Version July 2025
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, primary or secondary prevention:
Note: May use as an additional agent in patients who do not meet cholesterol treatment goals with dietary modification plus maximally tolerated statin therapy or as an alternative agent in patients intolerant of statins (Ref).
Oral: 10 mg once daily (Ref).
Familial hypercholesterolemia, homozygous or heterozygous:
Note: May use as an additional agent in patients who do not meet cholesterol treatment goals with maximally tolerated statin therapy or as an alternative agent in patients intolerant of statins. Multiple lipid-lowering therapies are usually required. For homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, treatment should be guided by an experienced lipid specialist (Ref).
Oral: 10 mg once daily.
Homozygous sitosterolemia: Oral: 10 mg once daily.
Dosage adjustment for concomitant therapy: Significant drug interactions exist, requiring dose/frequency adjustment or avoidance. Consult drug interactions database for more information.
The renal dosing recommendations are based upon the best available evidence and clinical expertise. Senior Editorial Team: Bruce Mueller, PharmD, FCCP, FASN, FNKF; Jason Roberts, PhD, BPharm (Hons), B App Sc, FSHP, FISAC; Michael Heung, MD, MS.
Altered kidney function: Mild to severe impairment: No dosage adjustment necessary (Ref).
Hemodialysis, intermittent (thrice weekly): Unlikely to be dialyzed (highly protein bound): No supplemental dose or dosage adjustment necessary (Ref).
Peritoneal dialysis: Unlikely to be dialyzed (highly protein bound): No dosage adjustment necessary (Ref).
CRRT: No dosage adjustment necessary (Ref).
PIRRT (eg, sustained, low-efficiency diafiltration): No dosage adjustment necessary (Ref).
Mild impairment (Child-Pugh class A): There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer's labeling.
Moderate to severe impairment (Child-Pugh class B or C): Use of ezetimibe not recommended.
Acute hepatotoxicity during treatment: Consider discontinuing therapy if ALT or AST is persistently ≥3 times ULN.
Myopathy (muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness associated with elevated creatinine kinase) and/or rhabdomyolysis: Discontinue therapy if suspected or confirmed.
Refer to adult dosing.
(For additional information see "Ezetimibe: Pediatric drug information")
Hyperlipidemia:
Children 5 to 8 years: Limited data available: Oral: 10 mg once daily; dosing based on two studies of monotherapy; a prospective trial (n=17 including six patients ≤9 years) and a retrospective review (n=36, age range: 8 to 17 years) showed significant decreases in total cholesterol and LDL-C; patients were followed up to a mean of 13.6 months, no untoward effects were noted (Ref).
Children ≥9 years and Adolescents: Oral: 10 mg once daily in combination with a statin and other LDL-C lowering therapies. Has also been shown in small pediatric trials to decrease total cholesterol and LDL-C when used as monotherapy as adjunct to dietary changes (Ref).
Dosage adjustment for concomitant therapy: Significant drug interactions exist, requiring dose/frequency adjustment or avoidance. Consult drug interactions database for more information.
Hyperlipidemia:
Children ≥9 years and Adolescents: No dosage adjustments are recommended.
Hyperlipidemia:
Children ≥9 years and Adolescents:
Mild hepatic impairment: No dosage adjustments are recommended.
Moderate to severe impairment: Use is not recommended; the effects of increased ezetimibe exposure are unknown.
Increased serum transaminases and hepatotoxicity have been associated with ezetimibe. A higher incidence of elevated transaminases (≥3 × ULN) has been observed with concurrent use of ezetimibe with statins compared to statin monotherapy (Ref). Acute liver injury, ranging from hepatocellular hepatitis to cholestatic hepatitis, has been reported (Ref). Autoimmune hepatitis-like syndrome has also been described (Ref). Since ezetimibe is frequently administered with other lipid-lowering agents, especially statins, it is difficult to assess the role of ezetimibe in causality of hepatotoxicity. If elevated transaminase levels do occur, they will often return to baseline with or without discontinuation of therapy. In patients with severe hepatotoxicity, resolution of symptoms usually occurs within 1 to 4 months (Ref).
