Comprehensive medication guide to Ezetimibe including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$15 copay per month for generic ezetimibe on most commercial and Medicare Part D plans; typically Tier 1–2 preferred generic with no prior authorization required.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$15–$50 retail for generic ezetimibe at most pharmacies; as low as $10.01 for a 30-day supply with GoodRx or $13.89 for a 90-day supply with SingleCare at participating pharmacies.
Medfinder Findability Score
90/100
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Ezetimibe is a prescription cholesterol-lowering medication sold under the brand name Zetia. It belongs to a unique class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors — the only drug in its class on the market. FDA-approved in 2002 and launched in 2003, ezetimibe is one of the most commonly prescribed non-statin cholesterol drugs in the United States.
Ezetimibe works in the small intestine to block the absorption of cholesterol from food and bile, reducing the amount of cholesterol that enters the bloodstream. It lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol by 13–20% as monotherapy and provides an additional 21–27% reduction when combined with a statin.
Ezetimibe is available as a 10 mg tablet taken once daily, with or without food. Generic ezetimibe is manufactured by dozens of companies including Teva, Aurobindo, Mylan, and Apotex, making it widely available and affordable. It is also available in combination products: Vytorin (with simvastatin), Roszet (with rosuvastatin), and Nexlizet (with bempedoic acid, for statin-intolerant patients).
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Ezetimibe selectively binds to and blocks the NPC1L1 (Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1) transporter protein located on the brush border of intestinal cells. This transporter normally acts as a gatekeeper, pulling cholesterol molecules from the intestinal contents into intestinal cells, where they pass into the bloodstream and travel to the liver.
By blocking NPC1L1, ezetimibe reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption by approximately 54% compared to placebo, without affecting the absorption of triglycerides, fatty acids, bile acids, or fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and E). This is highly selective — a key advantage over older intestinal cholesterol agents.
When less cholesterol reaches the liver from the intestine, the liver responds by upregulating LDL receptors — increasing the number of receptors that grab LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream. This complementary mechanism is why ezetimibe works especially well when combined with statins, which reduce liver cholesterol production: together, they attack cholesterol from two independent pathways, achieving LDL reductions greater than either drug alone.
10 mg — tablet
Standard dose taken once daily, with or without food. The only available dose strength for standalone ezetimibe tablets.
Ezetimibe is generally widely available. It is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list, and multiple manufacturers produce generic ezetimibe 10 mg tablets. Unlike newer specialty drugs with limited manufacturing sources, ezetimibe has a robust supply chain that makes a national shortage unlikely.
However, patients may occasionally encounter local stock gaps at individual pharmacies, particularly at smaller independent pharmacies or during periods of higher-than-usual demand. Chain pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and Costco typically maintain more reliable inventory. Mail-order pharmacies are the most dependable source for long-term supply of 90-day fills.
If your pharmacy is out of ezetimibe, medfinder calls pharmacies near you to find which ones currently have it in stock, then texts you the results — saving you from an afternoon on hold.
Ezetimibe is not a controlled substance and requires no DEA registration beyond a standard prescribing license. Any licensed prescriber with authority to prescribe non-controlled medications can prescribe ezetimibe.
Primary care physicians (PCPs) and family medicine doctors
Cardiologists and preventive cardiologists
Internal medicine physicians
Endocrinologists
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)
Pediatricians (for children 10+ with HeFH, in combination with a statin)
Because ezetimibe is not a controlled substance, it can be prescribed via telehealth. Platforms including Teladoc, MDLive, and most insurance-based virtual care programs can prescribe ezetimibe after reviewing a patient's cholesterol history and recent lipid panel.
No. Ezetimibe is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. It does not have any abuse potential, dependence risk, or addiction liability. This means ezetimibe can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider — including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, cardiologists, endocrinologists, and internists — without any special DEA registration or prescribing privileges.
Because it is not a controlled substance, ezetimibe can also be prescribed via telehealth without the in-person requirements that apply to Schedule II-IV medications. Prescriptions can be sent electronically to any pharmacy, and refills can be authorized without an in-person visit in most circumstances.
When used as monotherapy, ezetimibe's side effect profile is very similar to placebo. Most patients tolerate it well. Common side effects include:
Nasopharyngitis (runny nose, sore throat)
Upper respiratory tract infection
Diarrhea
Arthralgia (joint pain)
Fatigue
Myalgia (muscle aching, more common with statin combination)
Back pain
Myopathy/rhabdomyolysis: Rare muscle breakdown, especially when combined with a statin. Call your doctor immediately if you have severe muscle pain, weakness, or dark urine.
Hepatotoxicity: Rare liver damage. Seek care immediately for yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or severe abdominal pain.
Severe allergic reactions: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, hives, or facial swelling. Seek emergency care immediately.
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Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
High-potency statin that lowers LDL by 45–63%. First-line therapy for most patients with high cholesterol. Available as a low-cost generic.
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Most commonly prescribed statin worldwide. Reduces LDL by 40–60%. Available as an inexpensive generic (atorvastatin).
Bempedoic acid (Nexletol)
Oral ATP citrate lyase inhibitor approved in 2020. Lowers LDL by 15–25% without causing muscle side effects. Often used in statin-intolerant patients. Combined with ezetimibe in Nexlizet.
Evolocumab (Repatha)
Injectable PCSK9 inhibitor that lowers LDL by 45–60%. Reserved for high-risk patients who haven't reached LDL goals on maximal statin plus ezetimibe. Requires prior authorization.
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Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
majorIncreases ezetimibe exposure 2.3–12 fold, significantly raising risk of adverse effects. Monitor closely; use with caution or avoid in severe renal impairment.
Bile acid sequestrants (cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam)
moderateReduces ezetimibe absorption by up to 55%. Separate doses by at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after the sequestrant.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
moderatePost-marketing reports of INR changes when ezetimibe is added or removed. Monitor INR closely when starting or stopping ezetimibe.
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
moderateSlightly increases ezetimibe exposure. Coadministration with fibrates other than fenofibrate not well-studied; may increase gallstone risk.
Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (Mavyret)
moderateOATP1B1/1B3 inhibitor that increases ezetimibe plasma concentrations. Use with caution and monitor for ezetimibe adverse effects.
Ezetimibe is a well-established, effective, and generally well-tolerated cholesterol-lowering medication with over two decades of clinical use. As the only cholesterol absorption inhibitor approved by the FDA, it occupies a unique and valuable place in cholesterol management — complementing statins through a different mechanism, serving as monotherapy for statin-intolerant patients, and helping high-risk patients reach LDL goals that statins alone cannot achieve.
Generic ezetimibe is one of the most cost-accessible cholesterol drugs available, with GoodRx prices as low as $10 for a 30-day supply and broad insurance coverage as a Tier 1–2 formulary drug. It has no controlled substance restrictions, no special prescribing requirements, and can be prescribed via telehealth.
If you're having trouble finding ezetimibe at a pharmacy near you, medfinder calls local pharmacies on your behalf to find which ones have it in stock, then texts you the results — so you can spend less time on hold and more time managing your health.
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