Does ezetimibe contain iodine?

Does Ezetimibe Contain Iodine?

No, ezetimibe does not contain iodine. There is no iodine in the chemical structure or formulation of ezetimibe, and iodine allergy is not a contraindication to its use.

Composition of Ezetimibe

• The active ingredient in ezetimibe tablets is ezetimibe itself, with inactive ingredients including lactose monohydrate, croscarmellose sodium, hypromellose, sodium lauryl sulfate, crospovidone, microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate 1.

• None of these ingredients contain iodine 1.

Mechanism and Chemical Properties

• Ezetimibe works by inhibiting the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) protein in the small intestine, which blocks cholesterol absorption from both dietary and biliary sources 2, 3.

• The drug is extensively metabolized (>80%) to ezetimibe-glucuronide through glucuronidation of the 4-hydroxyphenyl group by uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase isoenzymes 4.

• This metabolic pathway does not involve iodine-containing compounds 4.

Contraindications

• The only contraindication listed for ezetimibe is a history of hypersensitivity to ezetimibe itself 2.

• Iodine allergy is not mentioned as a contraindication or precaution in any guideline or FDA labeling 2, 1.

Clinical Implications

• Patients with iodine allergies can safely take ezetimibe, as there is no cross-reactivity concern 1.

• The drug can be administered at 10 mg orally once daily, with or without food, regardless of iodine allergy status 2, 3.