Zetia® (ezetimibe) 10 mg Tablets for LDL Cholesterol Management

What Ezetimibe Is and How It Works

Ezetimibe is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks intestinal absorption of cholesterol. To define ezetimibe briefly, it selectively inhibits the NPC1L1 transporter on the small intestine’s brush border. The usual strength is ezetimibe 10 mg, taken once daily. Ezetimibe 10 mg is used for primary hypercholesterolemia, familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia, and homozygous sitosterolemia. Many shoppers compare ezetimibe price without insurance to Canadian pricing when planning long-term therapy.

YouDrugstore is a licensed Canadian pharmacy in Manitoba; pharmacists review prescriptions before dispensing, and you can order brand or generics online at Canadian prices.

By reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed from your diet and bile, ezetimibe lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol. It can be used alone or alongside a statin when more LDL reduction is needed. In high-risk patients after acute coronary syndrome, adding ezetimibe to a statin lowered cardiovascular events in clinical trials.

People with High Cholesterol or Familial Homozygous Hypercholesterolemia often need combination therapy to reach targets. Most ezetimibe 10 mg tablets USP can be taken with or without food, which supports consistent daily use. Our licensed and vetted partner pharmacies supply authentic brands and generics, offering a broad selection at affordable pricing for long-term care.

Dosage and Usage

• Standard dose: 10 mg by mouth once daily. You may take it with or without food.
• When used with a statin, follow the statin dosing and safety instructions as well.
• Missed dose: take as soon as you remember the same day. Skip if it is close to the next dose. Do not double doses.
• Bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol) reduce absorption of ezetimibe. Take ezetimibe at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after these agents.
• Cyclosporine can increase ezetimibe levels. Your clinician may monitor levels or adjust therapy.
• Report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if used with a statin or fibrate.

• Store tablets at 20–25°C (68–77°F); short excursions 15–30°C (59–86°F) are acceptable.
• Keep in the original container, away from moisture and excessive heat.
• For travel, carry doses in your hand luggage with a copy of your prescription.
• Do not leave medicine in a hot car or freezing conditions.
• If a tablet is damaged or discolored, do not use it; arrange a replacement.

Benefits and Savings

Ezetimibe lowers LDL by about 15–20% as monotherapy and by an additional 15–25% when added to a statin. It is well tolerated, once-daily, and food does not affect its effectiveness. These features support adherence and help you maintain long-term LDL reduction goals.

Patients often ask about ezetimibe cost and ezetimibe 10 mg price compared with US pharmacies. Buying through a licensed Canadian pharmacy can offer 60–80% savings versus typical US prices. This can be helpful if you compare ezetimibe price CVS or need options without insurance. Multi-month supplies and occasional bulk promotions can lower per-month costs.

Some shoppers explore GoodRx comparisons or the cost of ezetimibe at Walgreens. You can review our pricing for the ezetimibe 10 mg tablet and see how it fits your budget. If you prefer the brand, we also carry options where available.

For current offers, see our ezetimibe discount page.

Side Effects and Safety

• Common: headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue.
• Upper respiratory tract symptoms: sore throat, sinus discomfort.
• Joint or back pain, mild muscle aches.
• Elevated liver enzymes (more likely when combined with a statin).
• Indigestion, flatulence.
• Dizziness.

Serious but uncommon effects include myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (especially with statins or fibrates), liver injury, hypersensitivity reactions (rash, angioedema), gallbladder issues when combined with certain fibrates, and pancreatitis. Avoid ezetimibe with moderate-to-severe hepatic impairment. Discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding plans with your prescriber; combination with statins is generally avoided in pregnancy. Ezetimibe does not cause low blood sugar; if you also use insulin or sulfonylureas for diabetes, any hypoglycemia risk comes from those medicines and may need monitoring.

Onset Time

LDL reduction begins within 1–2 weeks of starting ezetimibe 10 mg and typically reaches near-maximal effect by 2–4 weeks. When added to an ongoing statin, the incremental LDL drop is often seen at the next lab check, usually within a month. Cardiovascular risk reduction requires sustained control over months to years, guided by periodic lipid panels.

Compare With Alternatives

Statins remain first-line for most patients. If you need high-intensity therapy, Rosuvastatin is a potent choice that can reduce LDL 45–63% depending on the dose. Ezetimibe is frequently added when targets are not met or when statin dose increases are limited by side effects.

Some patients use brand statins such as Crestor® when they prefer a specific product or dosing schedule. Adding ezetimibe to any statin class can provide an extra 15–25% LDL reduction, allowing many to reach guideline goals without switching therapies.

Other options include PCSK9 inhibitors for very high-risk patients who remain above target despite maximally tolerated statins and ezetimibe, and bempedoic acid for those needing further LDL lowering or who cannot tolerate higher statin doses. Bile acid sequestrants lower LDL but may cause gastrointestinal side effects and require dosing separation from ezetimibe.

Combination Therapy

• Ezetimibe + statin: standard combination when more LDL reduction is needed; monitor for muscle symptoms, especially at higher statin doses.
• Ezetimibe + PCSK9 inhibitor: used in very high-risk patients to intensify LDL lowering.
• Ezetimibe + bile acid sequestrant: effective; take ezetimibe 2 hours before or 4 hours after the sequestrant to maintain absorption.
• Ezetimibe + fibrate: consider only when benefits outweigh risks; monitor for gallbladder symptoms and myopathy, particularly with gemfibrozil.
• Diabetes medicines: ezetimibe does not affect blood sugar. If you use insulin or a sulfonylurea, your provider may adjust doses of those agents to prevent hypoglycemia as your overall regimen changes.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Good candidates include adults with primary hypercholesterolemia who need additional LDL lowering, those with Hyperlipidemia who cannot tolerate higher statin doses, and patients with familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia receiving multi-drug therapy. It is also used in homozygous sitosterolemia.

Use caution or avoid ezetimibe with moderate-to-severe hepatic impairment. Review all medicines with your prescriber if you take cyclosporine, warfarin, or fibrates. Do not use it if you have had a serious allergic reaction to ezetimibe or any component.

To manage ezetimibe price and ongoing costs, consider a multi-month supply to reduce per-month pricing and shipping charges. Set simple reorder reminders so you do not run out between lipid checks. Many patients choose the ezetimibe 10 mg generic, the approved generic for ezetimibe, when they want dependable efficacy at a lower cost. These approaches help when planning expenses without insurance.

If you want to learn more about heart and cholesterol health, see our articles The Skinny On High Cholesterol and 10 Interesting Facts About Your Heart for helpful background.

Authoritative Sources

Zetia (ezetimibe) US Prescribing Information

Health Canada Product Monograph: Ezetimibe

FDA Label: Ezetimibe Tablets

Order Ezetimibe from YouDrugstore: add to cart, upload your prescription, and we ship with prompt, express, cold-chain handling.

This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional. Always follow your prescriber’s instructions and the patient information that comes with your medication.