What is the most important information I should know about ezetrol?

Ezetimibe is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Do not stop using ezetrol without first talking to your doctor. It may take several weeks of taking the medication before your condition improves.

What is ezetrol?

Ezetimibe reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed by the body.

Ezetimibe is used to treat high cholesterol. Ezetimibe is sometimes given with other cholesterol-lowering medications.

Ezetimibe may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ezetrol?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ezetrol, or if you have liver disease.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease;
• diabetes;
• overactive thyroid; or
• if you use steroid medicine or hormones (including birth control pills).

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use ezetrol, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether ezetrol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.

How should I take ezetrol?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.

Take this medication with a full glass of water.

Ezetimibe is usually taken once a day. You may take the medicine with or without food. Take ezetrol at the same time each day.

Some cholesterol medications should not be taken at the same time. Do not take ezetrol with cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam (Welchol). Wait at least 4 hours after taking any of these medicines before you take ezetrol. You may also take ezetrol 2 hours before taking any of these other medicines.

Ezetimibe may be taken at the same time with fenofibrate (Antara, Lipofen, Lofibra, TriCor, Triglide), or with any of the “statin” drugs such as lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), or cerivastatin (Baycol).

Ezetimibe is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

To be sure this medication is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Do not stop using ezetrol without first talking to your doctor. It may take several weeks of taking the medication before your condition improves. Store ezetrol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of ezetrol is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

What should I avoid while taking ezetrol?

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Ezetimibe will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

What are the possible side effects of ezetrol?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• unusual muscle weakness, tenderness, or pain;
• chest pain; or
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• tired feeling;
• stomach pain, diarrhea;
• runny or stuffy nose, cold symptoms;
• joint or muscle pain;
• headache, dizziness; or
• cough.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect ezetrol?

Before taking ezetrol, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran);
• clofibrate (Atromid-S);
• gemfibrozil (Lopid);
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf); or
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use ezetrol or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect ezetrol. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.