Ezetimibe

What is Ezetimibe?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance which is very important in the body for cell membrane synthesis, hormone production and vitamin D synthesis. However too much cholesterol in the body can be harmful. There are different types of cholesterol in the body, and they are characterised by cholesterol’s attachment to blood proteins known as lipoproteins. These include:

• Low density lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol
  • This cholesterol is made in the liver and carried to cells to help with their function. It is socially known as “bad” cholesterol because when there is too much of it, it can accumulate in the walls of the arteries and narrow vessels. This can predispose to the occurence of heart attacks or strokes.
• High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol)
  • This cholesterol is carried from body tissues back to the liver to be processed and removed from the body. Hence HDL cholesterol has colloquially been termed “good” cholesterol.
• Triglycerides
  • These are another type of fat in the bloodstream. These often accompany high LDL (“Good”) cholesterol and low HDL (“Bad”) cholesterol and they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks or strokes. 

Ezetimibe is a drug that lowers LDL cholesterol in the body, it does this by limiting cholesterol absorption in the intestines so that there’s less cholesterol floating in the bloodstream.

It is sometimes used instead of statins (another class of cholesterol lowering drugs) when statins may not be tolerated or in conjunction with statins (to achieve further lowering of LDL).

To find out if Ezetimibe is the right medicine for you, please consult this article and your healthcare provider.

You can check out the uses, side effects and cost of Ezetimibe 10mg and easily, conveniently and reliably buy it from Meds for Less, thereby expecting next day delivery to your home address. 

Ezetimibe is a medication used to reduce Cholesterol levels in the blood, particularly “Bad cholesterol”, also known as Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Unlike statins, which work by limiting cholesterol production in the liver and thereby increasing blood cholesterol absorption back into the liver, Ezetimibe works by limiting the absorption of LDL cholesterol from the digestive tract (particularly in the intestines) into the bloodstream. It is an effective medicine that only targets LDL cholesterol (colloquially termed bad cholesterol), without affecting HDL cholesterol (colloquially termed good cholesterol).

Ezetimibe completes its mechanism of action by targeting a protein called Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) which lies on the border of epithelial cells and normally works to absorb cholesterol from the digestive tract into the blood stream. Ezetimibe binds and inhibits the function of this NPC1L1 protein, hence reducing its function and limiting cholesterol uptake into intestinal cells.This ultimately lowers the amount of LDL cholesterol absorbed into the bloodstream.

By reducing blood cholesterol levels, Ezetimibe lowers the event of cardiovascular conditions such as cardiovascular disease, heart disease (including heart attacks) or strokes

Ezetimibe is often used for high blood cholesterol levels (Hypercholesterolemia), alongside statins or alone (for people who can’t tolerate statins). It is usually taken as a once oral daily tablet with a common dose of 10mg. It also can be taken for a genetic related cholesterol condition called familial hypercholesterolemia.

People who start taking Ezetimibe typically begin to see positive signs of the medicine’s cholesterol lowering effects such as; having more energy (due to increased circulation), less chest discomfort (if previously present as Ezetimibe lowers symptoms of angina by declogging coronary arteries), improved exercise tolerance, slight weight loss (especially when taking medication is combined with regular exercise) and even healthier skin appearance.

Ezetimibe has a lower side effect profile than statins, however like all medicines it does have some side effects. Some broad and generic side effects of Ezetimbie include muscle pain, diarrhoea, muscle pain and upper respiratory tract infections. However it is important to note that these side effects tend to be minimal in effect and don’t necessarily affect everyone taking the drug ezetimibe. A more comprehensive overview of side effects can be found further below in this article.

You can buy the ezetimibe medication for cholesterol control from Meds For Less easily, conveniently and reliably, and have it delivered to your home address within 24 hours.

Who Can Use Ezetimibe?

Ezetimibe is a medication used to lower the presence of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the bloodstream. It is primarily used for people with hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol) which can be acquired over a life course or be due to genetic conditions (such as familial hypercholesterolemia). The following is an overview of some of the circumstances in which Ezetimibe can be prescribed:

• Having high blood LDL cholesterol levels (Hypercholesterolemia)
  • Especially if lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) have not lowered cholesterol enough
  • Ezetimibe can either be used alone in these situations or combined with a statin for additive effect.
• Statin intolerance
  • If someone is experiencing unpleasant or intolerable side effects from statins (a notable one being muscle pains). Ezetimibe can either be used as a substitute to achieve the cholesterol lowering effects while lowering the incidence of unpleasant side effects.
• The genetic condition – familial Hypercholesterolemia
  • Familial Hypercholesterolemia is a genetic condition which results in abnormally high levels of cholesterol being deposited in the arteries from a young age. This can predispose to conditions like atherosclerosis (peripheral or coronary artery disease), heart disease or stroke.
• Need for additional LDL cholesterol lowering:
  • People on statins may be prescribed ezetimibe to further lower LDL cholesterol levels if adequate control was not being achieved by statins alone. This combined effect of Statins + Ezetimibe can help achieve increased LDL cholesterol effects without building a higher risk for statin related side effects.
• People with cardiovascular disease
  • After issues like an acute coronary syndrome, patient may be prescribed a combination of statins and ezetimibe to lower cardiovascular risk and prevent further such/related events happening again.

