Let's take a minute to talk about your medication.

This is ezetimibe. It lowers levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. You have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke if your bad cholesterol levels are high.   

This medicine is often taken once daily at the same time each day. You should take it exactly as your doctor tells you to. You can take it with or without food. 

Most people tolerate ezetimibe well. Common side effects include mild joint pain, diarrhea and feeling tired. These effects are normal if they are mild and should go away. If these or other side effects become reasons you want to stop taking this medicine, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

As with any medicine, rare but more serious side effects can occur. With ezetimibe, this includes muscle problems. Muscle problems usually happen when this medicine is taken with a statin drug. You should call your doctor immediately if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. On rare occasions, muscle problems can be serious. You should read the patient information sheet for more information about this and other side effects. To help keep this medicine safe for you, your doctor may order blood tests.

Some drug interactions can occur. You should tell your doctor or pharmacist before you take any new medicines.

Women should talk to their doctors before becoming pregnant or before breastfeeding.

For best results with ezetimibe, continue to take it to lower your levels of bad cholesterol. Also, be sure to follow you doctor's advice for diet and exercise.