What Is Ezetimibe Used For?

Many people wonder, "What is ezetimibe used for?" Ezetimibe is a prescription drug that is used to treat high cholesterol and a rare genetic condition called sitosterolemia. The medication works by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines into the blood. It is effective at lowering total cholesterol and "bad cholesterol" -- and can also slightly decrease triglycerides -- but has little effect on "good cholesterol" by itself. In people with sitosterolemia, ezetimibe is used to treat high levels of sitosterol and campesterol in the blood. Ezetimibe has been approved for use in adults and adolescents 10 years of age and older.

 

What Is Ezetimibe Used For? -- An Overview

Ezetimibe (Zetia®) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions. These ezetimibe uses include:
 
High Cholesterol Treatment
Ezetimibe is used for treating high cholesterol in people who cannot lower their cholesterol through lifestyle changes alone. Ezetimibe can lower total cholesterol and LDL ("bad cholesterol") but has little effect on HDL ("good cholesterol"). The medication is often used in combination with other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins (Lipitor®, Crestor®, Zocor®, Pravachol®, Lescol®, Mevacor®) or fenofibrate (Antara®, Tricor®, Lipofen®, Triglide®, Lofibra®).
(What Is Ezetimibe Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;