 Statins may be unwarranted or contraindicated in certain situations. Some of these situations include:

• Severe liver disease – this can be an issue as Ezetimibe is partially metabolised in the liver so using it in liver disease can result in a state of accidental overdose.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women – there are not enough studies to guarantee the safety profile of Ezetimibe in pregnant or breastfeeding women
• People with allergies to this drug (the active compound) or any of the inactive components in its formulation.

A further review of situations where Ezetimibe use may not be indicated can be found further below in this article.

If you have any specific questions about Ezetimibe, it’s potential suitability for you, side effects or ways they can affect you, please speak to your healthcare provider.

Possible Side Effects of Ezetimibe 

Ezemtime is used often when statins cannot be tolerated due to their broader range of side effects. Ezetimibe can either be used alone as a substitute for statins, the overall effect of this is to help in the cholesterol lowering effect while reducing the incidence of the higher risk side effects of statins.

Ezetimibe like any medication can cause side effects however most of these are mild and most people tolerate them well. While a comprehensive review of side effects, contraindications, precautions and warnings to do with Ezetimibe comes in the patient information leaflet; the following is an overview of the possible side effects of ezetimibe, ranging from mild to severe.

Some of the Common side effects of Ezetimibe (usually mild or temporary) include:

• Stomach pains or cramps
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue or tenderness
• Headache
• Joint or muscle spasm

These side effects tend to be tolerated by most people and disappear with continued statin use. If you find that they are persisting or find them intolerable, please consult with your healthcare provider.

Some Less common but still notable side effects include:

• Muscle problems (myalgia or weakness) – most likely occur if taken with a statin
• Elevated liver enzymes – also more likely to occur if ezetimibe is taken in conjunction with statins as opposed to taken alone.
• Back pain
• Sinusitis or cold-like symptoms 

Rare but serious side effects include:

• Allergic reactions such as a rash, itching, swelling or trouble breathing
• Liver problems resulting in yellowing of skin/eyes (jaundice), dark urine, pale stools
• Pancreatitis – resulting in severe stomach pain, nausea and vomiting

If any of these serious side effects occur – please stop taking the medicine and seek medical assistance immediately.

To monitor your health, particularly liver or muscle health when taking Statins or Ezetimibe, please consult with your healthcare provider about booking routine liver tests and blood cholesterol tests.

If you feel like any of the side effects are intolerable and deter you from completing your ezetimibe course, please speak to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Please also approach them if you experience any symptoms similar to unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially when accompanied by fever or fatigue.

Precautions and Warnings

The following is an overview of some warnings to adhere to and precautions to take when taking cholesterol tablets ezetimibe.

Liver health:

• If you have liver disease or clinically elevated liver enzymes, it would be prudent to use cholesterol lowering drugs like Ezetimibe or statins with caution. Please report any underlying personal or family history of liver issues to your healthcare provider when discussing an Ezetimibe prescription.

Combination treatment with statins

• Ezetimibe is used in combination with statins, either when additional LDL lowering is required (where previously one was on statin therapy alone) or some side effects of statins were intolerable.
• There is a higher risk of muscle related side effects when taking Ezetimibe with statins such as myopathy or rare rhabdomyolysis. As such it is important, when taking this combination, to look for signs such as muscle pain, weakness or dark urine.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding:

• Ezemtime is not recommended to be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to a lack of data indicating its safety during these circumstances. It should be avoided during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless, absolutely needed.

Use in children:

• In rare cases, ezetimibe may need to be used in children for familial hypercholesterolemia. It should only be used in children 10 years or older and only under the supervision of a Hepatic (liver) specialist and a pediatrician.

Gallbladder issues:

• Watch out for any signs of abdominal pain or nausea at all when taking ezetimibe as in very rare cases, Ezetimibe has been correlated with occurrences of gallstones or cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), If you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or fever, please seek medical help immediately.

Allergic reactions:

• In very rare circumstances, hypersensitivity and allergic reactions to Ezetimibe can occur, resulting in rash, swelling or difficulty breathing. If you notice these symptoms, please seek medical help immediately.

Some general cautions while taking Ezetimibe include:

• Always taking the medicine as prescribed.
• Keeping up with regular blood tests to monitor liver and cholesterol health
• Telling your doctor about any other medical conditions you have or medicines that you are taking.

If you have any issues, or experience any adverse effects with Ezetimibe, please speak to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Where to Buy Ezetimibe Online?

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