Ezetimine (Ezetrol) is a cholesterol-lowering drug, which acts by decreasing the absorption of cholesterol from the gut. It is used alone or in combination with other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as simvastatin (Zocor) when statins alone are ineffective.

A small study in HIV-positive patients has found that ezetimibe can reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, with similar efficacy to fluvastatin (Lescol / Lescol XL)^[1]. Adding ezetimibe to pravastatin (Lipostat) in patients with HIV is also effective in reducing LDL cholesterol levels^[2].

Ezetimibe is available in 10mg tablets, as well as in a combination tablet with simvastatin.

Side-effects include headache and diarrhoea, with rare cases of muscle pain, liver toxicity and hypersensitivity.