Mechanism: Non–dose-related; unknown. Conjugation defect may lead to accumulation of toxic levels of ezetimibe in the liver in genetically predisposed patients (Ref). An immune-mediated response may be implicated in cases of autoimmune hepatitis-like syndrome (Ref).
Onset: Delayed; ranged from 1 to 6 months (Ref).
Risk factors:
• Concurrent use of statins (Ref)
• Preexisting hepatic impairment (not recommended in patients with moderate [Child-Pugh score 7 to 9] or severe [Child-Pugh score 10 to 15] hepatic impairment)
Ezetimibe, when used alone or in combination with statin therapy, has been linked to several muscle-related effects, including myalgia (Ref), myopathy (Ref), and rhabdomyolysis (Ref). Creatine kinase levels often normalize within 4 weeks of discontinuation of ezetimibe (Ref). Since ezetimibe is frequently co-administered with statins, which are commonly associated with muscle-related adverse effects, it is difficult to assess causality in many cases (Ref).
Mechanism: Unknown; impaired fatty acid oxidation may lead to ezetimibe-induced muscle related effects (Ref).
Onset: Varied; can present hours to 4 months, with most symptoms developing within 2 weeks (Ref).
Risk factors:
• Concurrent use of a statin or fibrate
• Preexisting muscle disease (eg, McArdle disease) (Ref)
• Risk factors for muscle-related effects with statins (eg, older adults, hypothyroidism, kidney impairment)
The following adverse drug reactions and incidences are derived from product labeling unless otherwise specified. Adverse reactions reported with monotherapy in children, adolescents, and adults unless otherwise specified.
1% to 10%:
Hepatic: Increased serum transaminases (≥3 × ULN: monotherapy: <1%; with statin: 1%) (table 1)
|
Drug (Ezetimibe) |
Placebo |
Comparator (Statin) |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
|
0.5% |
0.3% |
N/A |
Monotherapy; ≥3 × ULN |
|
1% |
N/A |
0.4% |
Initiated concurrently with statin; ≥3 × ULN |
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia (3%)
Respiratory: Sinusitis (3%), upper respiratory tract infection (4%)
Postmarketing:
Dermatologic: Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (Ref), toxic epidermal necrolysis (Ref)
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, nausea, pancreatitis (Ref)
Hematologic & oncologic: Thrombocytopenia (Ref)
Hepatic: Autoimmune hepatitis (Ref), cholestatic hepatitis (Ref), hepatocellular hepatitis (Ref)
Hypersensitivity: Anaphylaxis, angioedema (Ref), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (Ref)
Nervous system: Depression, dizziness, headache, paresthesia
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Increased creatine phosphokinase in blood specimen, myalgia (Ref), myopathy (Ref), rhabdomyolysis (Ref)
Ophthalmic: Night blindness (Ref), photophobia (Ref), vision color changes (dyschromatopsia) (Ref), visual field loss (Ref)
Hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or any component of the formulation; concomitant use with a statin, fenofibrate, or other low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol lowering therapy when contraindications are present for such therapies.
Significant drug interactions exist, requiring dose/frequency adjustment or avoidance. Consult drug interactions database for more information.
Canadian labeling: Additional contraindications (not in the US labeling): Hereditary galactose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, or the Lapp lactase deficiency.
Disease-related concerns:
• Hepatic impairment: Systemic exposure is increased in hepatic impairment. Use is not recommended in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classes B and C).
• Kidney impairment: No dose adjustment is necessary. In patients with severe kidney impairment (CrCl ≤30 mL/minute/1.73 m2) systemic exposure is increased ~1.5-fold.
