Ezetimibe (Systemic)

Brand Names : Zetia

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ezetimibe, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ezetimibe. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - Before prescribing medicine for your condition, your doctor will probably try to control your condition by prescribing a personal diet for you. Such a diet may be low in fats, sugars, and/or cholesterol. Many people are able to control their condition by carefully following their doctor's orders for proper diet and exercise. Medicine is prescribed only when additional help is needed and is effective only when a schedule of diet and exercise is properly followed.

Also, this medicine is less effective if you are greatly overweight. It may be very important for you to go on a weight-reducing diet. However, check with your doctor before going on any diet.

Pregnancy - Ezetimibe has not been studied in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that ezetimibe may cause birth defects or other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding - It is not known if ezetimibe passes into human breast milk. However, it should not be used during breast-feeding because it may cause serious unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Children - This medicine has been tested in children and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults. This medicine should only be used in children 10 years of age or older.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of ezetimibe in the elderly with use in other age groups, this medicine has been used in elderly patients and is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of ezetimibe. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Liver disease (or history of) or
• Liver enzymes, persistently high levels - Use of this medicine may make liver problems worse