| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| Ezetimibe | Hypolipidemic agent |
| Atorvastatin | Statin |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Liptruzet, Atozet |
| Routes of administration | By mouth |
| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status | |
| Identifiers | |
| PubChem CID | |
| KEGG | |
Ezetimibe/atorvastatin (trade names Liptruzet, Atozet) is a cholesterol lowering combination drug. [1] In the United States, it was approved in May 2013, by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients with primary or mixed hyperlipidemia as adjunctive therapy to diet. [2] It has also been approved to reduce elevated total cholesterol and elevated LDL in patients diagnosed with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia as an adjunctive treatment to other hyperlipidemia treatments. [3]
Some cardiologists opposed the approval, because the combination reduced LDL cholesterol in a clinical trial, but it did not reduce heart disease. A clinical trial studying the endpoints of heart attacks, strokes and heart-related deaths is scheduled to conclude in 2014. [4]
Liptruzet was withdrawn from sale by its manufacturer in June 2015, but not for reasons of safety or effectiveness. [5]
This combination drug works to reduce cholesterol levels through two different pathways. The ezetimibe component of the medication works by inhibiting cholesterol absorption from food while the atorvastatin component inhibits intrinsic cholesterol production in the liver. [6]
Commonly reported adverse effects include: [7]