Brand name: Zetia Generic name: Ezetimibe There is currently no generic version of Zetia available on the market. However, once the patent for Zetia expires, several companies may begin manufacturing a generic version. While there is not a generic version at this time, there are a number of other cholesterol medications that are also effective at lowering cholesterol. Zetia (ezetimibe) is a prescription medication used for treating high cholesterol. It is part of a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Zetia is manufactured by both Merck and Schering-Plough. Zetia is part of a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. It works in the digestive tract by blocking the absorption of cholesterol from things that you eat. It is unique in that it works just at the "brush border" of the small intestine. Because less cholesterol is delivered from the digestive tract to the liver (which depletes the liver's stores of cholesterol), the liver reacts by taking cholesterol out from the blood, helping to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Because of the drug's effects, the following forms of cholesterol and fats are decreased: Total cholesterol LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) Triglycerides. The medication has little effect on HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) by itself. The active ingredient of Zetia is ezetimibe which is a white, crystalline powder that is freely to very soluble in ethanol, methanol, and acetone and practically insoluble in water. Ezetimibe has a melting point of about 163°C and is stable at ambient temperature. Zetia is available as a tablet for oral administration containing 10 mg of ezetimibe and the following inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium NF, lactose monohydrate NF, magnesium stearate NF, microcrystalline cellulose NF, povidone USP, and sodium lauryl sulfate NF.

Ezetimibe (IPA: ) is an anti-hyperlipidemic medication which is used to lower cholesterol levels. It acts by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the intestine. It may be used alone when other cholesterol-lowering medications are not tolerated, or together with statins (e.g. ezetimibe/simvastatin) when cholesterol levels are unable to be controlled on statins alone. It is marketed by Schering-Plough and Merck under the trade names Ezetrol, Zetia and Ezemibe. Ezetimibe was originally discovered by a team of four Schering-Plough research chemists; Drs. Stuart B. Rosenblum, Duane A. Burnett, John W. Clader and Brian A. McKittrick.