Ezetimibe is a type of medicine used to lower cholesterol.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood that can block your blood vessels if levels become too high. This can make you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.
Ezetimibe is used to treat high blood cholesterol.
You may also be prescribed ezetimibe if you cannot take cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins, or if a statin medicine does not work for you.
Ezetimibe is available on prescription only. It comes as tablets.
Ezetimibe also comes mixed with other medicines. When it's mixed with simvastatin, a type of statin, it's known by the brand name Inegy. When ezetimibe is mixed with bempedoic acid, it's called nustendi.
- Ezetimibe helps stop your body taking in cholesterol from food.
- It usually lowers cholesterol levels within 2 weeks.
- You can take this medicine with or without food.
- Common side effects include stomach (abdominal) pain and diarrhoea.
- Treatment with ezetimibe is usually for life.