{"id":56539,"date":"2023-01-15T22:21:36","date_gmt":"2023-01-16T03:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=56539"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:55:59","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:55:59","slug":"ezetimibe-alternatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/ezetimibe-alternatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Ezetimibe alternatives: What can I take instead of ezetimibe?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ezetimibe<\/span><\/a> is a generic prescription medicine used to help lower cholesterol levels and is available under the brand name <\/span>Zetia<\/span><\/a>. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that the body needs for good health, but only in the right amounts, as unhealthy cholesterol levels can lead to a condition called high cholesterol. Ezetimibe can be used in various medical conditions, including hyperlipidemia (high level of lipids such as fats, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood), homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (a life-threatening genetic condition that increases bad cholesterol levels in the body), and homozygous sitosterolemia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ezetimibe can also be used off-label for preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, or blood clot, after acute coronary syndrome (sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart). As a unique, one-of-a-kind medication, ezetimibe is currently the only medication that belongs to a drug class called 2-Azetidinones. It works by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the small intestine, decreasing the delivery of cholesterol to the liver, and reducing the amount of stored cholesterol. Ezetimibe is an oral tablet typically taken once per day and is considered the most commonly used non-statin medication for lowering cholesterol.<\/span><\/p>\n

While an effective treatment for some people, ezetimibe may not be the best and safest cholesterol-lowering drug for everyone. The choice of therapy is usually guided by a patient’s low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Typically, treatment begins with statin therapy, which includes medications such as atorvastatin and simvastatin. Additional medications can be used if statin drugs are not well tolerated or effective enough in reducing LDL-C. Ezetimibe is one of the different medications that can be considered if other cholesterol-lowering medications cannot be used. It is typically considered an “add-on therapy” as it has a relatively small LDL-C-lowering effect of 17%.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Why you should monitor your cholesterol<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What can I take in place of ezetimibe?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are other options available to treat high cholesterol levels that do not improve with ezetimibe. These alternative medications include <\/span>statin<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>fibrates<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>bile acid sequestrants<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>vitamin B3<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>omega-3 acids<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>PCSK9 inhibitors<\/span><\/a>, and combination drugs. These options may be more suitable for certain individuals due to their different uses, side effect profiles, and dosages.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Compare ezetimibe alternatives<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Drug name<\/b><\/td>\nUses<\/b><\/td>\nDosage<\/b><\/td>\nSavings options<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ezetimibe<\/span><\/td>\n-Primary Hyperlipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Homozygous Sitosterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 10 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nEzetimibe coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crestor (rosuvastatin)<\/span><\/td>\n-Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Hypertriglyceridemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 5 to 40 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nCrestor coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fluvastatin<\/span><\/td>\n-Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Mixed Dyslipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 20 to 80 mg by mouth daily<\/span><\/td>\nFluvastatin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leqvio<\/span><\/p>\n

(inclisiran)<\/span><\/td>\n

-Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of cardiovascular events<\/span><\/td>\n

Inject 284 mg subcutaneously once, repeated in 3 months, and then every 6 months<\/span><\/td>\nLeqvio coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lipitor<\/span><\/p>\n

(atorvastatin)<\/span><\/td>\n

-Hyperlipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 10 to 80 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nLipitor coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Livalo (pitavastatin)<\/span><\/td>\n-Primary Hyperlipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 1 to 4 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nLivalo coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lopid<\/span><\/p>\n

(gemfibrozil)<\/span><\/td>\n

-Hypertriglyceridemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Mixed Dyslipidemia<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 600 mg by mouth twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nLopid coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lovastatin<\/span><\/td>\n-Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Heterozygous Familial Hyperlipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Dyslipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 10 to 80 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nLovastatin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Praluent (alirocumab)<\/span><\/td>\n-Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Primary Hyperlipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of cardiovascular events<\/span><\/td>\n

Inject 75 to 150 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks, or 300 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nPraluent<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pravastatin<\/span><\/td>\n-Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 10 to 80 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nPravastatin coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Questran (cholestyramine)<\/span><\/td>\n-Dyslipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Pruritus associated with cholestasis<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 4 to 8 mg by mouth twice daily<\/span><\/td>\nQuestran coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Repatha (evolocumab)<\/span><\/td>\n-Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Primary Hyperlipidemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with established cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Inject 140 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks, or 420 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks<\/span><\/td>\nRepatha coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tricor<\/span><\/p>\n

(fenofibrate)<\/span><\/td>\n

-Hypertriglyceridemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Mixed Dyslipidemia<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 48 to 145 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nTricor coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Welchol<\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/span>colesevelam<\/span>)<\/span><\/td>\n

-Type 2 Diabetes<\/span><\/p>\n

-Hyperlipidemia<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 3750 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nWelchol coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Zocor (simvastatin)<\/span><\/td>\n-Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia<\/span><\/p>\n

-Prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/span><\/td>\n

Take 20 to 40 mg by mouth once daily<\/span><\/td>\nZocor coupons<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Other alternatives to ezetimibe<\/span><\/h3>\n

For people seeking other alternatives to ezetimibe, there are a variety of prescription medications including combination drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n