Ezetimibe is a once-daily oral prescription medication that blocks gut cholesterol uptake, used to lower "bad" cholesterol alone or with common cholesterol drugs. It lowers cholesterol by a modest, dependable amount; with standard treatment in heart disease, it modestly reduces nonfatal heart attacks and strokes, without measurable survival effect. Evidence in healthy middle-aged people is thin. Harms appear uncommon; value grows with heart risk and how far cholesterol must fall. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| LDL cholesterol | <55 mg/dL very-high-risk disease; <70 mg/dL high-risk primary prevention | Main efficacy marker |
| ApoB | Below 5th percentile, about 62 mg/dL; <65 mg/dL very high risk | Best count of artery-clogging particles |
| Non-HDL cholesterol | <85 mg/dL very-high-risk disease | All cholesterol in artery-clogging particles |
| Triglycerides, HDL | Part of the lipid panel | Complete lipid profile |
| Plant sterols (sitosterol, campesterol) | No established target; change from own baseline | Absorption status; high baseline suggests stronger responder |
| ALT (paired with AST) | About 7–56 U/L | Safety check with a statin or fibrate; persistent ≥3× upper limit prompts considering withdrawal |
| CK | About 30–200 U/L | Tests suspected myopathy; only for muscle symptoms |
| Cyclosporine level | Checked after any change | Cyclosporine users only; raised exposure |
Cadence: Baseline; lipids 4–12 weeks after starting or changing therapy, then every 3–12 months; ALT when clinically indicated; CK only for unexplained muscle symptoms; cyclosporine after any change