Ezetimibe
Ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor for high LDL cholesterol; PockDose lists Ezetimibe 10mg tablets and Roszet, a 10/10mg tablet that combines ezetimibe with rosuvastatin.
Ezetimibe: cholesterol blocked at the gut
Most cholesterol medicines work on the liver. Ezetimibe works earlier, in the small intestine, where it blocks a protein that carries cholesterol from food and bile across the intestinal wall into the blood. Less gets in, and the liver compensates by drawing more LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream. That gives ezetimibe a use in three situations: on its own for high cholesterol, added to a statin when the statin has not brought LDL down far enough, and for inherited conditions such as familial hypercholesterolaemia and sitosterolaemia, in which the body cannot clear plant fats.
The two listings
Ezetimibe is the plain 10mg tablet, a single-ingredient medicine you can take alone or alongside whichever statin you already use. Roszet is a different shape of product: one tablet holding 10mg of rosuvastatin and 10mg of ezetimibe, so that both mechanisms arrive in a single daily tablet. If you already take rosuvastatin and ezetimibe separately, that is the listing that merges them. The rosuvastatin ingredient page explains the statin half.
How ezetimibe is taken
One tablet daily, with or without food, at a consistent time. Because cholesterol returns to its former level after treatment stops, ezetimibe is taken for the long term.
Side effects and interactions
Ezetimibe is generally mild on the body. Common reports are diarrhoea, a sore throat, a blocked or runny nose, and aching joints, back or limbs. A few effects are rare but serious: an allergic reaction with hives or a swollen face or throat, unexplained muscle pain or weakness, and liver trouble, which shows as yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pain under the right ribs. These need urgent treatment. Roszet adds the statin's own effects to this list.
Bile-acid binders such as cholestyramine interfere with absorption. Take ezetimibe at least 2 hours before one, or 4 hours after. Ciclosporin pushes ezetimibe levels up, and of the fibrates only fenofibrate is normally paired with it. Both listings are tablets, kept at room temperature away from moisture and heat, and Roszet is not for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sources
- Ezetimibe: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- EZETIMIBE tablet label — DailyMed
Where can I buy Ezetimibe in Hong Kong?
Ezetimibe can be ordered online for delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists Ezetimibe tablets at 10mg and Roszet tablets at 10/10mg, a named version that pairs ezetimibe with rosuvastatin. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much do Ezetimibe products cost in Hong Kong?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. Each of the two ezetimibe products listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Ezetimibe?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order ezetimibe. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for ezetimibe?
Zetia is a brand name of ezetimibe, which is also sold as Ezedoc and Ezetrol. Here, ezetimibe can be bought online as ezetimibe tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can I take ezetimibe with a statin?
Yes, that is one of its main uses. The statin cuts how much cholesterol the liver makes and ezetimibe cuts how much is absorbed, so together they lower LDL further than either does alone. Roszet puts rosuvastatin and ezetimibe in one tablet.
What is the difference between ezetimibe and Roszet?
Ezetimibe is the single ingredient in a 10mg tablet. Roszet is a combination of 10mg rosuvastatin with 10mg ezetimibe, so it brings a statin and an absorption blocker in one pill. Ezetimibe alone leaves the statin choice open.
Does ezetimibe have to be taken with food?
No. It can be taken with or without a meal, at any time of day, as long as the time stays consistent from one day to the next.
Is ezetimibe also sold as Zetia?
Zetia and Ezetrol are brand names for ezetimibe in some countries. The ingredient and the 10mg tablet strength are the same; PockDose lists it under the ingredient's name, plus the rosuvastatin combination as Roszet.