The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 279 No 7480 p614
1 December 2007

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News summary

NICE recommends ezetimibe with or without statin therapy for hypercholesterolaemia

Ezetimibe (Ezetrol) is recommended for the treatment of people with high cholesterol who cannot take statins in the latest round of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Ezetimibe can also be used in conjunction with statin therapy for people whose cholesterol is not adequately controlled after appropriate dose increases of statin.

NICE says that people with primary hypercholesterolaemia can be prescribed the drug as monotherapy if they are intolerant or have contraindications to statin therapy.

The advice should be used in conjuction with previous NICE guidance on initiation of statin therapy; management of blood pressure and lipids in type 2 diabetes; and secondary prevention following myocardial infarction.