Zetia

Zetia reduces the amount of cholesterol or other sterols that your body absorbs from your diet.
Zetia is used to treat high cholesterol, along with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. It is sometimes given with other cholesterol-lowering medications. It is also used to treat high blood sitosterol and campesterol along with diet therapy.
Zetia is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

How to use:
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Zetia is usually taken once a day, with or without food. Try to take Zetia at the same time each day.
Some cholesterol medications should not be taken at the same time. Do not take Zetia with cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam (Welchol). Wait at least 4 hours after taking any of these medicines before you take Zetia. You may also take Zetia 2 hours before taking any of these other medicines.
Zetia may be taken at the same time with fenofibrate (Antara, Lipofen, Lofibra, TriCor, Triglide), or with any of the "statin" drugs such as lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), or atorvastatin (Lipitor).
It may take up to 2 weeks of using this medicine before your cholesterol levels improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Your cholesterol will need to be measured using blood tests at regular intervals. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Zetia is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control.

Side effects:

• unusual muscle weakness, tenderness, or pain;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• chest pain;
• pancreatitis (severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate); or
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash.

Less serious Zetia side effects may include:

• numbness or tingly feeling;
• mild stomach pain, diarrhea;
• tired feeling;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• depressed mood;
• runny or stuffy nose, cold symptoms;
• joint pain, back pain; or
• cough.