From the Guidelines
Ezetrol (ezetimibe) should be prescribed at a dose of 10 mg orally daily, with or without food, as this has been shown to effectively lower LDL-C levels by 18% as monotherapy and by 25% in combination with statin therapy 1. The recommended dosage is based on the FDA-approved indication for ezetimibe, which includes reducing total cholesterol, LDL-C, ApoB, and non-HDL-C in patients with primary hyperlipidemia, either alone or in combination with statin therapy 1. Key considerations for prescribing ezetimibe include:
- Taking the medication either 2 hours before or 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants (BAS) if used in combination 1
- Monitoring hepatic transaminases before and during treatment, especially when used with statin therapy 1
- Being aware of potential contraindications, such as a history of hypersensitivity to the medication, and warnings, including not recommending its use in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment 1
- Informing patients about potential adverse effects, including upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, arthralgia, and sinusitis, and the importance of reporting any symptoms of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The recommended dose of ezetimibe tablets is 10 mg orally once daily, administered with or without food The dose of Ezetrol (ezetimibe) is 10 mg orally once daily 2, 2, 2.
- The dose can be administered with or without food.
- If a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as possible, and the next dose should not be doubled.
From the Research
Ezetrol (Ezetimibe) Dose
- The recommended dose of Ezetrol (ezetimibe) is 10 mg/day, which can be administered in the morning or evening without regard to food 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Ezetimibe 10 mg/day has been shown to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations by approximately 18% when used alone 5.
- In some cases, a dose of 20 mg/day may be considered, as it has been shown to further reduce total and LDL cholesterol in patients receiving concomitant statin therapy 7.
- However, it is essential to note that the use of ezetimibe 20 mg/day is not as well-established as the 10 mg/day dose, and prospective studies are required to determine its long-term safety and efficacy 7.