Examples

How It Works

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors lower the amount of cholesterol that your body absorbs. So your blood has lower total cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Why It Is Used

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors are used to treat high cholesterol. This medicine lowers total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

This medicine is used along with lifestyle changes including diet and exercise to lower cholesterol. It can be used alone or taken with a statin or other cholesterol-lowering medicines.

How Well It Works

Ezetimibe (Zetia) lowers total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol.

A drug that combines ezetimibe and simvastatin (Vytorin) lowers total cholesterol and LDL levels. But taking Vytorin may not limit hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) any better than the statin medicine alone. But the combination of ezetimibe and simvastatin can lower LDL levels more than simvastatin alone.¹ If you are taking Vytorin, or you are taking Zetia and a statin as separate pills, you may want to talk to your doctor before your next refill about switching to simvastatin alone. You can buy a generic version of simvastatin or other statin medicines, so taking the statin alone can save you money.

Side Effects

All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.

Here are some important things to think about:

• Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
• Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
• If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing.
• Hives.
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.
• Dark-colored urine.

Common side effects of this medicine include:

• Stomach ache.
• Diarrhea.
• Tiredness.
• Headache.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)