Ezetrol Special Precautions

When EZETROL is to be administered with a statin or with fenofibrate, refer to the Package Insert for that particular medication.
Liver Enzymes: In controlled co-administration trials in patients receiving EZETROL with a statin, consecutive transaminase elevations (≥3 X the upper limit of normal [ULN]) have been observed. When EZETROL is co-administered with a statin, liver function tests should be performed at initiation of therapy and according to the recommendations of the statin (see SIDE EFFECTS).
In the Improved Reduction of Outcomes: Vytorin Efficacy International Trial (IMPROVE-IT), 18,144 patients with CHD were randomized to receive ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/40 mg daily (n=9067) or simvastatin 40 mg daily (n=9077). During a median follow-up of 6.0 years, the incidence of consecutive elevations of transaminases (≥3 X ULN) was 2.5% for ezetimibe/simvastatin and 2.3% for simvastatin. (See SIDE EFFECTS.)
Skeletal Muscle: In clinical trials, there was no excess of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis associated with EZETROL compared with the relevant control arm (placebo or statin alone). However, myopathy and rhabdomyolysis are known adverse reactions to statins and other lipid-lowering drugs. In clinical trials, the incidence of CPK >10 X ULN was 0.2% for EZETROL vs 0.1% for placebo, and 0.1% for EZETROL co-administered with a statin vs 0.4% for statins alone.
In post-marketing experience with EZETROL, cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported regardless of causality. Most patients who developed rhabdomyolysis were taking a statin prior to initiating EZETROL. However, rhabdomyolysis has been reported very rarely with EZETROL monotherapy and very rarely with the addition of EZETROL to agents known to be associated with increased risk of rhabdomyolysis. All patients starting therapy with EZETROL should be advised of the risk of myopathy and told to report promptly any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. EZETROL and any statin that the patient is taking concomitantly should be immediately discontinued if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected. The presence of these symptoms and a creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level >10 times the ULN indicates myopathy.
In IMPROVE-IT, 18,144 patients with CHD were randomized to receive ezetimibe/simvastatin 10/40 mg daily (n=9067) or simvastatin 40 mg daily (n=9077). During a median follow-up of 6.0 years, the incidence of myopathy was 0.2% for ezetimibe/simvastatin and 0.1% for simvastatin, where myopathy was defined as unexplained muscle weakness or pain with a serum CK ≥10 times ULN or two consecutive observations of CK ≥5 and <10 times ULN. The incidence of rhabdomyolysis was 0.1% for ezetimibe/simvastatin and 0.2% for simvastatin, where rhabdomyolysis was defined as unexplained muscle weakness or pain with a serum CK ≥10 times ULN with evidence of renal injury, ≥5 X ULN and <10 X ULN on two consecutive occasions with evidence of renal injury or CK ≥10,000 IU/L without evidence of renal injury. (See SIDE EFFECTS.)
Hepatic Insufficiency: Due to the unknown effects of the increased exposure to ezetimibe in patients with moderate or severe hepatic insufficiency, EZETROL is not recommended in these patients (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics: Characteristics in Patients [Special Populations] under Actions).
Fibrates: The co-administration of ezetimibe with fibrates other than fenofibrate has not been studied. Therefore, co-administration of EZETROL and fibrates (other than fenofibrate) is not recommended (see INTERACTIONS).
Fenofibrate: If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving EZETROL and fenofibrate, gallbladder studies are indicated and alternative lipid-lowering therapy should be considered (see SIDE EFFECTS and the Package Insert for fenofibrate).
Cyclosporine: Caution should be exercised when initiating EZETROL in the setting of cyclosporine. Cyclosporine concentrations should be monitored in patients receiving EZETROL and cyclosporine (see INTERACTIONS).
Anticoagulants: If EZETROL is added to warfarin, another coumarin anticoagulant, or fluindione, the International Normalized Ratio (INR) should be appropriately monitored (see INTERACTIONS).