Do not take ezetimibe if you are suffering from liver diseases. Liver disease patients should not take ezetimibe together with “statin” cholesterol medications.
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle tenderness, weakness or pain with unusual fatigue, fever and dark colored urine.
How Effective is Ezetimibe?
Ezetimibe medicine is effectively utilized in treatment of high cholesterol levels. This medicine ezetimibe works by reducing the high levels of cholesterol present in the body. Ezetimibe is sometimes prescribed together with other medications used to lower cholesterol in the body.
Ezetimibe is part of a treatment plan which involves exercise, diet and weight control. Strictly follow your medication, exercise and diet schedule given to you. There are other medications that should not be used together with ezetimibe. You must strictly adhere to your doctor’s instructions when you use Ezetimibe with other cholesterol medications.
What is the Recommended Dosage of Ezetimibe?
General Adult Dosage of Ezetimibe for treating Hyperlipidemia:
Take 10 milligrams daily. You can take on empty stomach or after a meal.
General Adult Dosage of Ezetimibe for treating Sitosterolemia:
Take 10 milligrams daily. You can take on empty stomach or after a meal.
What to Do Before Using Ezetimibe?
Do not take Ezetimibe if you suffer allergic reactions to it. Also do not use this medicine if you have moderate to serious liver illness. You must not also take Ezetimibe with “statin” cholesterol medications such as Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor and also if you have:
- Active liver diseases or complications;
- You are pregnant or planning to be;
- You are nursing a baby.
To be safe with ezetimibe, you must inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are suffering from a thyroid disorder or kidney disease.
You must inform your doctor if you are using any statin medications before you start your Ezetimibe dosage.
Some cholesterol medicines can lead to breakdown of skeletal muscles tissues that can cause kidney complications. This condition is common in elderly people or people suffering from kidney diseases or underactive thyroid or poorly curbed hypothyroidism.
Can Pregnant Women Take Ezetimibe?
It has not yet been confirmed whether use of Ezetimibe alone can harm your unborn child. However, you should inform your doctor if you are or planning to be pregnant. You should take effective birth control measures to prevent pregnancy when you are on statin cholesterol medication together with Ezetimibe.
There is no medical proof showing that Ezetimibe can get into breast milk or cause harm to a nursing baby. You must inform your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Do not nurse your baby when using Ezetimibe with other statin cholesterol medicines.
What are the Side Effects of Ezetimibe?
Common side effects of Ezetimibe can include:
- Stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat;
- Joint and muscle pain
- Sore throat and stuffy nose
- Sinus pain and pain in an arm or leg
- Or diarrhea.
Seek immediate medical assistance if you suffer allergic reactions to Ezetimibe, such as breathing difficulty, hives and swelling of your tongue, lips, face or throat.
Some of statin cholesterol medicines may lead to serious conditions that cause breakdown of skeletal muscle tissues that can result in kidney complications. You must contact your doctor immediately when you suffer from unexplained muscle weakness, pain and tenderness, more so if you have dark colored urine, fever or unusual fatigue. Side effects of ezetimibe are more common in elderly people.
Other Medicines that can Interact with Ezetimibe:
You must inform your doctor about all other medicines you are using or the ones you have stopped before using ezetimibe. Such drugs include cyclosporine or blood thinner medicines like Coumadin, Jantoven or Warfarin.
