Vytorin Uses

Several conditions are treated with Vytorin. Uses include the treatment of high cholesterol and high triglycerides in the blood. Taking the medication regularly can help the liver make less cholesterol and increase its ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol. Vytorin can also block the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines into the blood. Vytorin is not used in children, nor are there off-label uses.

Vytorin Information

What Is Vytorin Used For?

Vytorin^®(ezetimibe/simvastatin) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions. These uses for Vytorin include:

Treatment of hyperlipidemia, including:

High total cholesterol
High LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
High triglycerides
High apo B cholesterol (another "bad" cholesterol)
Low HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)

Treatment of heterozygous or homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic form of high cholesterol).

How Does Vytorin Work?

Vytorin combines two medicines:

simvastatin and ezetimibe. Simvastatin is part of a class of drugs called statins. It works by blocking a particular enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. It also increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol.

Ezetimibe is part of a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. As the name implies, it blocks the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines into the blood. By doing this, less cholesterol enters the body. It is unique in that it works just at the "brush border" of the small intestine. Because less cholesterol is delivered from the digestive tract to the liver, which depletes the liver's stores of cholesterol, the liver reacts by taking cholesterol out from the blood, which helps reduce blood cholesterol levels.

(Vytorin Uses Continued: Page 2)