How Does Ezetimibe Work in the Body

Ezetimibe works by reducing the amount of cholesterol your body takes in from your food. It is usually prescribed alongside a cholesterol-lowering diet. Ezetimibe can often be prescribed together with a statin to further lower your cholesterol levels.

How is ezetimibe different from a statin?

Ezetimibe has its effect in the small intestine where it blocks cholesterol from being absorbed, so there is less cholesterol being delivered to the liver. Statins lower the amount of cholesterol and lipoproteins that the body produces, by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase.

What is the mode of action of ezetimibe?

What Is the Mechanism of Action of Ezetimibe? Ezetimibe is a potent and selective inhibitor of cholesterol absorption that has been shown to reduce the overall delivery of cholesterol to the liver, thereby promoting the synthesis of LDL receptors, with a subsequent reduction of serum LDL-C.