From the Research
Zetia (ezetimibe) should not be given in cases of pericarditis as it has no anti-inflammatory properties relevant to treating pericarditis. Pericarditis is typically treated with anti-inflammatory medications such as NSAIDs (like ibuprofen or aspirin), colchicine, and occasionally corticosteroids for more severe cases. The standard first-line treatment for acute pericarditis includes ibuprofen (600-800mg every 8 hours) or aspirin (750-1000mg every 8 hours) for 1-2 weeks, often combined with colchicine (0.5mg twice daily for patients >70kg or 0.5mg once daily for patients <70kg) for 3 months to prevent recurrence, as recommended by recent guidelines 1.
Some key points to consider in the treatment of pericarditis include:
- The use of colchicine in addition to standard anti-inflammatory therapy to hasten response and reduce recurrence risk, as supported by studies such as 2 and 3.
- The importance of dose adjustment and monitoring for side effects, particularly gastrointestinal intolerance, when using colchicine 4.
- The role of corticosteroids in more severe cases or recurrent pericarditis, as discussed in 1 and 5.
In terms of the evidence, the most recent and highest quality study, 1, provides a comprehensive review of the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of pericarditis, and does not mention ezetimibe as a treatment option. Therefore, ezetimibe should not be used as a substitute for appropriate anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with pericarditis, and instead, patients should receive evidence-based treatments such as NSAIDs, colchicine, and corticosteroids as needed.