Zetia Drug Interactions

Some of the drugs that can potentially interact with Zetia include cyclosporine, cholestyramine, fenofibrate, and other fibrates. Drug interactions with Zetia can change how your body metabolizes the drugs, affect Zetia's ability to lower cholesterol, and increase the risk of developing myopathy, among other things. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about specific drug interactions that may apply to you.

Cholesterol Drug Zetia

Zetia Interactions: An Overview

Zetia^® (ezetimibe) can potentially interact with a number of other medicines. Some possible Zetia drug interactions can include:

Fenofibrate (Antara^®, Tricor^®, Lipofen^®, Triglide^®, Lofibra^®)
Other fibrates, including gemfibrozil (Lopid^®)
Cholestyramine (Prevalite^®, Questran^®, Questran Light^®, LoCholest^®)
Colestipol (Colestid^®)
Colesevelam (WelChol^®)
Warfarin (Coumadin^®, Jantoven^®)
Cyclosporine (Gengraf^®, Neoral^®, Sandimmune^®).

More Information on Interactions With Zetia

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when Zetia is combined with any of the drugs listed above.

Fenofibrate (Antara, Tricor, Lipofen, Triglide, Lofibra)

Zetia is often prescribed with fenofibrate because when combined, these medications are effective at lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides -- as well as raising HDL cholesterol. However, taking both fenofibrate and Zetia together may increase the levels of Zetia in the blood and may also cause problems in people with gallbladder disease. In these cases, other cholesterol-lowering medicine may be recommended.

(Zetia Drug Interactions Continued: Page 2)