Ezetimibe is an anti-hyperlipidemic medication which is used to lower cholesterol levels. It acts by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the intestine. It may be used alone when other cholesterol-lowering medications are not tolerated, or together with statins (e.g. ezetimibe/simvastatin) when cholesterol levels are unable to be controlled on statins alone. It is marketed by Schering-Plough and Merck under the trade names Ezetrol, Zetia and Ezemibe. Ezetimibe was originally discovered by a team of four Schering-Plough research chemists; Drs. Stuart B. Rosenblum, Duane A. Burnett, John W. Clader and Brian A. McKittrick.
Dosage forms
Ezetimibe is available as 10 mg tablets in most markets, with 5 mg and 20 mg tablets also being available on the U.S. market. A combination preparation ezetimibe/simvastatin, which combines ezetimibe with a statin, is also available.
More about Zetia (Ezetimibe)
