Ezetimibe, a medication used to treat high cholesterol, can interact with other medications, as reported by the National Health Service (NHS) and Drugs.com. These interactions can be categorized into three types: major, moderate, and minor, based on the severity of the interaction's potential impact.
Major interactions can occur when Ezetimibe is taken with certain lipid-lowering drugs like gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, and fenofibric acid. These interactions can increase the risk of muscle damage, a rare but serious side effect (Drugs.com).
Moderate interactions can occur when Ezetimibe is taken with other medications such as cyclosporine, colestipol, cholestyramine, and colesevelam. These interactions can decrease the absorption and effectiveness of Ezetimibe (Drugs.com).
Minor interactions can occur when Ezetimibe is taken with other medications such as atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin. These interactions may increase the risk of muscle damage when taken in high doses or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering drugs (NHS).
It is important to note that this information is not exhaustive, and other medications not listed here may also interact with Ezetimibe. Therefore, it is always best to consult with a healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any new medication while taking Ezetimibe (NHS).
Sources:
1. <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/EZETIMIBE>
2. <https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/ezetimibe/taking-ezetimibe-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/>
3. <https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/ezetimibe.html>