Cholesterol Lowering - Ezetrol (Brand name: zetia)

Common use

Zetia is an antihyperlipidemic agent which used for treatment of high blood cholesterol along with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Also it is used to treat high blood sitosterol and campesterol along with diet therapy. Heart disease or heart attacks aren't prevented by Zetia as tests show.

Dosage and direction

Take this medication orally with or without food/milk. The recommended Zetia dose is 10 mg once daily. Patients who require a larger reduction in LDL-C (over 55%) may be started at 10-40 mg once daily.
Note: this instruction presented here just for review. It's very necessary to consult your doctor before using. It will help you to get best results.

Precautions

Do not use it without a doctor's permission. Be careful if you have specific medical conditions then this medicine should not be taken along with statins. This is especially true if you have liver disease or are pregnant or intend to get pregnant. If you are pregnant, this drug should only be taken if it is absolutely necessary. If you drink a lot of of alcohol, you should be closely monitored by their doctor while they are taking this medication.

Contraindications

Not allowed for people who are hypersensitive to any component of this medication. The combination of Zetia with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is not allowed for patients who suffer from active liver disease or unexplained persistant elevations in serum transaminases. All HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are not allowed for pregnant and nursing women. Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.

Possible side effect

They may include all types of an allergic reactions. Also the most possible side effects include:
unusual muscle weakness, tenderness, or pain;
loss of appetite, nausea, clay-colored stools, stomach pain, low fever, dark urine, jaundice;
chest pain;
pancreatitis;
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.
Less serious include:
numbness or tingly feeling;
mild stomach pain, diarrhea;
tired feeling;
headache;
dizziness;
depressed mood;
runny or stuffy nose, cold symptoms;
joint pain, back pain; or
cough.
If you experience one of them stop using Zetia and tell your doctor as soon as possible. Also consult with your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual.

Drug interaction

Zetia interact with the following medications: cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran); colestipol (Colestid); colesevelam (Welchol); gemfibrozil (Lopid); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf); or a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).
Also note that interaction between two medications does not always mean that you
must stop taking one of them. As usual it affects the the effect of drugs, so consult with your doctor about how it interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Missed dose

If you forgot to take your dose in time, please do it as soon as you remember. Do not take if it is too late or almost time for your next dose. Do not increase your recommended dose. Take your usual dose next day at the same time regularly.

Overdose

Symptoms of Zetia overdose are not known but it can be harmful.
If you experience one of them, call your doctor immediately.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture, kids and pets. Do not use after expiration term.

Disclaimer

We provide only general information about medications which does not cover all directions, possible drug integrations, or precautions. Information at the site cannot be used for self-treatment and self-diagnosis. Any specific instructions for a particular patient should be agreed with your health care adviser or doctor in charge of the case. We disclaim reliability of this information and mistakes it could contain. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other indirect damage as a result of any use of the information on this site and also for consequences of self-treatment.

Please find the full description of Zetia at Drugs.com and general information at Wikipedia