As of December 12th, 2016 the FDA approved ezetimibe, a less expensive generic to Zetia, and it is in pharmacies now. What is Zetia (ezetimibe) indicated for? Zetia (ezetimibe) is prescribed in combination with a proper diet for the treatment of high cholesterol..
Also asked, what is the generic brand for ezetimibe?
BRAND NAME(S): Zetia. USES: Ezetimibe is used along with a low cholesterol/low fat diet and exercise to help lower cholesterol in the blood. Ezetimibe may be used alone or with other drugs (such as "statins" or fibrates).
Similarly, who should not take Zetia? If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not take ZETIA while taking a statin. If you are a woman of childbearing age, you should use an effective method of birth control to prevent pregnancy while using ZETIA added to statin therapy. ZETIA has not been studied in children under age 10.
Consequently, is ezetimibe better than statins?
Ezetimibe is a non-statin lipid-lowering medication that inhibits absorption of dietary cholesterol by blocking the Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 protein (NPC1L1). Ezetimibe lowers low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 15-20% when used alone2 as compared to 5-10% from doubling the dose of statin.
What class of drug is Zetia?
It may be used alone or in combination with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). Ezetimibe is in a class of medications called cholesterol-lowering medications. It works by preventing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.
Related Question Answers
What food interacts with ezetimibe?
Atorvastatin-ezetimibe Interactions. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with this medicine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking atorvastatin and ezetimibe. Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol.Does ezetimibe cause memory loss?
Conclusions: The memory-restorative effect of ezetimibe can be attributed to its cholesterol-dependent as well as cholesterol-independent effects. The study highlights the potential of ezetimibe in memory dysfunctions associated with dementia of AD.What is the cost of generic Zetia?
About Zetia It is available in generic and brand versions. Generic ezetimibe is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans, but some pharmacy coupons or cash prices may be lower. The lowest GoodRx price for the most common version of generic Zetia is around $41.81, 91% off the average retail price of $507.80.Does Zetia raise blood pressure?
Studies have found that Zetia has been very effective in lowering cholesterol in such people, but that in order to prevent heart disease, management of other risk factors (losing weight, managing high blood pressure and diabetes, etc.) is also important.Is Zetia safer than a statin?
The companies' principle marketing claim for Zetia has been improved safety over other cholesterol lowering drugs, particularly the statins, but with no actual proof that safety is, in fact, improved.What happens if you stop taking ezetimibe?
If you stop taking the drug or don't take it at all: Your cholesterol level may rise. If your cholesterol is high and not controlled for a long time, you can have narrowing of the arteries. This may lead to a heart attack or stroke.What is the difference between Zetia and ezetimibe?
Zetia is the brand name for ezetimibe, a drug that lowers LDL cholesterol levels by reducing cholesterol absorption in the small intestine. Zetia is often prescribed along with a low-fat diet. It may be used by itself or in conjunction with a statin to reduce cholesterol.Does ezetimibe cause hair loss?
Case reports: alopecia universalis: hair growth following initiation of simvastatin and ezetimibe therapy. Its most extreme form, alopecia universalis, is the total loss of all scalp and body hair. This form of the condition is very resistant to treatment and spontaneous remission is quite rare.Which statin has least side effects?
In the analysis of 135 previous studies, which included nearly 250,000 people combined, researchers found that the drugs simvastatin (Zocor) and pravastatin (Pravachol) had the fewest side effects in this class of medications. They also found that lower doses produced fewer side effects in general.What is the safest cholesterol medication?
Still, all in all, the statins are the safest and best tolerated of all cholesterol-lowering medications. Although most patients respond well to statin therapy, some don't.Can I refuse to take statins?
Before you refuse to take a statin or stop taking a statin, consult your doctor. He or she can explain why you may benefit from the drug or help you find a different statin if you experience side effects.Which statin is best for triglycerides?
High doses of a strong statin (simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin) lower triglycerides, by as much as approximately 50%, and raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The greater the baseline level of triglycerides the greater the percent triglyceride reduction will be with statin treatment.Which statin has the least muscle pain?
Even though all statins look similar chemically, they have some minor differences that could impact how likely they are to cause muscle pain. Simvastatin is the most likely to cause muscle pain, and fluvastatin and pitavastatin are the least likely.Is there a non statin cholesterol medication?
Statin Alternatives There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe: Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid) stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.Can statins cause depression?
Depression is not a commonly seen side effect with statins or any other cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, other drugs used to treat cardiac conditions, such as beta blockers, can aggravate depression.Which statin is best for lowering LDL?
in addition, atorvastatin may be a better option for people who have had a heart attack and need greater ldl reduction. Several statins—atorvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, and rosuvastatin (Crestor)—have been proven to prevent strokes.Which statin is best tolerated?
Statins lower cholesterol levels through inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase. The synthetic and natural statins have essentially equivalent efficacy at improving the lipid profile. However, in patients who do not achieve their LDL goals, atorvastatin and simvastatin may be the best choices for initial therapy.Can you eat grapefruit while taking Zetia?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can boost blood levels of several prescription medications. Keep in mind that each category contains several other medications that aren't affected by grapefruit. Ezetimibe (Zetia), colesevelam (WelChol), and niacin are other cholesterol-lowering options that work safely with grapefruit.Does Zetia affect the liver?
Adverse hepatic events: Elevations of liver transaminases and cases of hepatitis have been reported in patients treated with [Zetia]. Liver function monitoring is recommended when therapy with [Zetia] is initiated in patients treated or about to begin treatment with a statin. 
