Zetia is a new kind of cholesterol-lowering drug. The older cholesterol-lowering drugs called "statins" reduce cholesterol by interfering with its production in the body. Zetia acts by diminishing the absorption of dietary cholesterol through the intestines.
Zetia may be taken alone or with a statin drug. Because the two drugs fight cholesterol in different ways, the Zetia/statin combination has a greater impact than either drug alone.
Cholesterol--especially "bad" LDL cholesterol--promotes clogged arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. "Good" HDL cholesterol helps to prevent clogged arteries. Zetia lowers the bad cholesterol and raises the good. It also lowers total cholesterol readings and reduces levels of triglycerides (fats in the blood).
Cholesterol-lowering drugs are typically prescribed for people who either have heart disease or are in danger of developing it. For people at high risk of heart disease, current guidelines call for considering drug therapy when LDL levels reach 130. For people at lower risk, the cut-off is 160. For those at little or no risk, it's 190.
Doctors usually prescribe cholesterol-lowering drugs only after changes in lifestyle have failed to bring cholesterol down to a healthy level. These changes include following a diet low in fat and cholesterol and high in fiber, shedding excess weight, and getting more exercise. It's important to remember that drug therapy is a supplement to--not a substitute for--these other measures. To get the full benefit of the medication, you need to stick to the diet and exercise program recommended by your doctor.
Side Effects of Zetia
Side effects include:
- stomach pain
- tiredness
- muscle problems. Very rarely, patients have experienced severe muscle problems while taking Zetia, usually when Zetia was added to a statin drug. If you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking Zetia, contact your doctor immediately. You need to do this promptly, because on rare occasions, these muscle problems can be serious, with muscle breakdown resulting in kidney damage.
- allergic reactions, including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing, rash and hives.
- joint pain
Who Should Not Take Zetia
Do not take Zetia if you are allergic to ezetimibe, the active ingredient in Zetia, or to any of the inactive ingredients in Zetia.
Do not take Zetia with other cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins if you have active liver disease.
Special warnings about Zetia
Zetia is not recommended for people with moderate to severe liver disease, or for children under 10.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Zetia
Do not combine Zetia with the cholesterol-lowering drugs called fibrates, including Lopid and Tricor. Check with your doctor before combining Zetia with cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune).
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Zetia should be taken during pregnancy only if its benefits outweigh the potential risk to the baby. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, check with your doctor immediately.
Statin drugs pose a definite risk to the baby, so you should never add a statin drug to Zetia therapy during pregnancy.
It's not known whether Zetia makes its way into breast milk. The drug is recommended only if its benefits are thought to outweigh the potential risk.