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Tablet, Oral:
Zetia: 10 mg
Generic: 10 mg
Yes
Tablets (Ezetimibe Oral)
10 mg (per each): $0.16 - $11.30
Tablets (Zetia Oral)
10 mg (per each): $16.65
Disclaimer: A representative AWP (Average Wholesale Price) price or price range is provided as reference price only. A range is provided when more than one manufacturer's AWP price is available and uses the low and high price reported by the manufacturers to determine the range. The pricing data should be used for benchmarking purposes only, and as such should not be used alone to set or adjudicate any prices for reimbursement or purchasing functions or considered to be an exact price for a single product and/or manufacturer. Medi-Span expressly disclaims all warranties of any kind or nature, whether express or implied, and assumes no liability with respect to accuracy of price or price range data published in its solutions. In no event shall Medi-Span be liable for special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of price or price range data. Pricing data is updated monthly.
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Tablet, Oral:
Ezetrol: 10 mg
Generic: 10 mg
Oral: May be administered without regard to meals. May be taken at the same time as a statin or fenofibrate. Administer ≥2 hours before or ≥4 hours after bile acid sequestrants.
Oral: May be taken without regard to meals; may be administered with a statin (eg, atorvastatin, simvastatin) or fenofibrate. Administer ≥2 hours before or ≥4 hours after bile acid sequestrants.
Missed dose: Administer missed dose as soon as possible; do not administer double dose at the next scheduled dose.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, primary or secondary prevention: For treatment of primary hyperlipidemia or mixed hyperlipidemia. Use as an adjunctive therapy to diet and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor or as monotherapy if an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is not tolerated to reduce total cholesterol (total-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Familial hypercholesterolemia, homozygous or heterozygous: In combination with a high-intensity statin for the reduction of elevated total-C and LDL-C levels in patients with homozygous or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
Homozygous sitosterolemia: As adjunctive therapy to diet for the reduction of elevated sitosterol and campesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial sitosterolemia.
Ezetimibe may be confused with ezogabine
Zetia may be confused with Zestril
Zetia [US and multiple international markets] may be confused with Bextra brand name for parecoxib [multiple international markets] and Zebeta brand name for bisoprolol [Puerto Rico]
Substrate of OATP1B1/1B3;
Note: Interacting drugs may not be individually listed below if they are part of a group interaction (eg, individual drugs within “CYP3A4 Inducers [Strong]” are NOT listed). For a complete list of drug interactions by individual drug name and detailed management recommendations, use the drug interactions program by clicking on the “Launch drug interactions program” link above.
Asciminib: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Belumosudil: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Management: Avoid coadministration of belumosudil with these substrates of OATP1B1/1B3 for which minimal concentration increases can cause serious adverse effects. If coadministration is required, dose reductions of the OATP1B1/1B3 substrate may be required. Risk D: Consider Therapy Modification
Bile Acid Sequestrants: May decrease absorption of Ezetimibe. Management: Administer ezetimibe at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after any bile acid sequestrant. Risk D: Consider Therapy Modification
Bulevirtide: Ezetimibe may decrease therapeutic effects of Bulevirtide. Risk X: Avoid
Ceftobiprole Medocaril: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk X: Avoid
CycloSPORINE (Systemic): Ezetimibe may increase serum concentration of CycloSPORINE (Systemic). CycloSPORINE (Systemic) may increase serum concentration of Ezetimibe. Risk C: Monitor
Darolutamide: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Eltrombopag: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Encorafenib: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Fenofibrate and Derivatives: May increase adverse/toxic effects of Ezetimibe. Specifically, the risk of myopathy and cholelithiasis may be increased. Fenofibrate and Derivatives may increase serum concentration of Ezetimibe. Risk C: Monitor
Fibric Acid Derivatives: May increase adverse/toxic effects of Ezetimibe. Specifically, the risk of myopathy and cholelithiasis may be increased. Fibric Acid Derivatives may increase serum concentration of Ezetimibe. Risk X: Avoid
Leflunomide: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Leniolisib: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk X: Avoid
Pretomanid: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Teriflunomide: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Trofinetide: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Management: Avoid concurrent use with OATP1B1/1B3 substrates for which small changes in exposure may be associated with serious toxicities. Monitor for evidence of an altered response to any OATP1B1/1B3 substrate if used together with trofinetide. Risk D: Consider Therapy Modification
Voclosporin: May increase serum concentration of OATP1B1/1B3 (SLCO1B1/1B3) Substrates (Clinically Relevant with Inhibitors). Risk C: Monitor
Adverse events were observed in some animal reproduction studies.
