Ezetimibe 10 mg tablets
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet (see section 4).
1. What ezetimibe is and what it is used for?
2. What you need to know before you take ezetimibe
3. How to take ezetimibe
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store ezetimibe
6. Contents of the pack and other information
The name of your medicine is Ezetimibe 10 mg tablets (called ezetimibe throughout this leaflet). It contains the active substance ezetimibe. Ezetimibe is a medicine to lower increased levels of cholesterol.
Ezetimibe lowers levels of total cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), and fatty substances called triglycerides in the blood. In addition, ezetimibe raises levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL cholesterol).
Ezetimibe, the active ingredient of ezetimibe works by reducing the cholesterol absorbed in your digestive tract.
Ezetimibe adds to the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins, a group of medicines that reduce the cholesterol your body makes by itself.
Cholesterol is one of several fatty substances found in the bloodstream. Your total cholesterol is made up mainly of LDL and HDL cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is often called “bad” cholesterol because it can build up in the walls of your arteries forming plaque. Eventually this plaque build-up can lead to a narrowing of the arteries. This narrowing can slow or block blood flow to vital organs such as the heart and brain. This blocking of blood flow can result in a heart attack or stroke.
HDL cholesterol is often called “good” cholesterol because it helps keep the bad cholesterol from building up in the arteries and protects against heart disease.
Triglycerides are another form of fat in your blood that may increase your risk for heart disease.
It is used for patients who cannot control their cholesterol levels by cholesterol lowering diet alone. You should stay on your cholesterol lowering diet while taking this medicine.
Ezetimibe is used in addition to your cholesterol lowering diet if you have:
- a raised cholesterol level in your blood (primary hypercholesterolaemia [heterozygous familial and non-familial])
- together with a statin, when your cholesterol level is not well controlled with a statin alone
- alone, when statin treatment is inappropriate or is not tolerated
- a hereditary illness (homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia) that increases the cholesterol level in your blood. You will also be prescribed a statin and may also receive other treatments
If you have heart disease, ezetimibe combined with cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, surgery to increase heart blood flow, or hospitalisation for chest pain.
Ezetimibe does not help you lose weight.
If you use ezetimibe together with a statin, please read the package leaflet of that particular medicine.
- if you are allergic to ezetimibe or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
- currently have liver problems
- are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking ezetimibe.
- Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including allergies.
- Your doctor should do a blood test before you start taking ezetimibe with a statin. This is to check how well your liver is working.
- Your doctor may also want you to have blood tests to check how well your liver is working after you start taking ezetimibe with a statin.
If you have moderate or severe liver problems, ezetimibe is not recommended.
The safety and efficacy of the combined use of ezetimibe and certain cholesterol lowering medicines, the fibrates have not been established.
Children and adolescents
Do not give this medicine to children and adolescents (6 to 17 years of age) unless prescribed by a specialist because there are limited data on safety and efficacy. Do not give this medicine to children less than 6 years old because there is no information in this age group.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. in particular, tell your doctor if you are taking medicine(s) with any of the following active ingredients:
- ciclosporin (often used in organ transplant patients)
- medicines with an active ingredient to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin, phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol or fluindione (anticoagulants)
- colestyramine (also used to lower cholesterol), because it affects the way ezetimibe works
- fibrates (also used to lower cholesterol)
Do not take ezetimibe with a statin if you are pregnant, are trying to get pregnant or think you may be pregnant. If you get pregnant while taking ezetimibe with a statin, stop taking both medicines immediately and tell your doctor.
There is no experience from the use of ezetimibe without a statin during pregnancy. Ask your doctor for advice before using ezetimibe if you are pregnant.
Do not take ezetimibe with a statin if you are breast-feeding, because it is not known if the medicines are passed into breast milk.
Ezetimibe without a statin should not be used if you are breast-feeding. Ask your doctor for advice.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Ezetimibe is not expected to interfere with your ability to drive or to use machinery. However, it should be taken into account that some people may get dizzy after taking ezetimibe.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Continue taking your other cholesterol-lowering medicines unless your doctor tells you to stop. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- Before starting ezetimibe, you should be on a diet to lower your cholesterol.
- You should keep on this cholesterol lowering diet whilst taking ezetimibe.
The recommended dose is 1 ezetimibe 10 mg tablet by mouth once a day.
Take ezetimibe at any time of the day. You can take it with or without food.
If your doctor has prescribed ezetimibe along with a statin, both medicines can be taken at the same time. In this case, please read the dosage instructions in the package leaflet of that particular medicine.
If your doctor has prescribed ezetimibe along with another medicine for lowering cholesterol containing the active ingredient colestyramine or any other medicine containing bile acid sequestrant, you should take ezetimibe at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid sequestrant.
Please contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet, just take your normal amount of ezetimibe at the usual time the next day.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist because your cholesterol may rise again.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This is because on rare occasions, muscle problems, including muscle breakdown resulting in kidney damage, can be serious and may become a potentially life-threatening condition.
Allergic reactions, including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing (which requires treatment right away) have been reported in general use.
When used alone, or when used with a statin, the following side effects were reported:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
- Abdominal pain, diarrhoea, flatulence
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Elevations in some laboratory blood tests of liver function (transaminases)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
- Elevations in some laboratory blood tests for muscle (CK) function
- Cough
- Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, dry mouth, inflammation of the stomach
- Joint pain, muscle spasms, neck pain, back pain, pain in arms and legs
- Decreased appetite
- Pain, chest pain, unusual tiredness or weakness, swelling, especially in the hands and feet.
- hot flushes, high blood pressure
- Itching, rash, hives
- Tingling sensation
Additionally, the following side effects have been reported with the frequency not known (cannot be estimated from available data):
- Dizziness
- Raised red rash, sometimes with target-shaped lesions (erythema multiforme)
- Inflammation of the liver, gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder (which may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting)
- Inflammation of the pancreas often with severe abdominal pain, constipation
- Reduction in blood cell counts, which may cause bruising/bleeding (thrombocytopaenia)
- Depression
- Shortness of breath
When used with fenofibrate, the following common side effect was reported:
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the outer packaging and blister after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store below 30 °C. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
Do not use this medicine if you notice visible signs of deterioration.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
- The active substance is ezetimibe. Each tablet contains 10 mg ezetimibe.
- The other ingredients are: Lactose monohydrate, Sodium lauryl sulfate, Povidone K-30 (E1201), Croscarmellose sodium(E468), Magnesium stearate.
Ezetimibe 10 mg are white, oblong tablets with length approx. 8 mm and width approx. 4 mm, plain on both sides.
PVC/Aclar/PVC – Al foil blisters or PVC/PVDC – Al foil blisters or PVC/PE/PVDC – Al foil blisters.
Pack sizes: 14, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 90, 98, 100 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Zentiva Pharma UK Limited
12 New Fetter Lane
London
EC4A 1JP
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
Zentiva k.s.
U kabelovny 130
Dolní Měcholupy
102 37 Prague 10
Czech Republic
This leaflet was last revised in December 2021
ZV/671 80