High cholesterol is a major risk factor for developing heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among Americans. Lowering your cholesterol decreases your risk and improves your heart's health. There are a number of drugs, with different mechanisms of action, used to treat high cholesterol. Zetia is one these medications.
About Zetia
Zetia, on the market since 2002, contains the active ingredient ezetimibe. It is classified as an antihyperlipidemic -- a lipid-lowering drug. Zetia may be used alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering medications such as the statins. Your doctor usually prescribes Zetia in addition to lifestyle modifications such as a low-fat diet and increased physical activity. It is available as a 10 mg tablet intended for oral administration.
How It Works
Zetia produces its effect in the small intestine. The drug blocks the absorption of cholesterol ingested from dietary sources as well as that from bile secretion. This results in a decrease in the amount of cholesterol transported to the liver, where it is both made and stored. Blocking cholesterol's absorption in the intestine also results in an increase in the amount of cholesterol cleared from the blood.
Cholesterol-lowering Effects
Zetia lowers total cholesterol and the bad cholesterol -- LDL -- as well as the fat in the blood called triglycerides. It decreases your baseline LDL and triglycerides each by 8 percent. Zetia also has a positive effect, albeit a small one, on your good cholesterol-- HDL, increasing it by 1 percent.
Side Effects of Zetia
Potential side effects associated with Zetia include upper respiratory tract infections, joint pain and diarrhea. It may also cause muscle pain, tenderness and or weakness. If you experience any of these muscle symptoms, contact your doctor because they may be indicative of a serious condition called myopathy -- a disease of the muscle.
References
- FDA: Zetia Presribing Information
- "Drug Information Handbook"; Charles Lacy, Lora Armstrong, Morton Goldman, Leonard Lance; 2008
- Drugs.com: Zetia
