Zetia lowers levels of total cholesterol

Zetia is a prescription medication that is used to lower levels of total cholesterol as well as levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. It is prescribed to patients who cannot control their cholesterol levels through dieting alone. It can be used by itself or in combination with other medicines to treat high cholesterol.

Staying on a cholesterol-lowering diet while taking this medicine will help. Zetia works by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs, it does not help you lose weight.

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.

There are some things that you should tell your Doctor including:

Tell your doctor if you:

• have or had liver problems
• are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Zetia works, or Zetia may affect how your other medicines work.

What side effects can you expect when taking Zetia? (This is only a partial list of side effects reported with Zetia. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of possible side effects and drug interactions..)

Side effects include:

• stomach pain
• tiredness

For more detailed information about Zetia, ask your doctor or pharmacist.