Ezetimibe, available as the brand Zetia, is a medication primarily prescribed to lower high cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced by the liver and also obtained through diet, and Zetia works by reducing the absorption of dietary cholesterol. Although cholesterol is essential for health, too much cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular disease. Along with lowering cholesterol, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also approved Zetia for treating the rare condition sitosterolemia.
Lowering Cholesterol
Unlike statin drugs, which block liver enzymes necessary for cholesterol production, Zetia targets dietary cholesterol. With less cholesterol delivered from the digestive tract to the liver, the liver takes cholesterol from the blood, helping to decrease blood levels of cholesterol, explains eMedTV. This reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol, along with total cholesterol and other blood fats known as triglycerides. Zetia has little effect on levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the good cholesterol. The medication is intended as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes a low-cholesterol diet along with exercise and weight control, according to Drugs.com.
Sitosterolemia Treatment
Zetia is beneficial for treating sitosterolemia, a rare genetic disorder, according to eMedTV. In this condition, the intestines absorb an abnormally-large amount of plant sterols from food, causing high levels of campesterol and sitosterol in the blood. This can lead to high cholesterol, deposits of cholesterol in tendons and other parts of the body, blood and liver problems, and atherosclerosis, in which fatty deposits build up in the arteries and harden. When combined with diet changes, Zetia is useful for lowering elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels.
Low Incidence of Side Effects
Zetia has no common side effects. In pre-approval clinical trials with this drug, as summarized by eMedTV, fewer than 4 percent of the participants experienced coughing, runny nose, nasal congestion, back pain, muscle pain, diarrhea or fatigue. Since FDA approval of Zetia, consumers have submitted anecdotal reports of depression, dizziness, headache, joint pain, stomach pain and tiredness. Any more serious effects, such as allergic reactions, gallstones, and muscle weakness or muscle breakdown, are rare.
Combination Therapy
Zetia does not interact with other cholesterol-lowering medications, and doctors sometimes prescribe it with these drugs for increased effectiveness, explains Drugs.com. Zetia can be taken with statins such as lovastatin, known as Mevacor; simvastatin, known as Zocor; atorvastatin, sold as Lipitor; and others. Be aware that statins are more likely than Zetia to cause side effects, including muscle pain and weakness, and liver dysfunction.
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