Ezetimibe

• Ezetrol (ezetimibe) helps lower cholesterol. It works by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from the food you eat and from your digestive system, which helps lower the "bad" cholesterol in your blood.
• It is often used together with another cholesterol medicine called a statin, and sometimes with a medicine called fenofibrate, but it can also be used alone.

• Swallow the tablet with a glass of water.
• You can take this medicine with or without food, at any time of day, but try to take it at the same time each day so you remember it.
• Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. The amount and how often you take it will be on your prescription label.
• If you also take a cholesterol medicine called a bile acid resin (such as cholestyramine), take this medicine well before or well after that medicine, as the Care365 care team directs, since taking them close together reduces how well this medicine works.

If you miss a dose

• If you miss a dose, simply take your next dose at your usual time. Do not take an extra dose to make up for the one you missed.

• Tell your healthcare team if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
• If you take this medicine together with a statin or with fenofibrate, you must not be pregnant or breastfeeding, since those medicines are not safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• Tell your healthcare team about all your health conditions, especially liver disease or gallbladder problems.
• Tell your healthcare team if you have ever had unexplained muscle pain or weakness while taking a cholesterol medicine.
• Tell your healthcare team about all medicines you take, including cyclosporine and other cholesterol medicines, since these can interact with this medicine.
• This medicine contains lactose (milk sugar). Tell your healthcare team if you have a rare condition that means you cannot process lactose.
• This medicine works best alongside a healthy, cholesterol-lowering diet, so continue following any diet advice from your healthcare team.

Important warnings

• This medicine can rarely cause liver problems. Tell your healthcare team if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, or unusual tiredness.
• This medicine, especially when combined with a statin, can rarely cause serious muscle problems. Tell your healthcare team right away about any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.
• This medicine can rarely cause inflammation of the pancreas, which causes sudden, severe stomach pain. This needs urgent medical attention.
• This medicine can rarely cause a serious allergic reaction or a severe skin reaction. Stop taking it and seek help right away if this happens.

• You may notice diarrhea, stomach pain, gas, joint pain, back pain, or tiredness.
• You may notice cold or flu-like symptoms, a sore throat, or sinus discomfort.
• You may notice muscle aches or dizziness.

When to get emergency help

• Get emergency help for sudden, severe stomach pain, especially if it spreads to your back.
• Get emergency help for swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or sudden difficulty breathing.
• Get emergency help for severe skin blistering, peeling, or a widespread rash with fever.

When to contact a healthcare professional

• Contact your healthcare professional if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, dark urine, loss of appetite, or unusual tiredness.
• Contact your healthcare professional if you have muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness that does not have an obvious cause.
• Contact your healthcare professional if you notice new abdominal pain, especially if you also take fenofibrate, since this could be a sign of gallstones.

• You can take this medicine with or without food.
• Tell your healthcare team if you take cyclosporine, since this medicine can raise cyclosporine levels in your blood.
• If you take a bile acid resin such as cholestyramine, space your doses apart as the Care365 care team directs.
• Continue following any recommended cholesterol-lowering diet while taking this medicine.

• Store this medicine at room temperature, protected from moisture.
• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Return unused or expired medicine to your pharmacy for safe disposal.