Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor·Cardiovascular - Lipid Lowering

Ezetimibe

Primary hypercholesterolemia, familial hypercholesterolemia

Authority requiredPBSLIPID LOWERINGEzetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)10 mg tablet+2

No source link confirmed for this record yet. Its own source notes are under Additional.

At a glance

Max Dose

10 mg/day

Half-life

22 h

Myopathy

LOW RISK

Caution: Hepatic

LFTs REQ

Cautions

Avoid / Cautions

Active liver disease (if used in combination with a statin). Pregnancy Category B3.

Where it stands

Rapid Summary

Overview

Blocks the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol from the gut. Typically used as an add-on to statin therapy when targets aren't met.

Clinical Focus

Provides an extra 15-20% LDL reduction when added to a statin. Very well tolerated.

Bottom Line

Ezetimibe is the standard add-on to statins for additional LDL lowering when statins alone are insufficient, but provides modest benefit as monotherapy compared to statins.

Formulation & Access

Brand Names

Ezetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)

Oral Routes

Tablets (10 mg).

Prescribing & PBS

Authority Required (PBS) for co-administration with statins or monotherapy in statin intolerance.

Indications & Use

Primary

PBSTGA

Primary hypercholesterolemia, familial hypercholesterolemia.

Clinical Place

Second-line lipid-lowering agent. Essential for patients failing to hit strict LDL targets (<1.4 mmol/L) post-MI on max statins.

Quick reference

Class & Role

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor — Blocks the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol from the gut.

Route / Formulation

Tablets (10 mg). (Ezetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo))

Usual Dose & Max

PO 10 mg OD. Used alone (if statin intolerant) or combined. Max 10 mg/day (Flat dosing, no titration required).

Best Uses

Ezetimibe is the standard add-on to statins for additional LDL lowering when statins alone are insufficient, but provides modest benefit as monotherapy compared to statins.

Key Risks

Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, abdominal pain. Musculoskeletal: Myalgia (far less than statins, but risk increases if given with a statin). Hepatic: Mild transaminitis.

Key Interactions

Bile acid sequestrants (Cholestyramine) bind to Ezetimibe in the gut. Must be taken 2 hours before or 4 hours after. Fibrates (increases risk of gallstones/cholelithiasis).

Monitoring

Lipids and LFTs.

Clinical Pearl

Doubling a statin dose (e.g., 40mg to 80mg) only yields a 6% further drop in LDL. Adding 10mg of Ezetimibe yields an additional 18% drop. Combo therapy is highly efficient.

Access

Authority requiredEzetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)10 mg tablet

Brand: Ezetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)
PBS status: Authority required
Formulation: Tablets (10 mg).

From this page

No calculator, monitoring schedule or factsheet is linked to this medicine page yet.

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor·Cardiovascular - Lipid Lowering

Ezetimibe

Primary hypercholesterolemia, familial hypercholesterolemia

Authority requiredPBSLIPID LOWERINGEzetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)10 mg tablet+2

No source link confirmed for this record yet. Its own source notes are under Additional.

At a glance

Max Dose

10 mg/day

Half-life

22 h

Myopathy

LOW RISK

Caution: Hepatic

LFTs REQ

Cautions

Avoid / Cautions

Active liver disease (if used in combination with a statin). Pregnancy Category B3.

Where it stands

Rapid Summary

Overview

Blocks the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol from the gut. Typically used as an add-on to statin therapy when targets aren't met.

Clinical Focus

Provides an extra 15-20% LDL reduction when added to a statin. Very well tolerated.

Bottom Line

Ezetimibe is the standard add-on to statins for additional LDL lowering when statins alone are insufficient, but provides modest benefit as monotherapy compared to statins.

Formulation & Access

Brand Names

Ezetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)

Oral Routes

Tablets (10 mg).

Prescribing & PBS

Authority Required (PBS) for co-administration with statins or monotherapy in statin intolerance.

Indications & Use

Primary

PBSTGA

Primary hypercholesterolemia, familial hypercholesterolemia.

Clinical Place

Second-line lipid-lowering agent. Essential for patients failing to hit strict LDL targets (<1.4 mmol/L) post-MI on max statins.

Quick reference

Class & Role

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor — Blocks the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol from the gut.

Route / Formulation

Tablets (10 mg). (Ezetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo))

Usual Dose & Max

PO 10 mg OD. Used alone (if statin intolerant) or combined. Max 10 mg/day (Flat dosing, no titration required).

Best Uses

Ezetimibe is the standard add-on to statins for additional LDL lowering when statins alone are insufficient, but provides modest benefit as monotherapy compared to statins.

Key Risks

Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, abdominal pain. Musculoskeletal: Myalgia (far less than statins, but risk increases if given with a statin). Hepatic: Mild transaminitis.

Key Interactions

Bile acid sequestrants (Cholestyramine) bind to Ezetimibe in the gut. Must be taken 2 hours before or 4 hours after. Fibrates (increases risk of gallstones/cholelithiasis).

Monitoring

Lipids and LFTs.

Clinical Pearl

Doubling a statin dose (e.g., 40mg to 80mg) only yields a 6% further drop in LDL. Adding 10mg of Ezetimibe yields an additional 18% drop. Combo therapy is highly efficient.

Access

Authority requiredEzetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)10 mg tablet

Brand: Ezetrol, Vytorin (combo), Atozet (combo)
PBS status: Authority required
Formulation: Tablets (10 mg).

From this page

No calculator, monitoring schedule or factsheet is linked to this medicine page yet.