Ezentia 10mg (Ezetimibe)

Ezentia general information

What is Ezentia used for?

Ezentia tablets 10mg are used to lower high levels of cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood, to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol. Ezentia tablets 10mg are used to treat people with high cholesterol when diet alone can not lower these levels adequately. Ezentia tablets 10mg can be used alone as monotherapy or in conjunction with other lipid lowering medications known as statins, in addition to a low-fat diet. There are usually no symptoms when you have high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited and Ezentia tablets 10mg are used to treat all forms of the condition including primary and familial hypercholesterolaemia, also a condition called sitosterolaemia, which is a rare form of inherited hypercholesterolaemia, caused by high levels of plant sterols in the blood.

How does Ezentia work?

Ezentia tablets 10mg contain ezetimibe that acts directly on the small intestine to inhibit the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and related plant sterols. Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, however, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease. Ezetimibe in Ezentia tablets 10mg acts directly on the sterol transporter in the intestine wall that controls the uptake of cholesterol and phytosterols from the diet which inhibits the absorption of cholesterol. Decreased dietary cholesterol leads to a reduction of cholesterol stores in the liver and this helps lower blood cholesterol levels.

What does Ezentia contain?

Ezentia tablets 10mg contain the active ingredient ezetimibe, cholesterol absorption inhibitor that is used to help lower blood cholesterol.

Treating high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) with Ezentia

Ezentia tablets 10mg are used to treat high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol. Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, however, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease. Ezentia tablets 10mg contain ezetimibe that acts directly on the small intestine to inhibit the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and related plant sterols from the diet. Decreased dietary cholesterol leads to a reduction of cholesterol stores in the liver and this helps lower blood cholesterol levels.

What are the side effects of Ezentia?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Ezentia include: headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea.. More serious side effects are less common and may include: muscle ache, tenderness or weakness, not caused by exercise, tingling in the hands or feet (paresthesia), dizziness, swelling under the skin (angioedema).

When should Ezentia not be used?

You should not use Ezentia tablets 10mg if you:

• are allergic to ezetimibe or any ingredients in Ezentia
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have liver disease
• are taking medicines that interact with Ezentia, including: other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as bile acid sequestrants like cholestyramine and fibrates like clofibrate, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, the anticoagulant warfarin.

How should Ezentia be taken?

You should take your Ezentia tablets 10mg with a glass of water, once daily, with or without food. If you are also taking a statin drug, you should take both medications at the same time. If you are also taking a bile acid sequestrant drug, you should take your Ezentia tablets 10mg at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after. It may take up to 2 weeks before your cholesterol levels begin to fall and you should continue to take your Ezentia tablets 10mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you take Ezentia?

It may take up to 2 weeks before your cholesterol levels begin to fall and you should continue to take your Ezentia tablets 10mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Ezentia

If you miss a dose of Ezentia tablets 10mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Ezentia be stored?

You should store your Ezentia tablets 10mg below 30°C in a cool dry place.