inhibits the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. It is licensed as an adjunct to dietary manipulation in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia in combination with a statin or alone.

Indications: adjunct to dietary measures and statin treatment in primary hypercholesterolaemia and homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (ezetimibe alone in primary hypercholesterolaemia if statin inappropriate or not tolerated); adjunct to dietary measures in homozygous sitosterolaemia.

Hepatic impairment: avoid in moderate and severe impairment—may accumulate.

Pregnancy: manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk—no information available.

Breast feeding: manufacturer advises avoid—present in milk in animal studies.

Side Effects: gastro-intestinal disturbances; headache, fatigue; myalgia; rarely arthralgia, hypersensitivity reactions (including rash, angioedema, and anaphylaxis), hepatitis; very rarely pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, thrombocytopenia, raised creatine kinase, myopathy, and rhabdomyolysis.

Dose: ADULT and CHILD over 10 years, 10 mg once daily.