects can be experienced due to ezetimibe?
As with other medicines, this drug also has the possibility of developing side effects from using the drug. Some are serious but rare, some are milder and occur more frequently.
Seek immediate medical help if you experience any of the following signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects such as:
- unusual muscle weakness, such as in the shoulders, thighs, or waist, aching or even aching.
- You have difficulty moving your arms and legs because you feel weak.
- Dark urine
- Difficulty urinating or even unable to urinate at all.
- nausea, stomach pain, fever, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
- chest pain
- pancreatitis (severe pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back, feeling nauseous and wanting to vomit, a fast heartbeat)
- fever, sore throat, and severe headache, the skin becomes red, peels, or a rash appears
Less serious side effects include:
- numbness or a tingling feeling
- mild abdominal pain, diarrhea
- tired
- headache
- dizzy
- mood swings
- stuffy nose, flu symptoms
- joint pain, back pain or
- cough
Not everyone experiences the side effects mentioned above. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have any concerns about the side effects caused by using the drug, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Ezetimibe Drug Warnings and Cautions
What should be known before using ezetimibe?
Before using ezetimibe, there are several things that you should pay attention to, including:
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ezetimibe or you have any other allergies to drugs, foods, dyes and preservatives, or even allergies to animals.
- Tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you are taking either with or without a prescription, as well as any vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are using.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using ezetimibe, contact your doctor immediately.
- Tell your doctor if you have any medical conditions, especially if you have kidney problems or thyroid disease.
- If you have used statin medicines before using ezetimibe, tell your doctor.
- Not all cholesterol medications should be used at the same time. If you are taking any other medicines together with ezetimibe, follow your doctor's instructions strictly.
Is ezetimibe safe for pregnant and lactating women?
There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:
- A = No risk,
- B = not at risk in several studies,
- C = May be risky,
- D = There is positive evidence of risk,
- X = Contraindicated,
- N = Unknown
There are not sufficient studies in women to find out the risk to the baby when the mother takes this drug during breastfeeding. Consider the potential benefits and potential risks before taking this medication during breastfeeding.
Even so, avoid using ezetimibe with statin drugs to treat high cholesterol if you are pregnant or breastfeeding to reduce the risk of drug interactions that could harm you and your baby.
Ezetimibe Drug Interactions
What medicines may interact with ezetimibe?
Although several drugs should not be taken at the same time, in certain cases, there are several types of drugs that can also be used together even though interactions may occur.
In such cases, the doctor may change the dose, or take other preventive measures as needed. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other over-the-counter or prescription drugs.
Use of this medication with any of the following drugs is not recommended, but may be necessary in some cases. If both drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or schedule how often you should use one or both drugs.
- Apalutamide
- Cerivastatin
- Clofibrate
- Eltrombopag
- Fenofibrate
- Gemfibrozil
- Simeprevir
- Teriflunomide
Using this medication with any of the following drugs may increase your risk of developing certain side effects, but it is likely that using both drugs is the best treatment for you. If both drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or schedule how often you use one or both drugs.
- Cholestyramine
- Colestipol
- Cyclosporine
- Fenofibrate
Can food or alcohol interact with ezetimibe?
Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.
What health conditions can interact with ezetimibe?
The presence of other medical problems can affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other conditions, especially:
- liver disorders
- the kidneys are not functioning
- rhabdomyolysis, namely muscle breakdown
Ezetimibe overdose
What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you forget a dose of this medicine, take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it turns out that when you are about to take the missed dose, it is time to tell you to take the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your usual dosing schedule.
Do not double your dose because a double dose will not guarantee that you will experience the benefits of ezetimibe any sooner than not doubling it. Also, you do not know whether doubling the dose will not increase the risk of side effects from taking the drug or not.
Always consult your doctor about the dosage of drug use, because the doctor who checks your condition will know more about using the dose that is more appropriate and in accordance with your health condition.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
