Ezetimibe for the treatment of primary (heterozygous-familial and non-familial) hypercholesterolaemia

Ezetimibe is recommended as a possible treatment for adults with primary (heterozygous-familial and non-familial) hypercholesterolaemia in the following circumstances.

• Ezetimibe can be taken on its own by a person who would normally be given a statin to treat their condition but can't because the person has a condition or takes another medicine that interferes with how the statin works, or because the statin is likely to cause side effects.
• Ezetimibe can be taken at the same time as a person's usual statin rather than changing to a new statin when cholesterol levels are not low enough despite increasing the dose of the statin, or if a person is unable to try higher doses of the statin because it is likely to cause side effects.

When a person has side effects from using a statin, this is described as 'intolerance'. Side effects include muscle pain, severe stomach problems or when tests indicate that the liver is not functioning normally.

A decision on whether a person's cholesterol level is low enough should be based on an individual risk assessment.

If it is decided that a person should take their usual statin and ezetimibe together, then the least expensive form of ezetimibe should be prescribed.

• Other information

  • TA132 Hypercholesterolaemia - ezetimibe: guidance (web format)

  How this guidance was produced

  Background information

  • TA132 Hypercholesterolaemia - ezetimibe: review update - August 2011
  • NICE issues guidance on ezetimibe for primary hypercholesterolaemia
  • Hypercholesterolaemia - ezetimibe: review decision - November 2010

Guidance formats

• Web format
• Quick reference guide (PDF)
• Full Guidance (PDF)
• Patient version (MS Word)

Hypercholesterolaemia - ezetimibe

Guideline for patients and carers (PDF)