Outcome data following maternal use of ezetimibe during pregnancy are limited (Vuignier 2021).
If lipid-lowering therapy during pregnancy is required, it should be individualized based on the therapeutic needs of the patient, considering the lifetime risk of untreated disease, and the known risks and benefits of available therapies (CCS [Pearson 2021]).
Ezetimibe is present in breast milk.
Data are available from a study that developed an assay to measure ezetimibe in breast milk. Breast milk was sampled from 2 lactating patients taking ezetimibe 10 mg once daily. Ten samples were provided from 1 patient (21.8 weeks' postpartum) and 5 samples provided by a second patient (20.4 weeks' postpartum). Ezetimibe breast milk concentrations ranged from 0.17 to 1.02 ng/mL. The active glucuronide metabolite was also present (0.42 to 2.65 ng/mL). Authors of the study calculated the relative infant dose (RID) of ezetimibe to be 0.062%. Using a pharmacokinetic model, exposure to ezetimibe via breast milk was predicted to be below therapeutic doses (Yeung 2024). In general, breastfeeding is considered acceptable when the RID of a medication is <10% (Anderson 2016; Ito 2000).
Breastfeeding is not recommended by the manufacturer unless the potential benefits of treatment to the mother outweigh the possible risk to the breastfed infant. Effects to the breastfed infant or milk production are unknown.
Before initiation of therapy, patients should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet for 6 weeks and the diet should be continued during drug therapy.
Signs or symptoms of myopathy, CPK.
American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood cholesterol guideline recommendations (ACC/AHA [Grundy 2019]):
Lipid panel (total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides): Lipid profile (fasting or nonfasting) before initiating treatment. Fasting lipid profile should be rechecked 4 to 12 weeks after starting therapy and every 3 to 12 months thereafter (AHA/ACC [Grundy 2019]).
Hepatic transaminase levels: Baseline LFTs (reasonable); when used in combination with statin therapy, monitor LFTs when clinically indicated. When used in combination with fenofibrate, monitor LFTs and signs and symptoms of cholelithiasis.
Inhibits absorption of cholesterol at the brush border of the small intestine via the sterol transporter, Niemann-Pick C1-Like1 (NPC1L1). This leads to a decreased delivery of cholesterol to the liver, reduction of hepatic cholesterol stores and an increased clearance of cholesterol from the blood; decreases total C, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), ApoB, and triglycerides (TG) while increasing HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C).
Note: Pharmacokinetic data in children and adolescents ≥10 years of age are reported to be similar to that in adult patients.
Onset of action: Within 1 week; Maximum effect: 2 to 4 weeks.
Protein binding: >90% to plasma proteins.
Metabolism: Undergoes glucuronide conjugation in the small intestine and liver; forms metabolite (active); may undergo enterohepatic recycling.
Half-life elimination: 22 hours (ezetimibe and metabolite).
Time to peak, plasma: 4-12 hours (ezetimibe); 1-2 hours (active metabolite); Effects: ~2 weeks.
Excretion: Feces (78%, 69% as ezetimibe); urine (11%, 9% as metabolite).
Altered kidney function: Severe renal dysfunction (CrCl <30 mL/minute/1.73 m2): AUC increased 1.5 times.
Hepatic impairment: Moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score 7 to 9): AUC increased 3 to 4 times; severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh 10 to 15): AUC increased 5 to 6 times.
Older adult: Plasma concentrations are approximately 2-fold higher.
Sex: Plasma concentrations for total ezetimibe were slightly higher (less than 20%) in women than in men.
