Zetia Uses

Treating high cholesterol and a rare genetic condition called sitosterolemia are among the licensed uses of Zetia. The cholesterol medication is effective at decreasing total cholesterol and "bad cholesterol," as well as slightly decreasing triglycerides. By itself, Zetia has little effect on "good cholesterol"; and the drug is often used in combination with other cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins and fenofibrate. While Zetia has been approved for use in adolescents 10 years of age and older, there are currently no known off-label Zetia uses.

 

Zetia Uses: An Overview

 Zetia® (ezetimibe) is a prescription medication that has been licensed to treat several conditions. These Zetia uses include:
 
High Cholesterol Treatment
Zetia is used for treating high cholesterol in people who cannot lower their cholesterol through lifestyle changes alone. Zetia can lower total cholesterol and LDL ("bad cholesterol") but has little effect on HDL ("good cholesterol"). The medication is often used in combination with other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins (Lipitor®, Crestor®, Zocor®, Pravachol®, Lescol®, Mevacor®) or fenofibrate (Antara®, Tricor®, Lipofen®, Triglide®, Lofibra®).
 
Sitosterolemia
Sitosterolemia is a rare genetic condition in which plant sterols found in food are absorbed within the intestines in greater-than-normal amounts and then not removed as well as they normally are. This causes high levels of sitosterol and campesterol (which are types of plant sterols) in the blood. Over time, this can result in high cholesterol, deposits of cholesterol (known as xanthoma) in tendons and other parts of the body, early atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and certain blood and liver problems.
 
Zetia has been licensed to treat high levels of sitosterol and campesterol in the blood of people with sitosterolemia.
 
(Zetia Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;