Cardiovascular Medication Management

Introduction to Ezetimibe and Tadalafil

The American College of Cardiology states that ezetimibe can be safely used with tadalafil as there are no significant drug interactions documented between these medications 1
Ezetimibe works by inhibiting the NPC1L1 protein in the small intestine, reducing cholesterol absorption, which differs significantly from tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor used for erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension 1

The recommended starting dose of ezetimibe is 10 mg orally once daily, with no timing restrictions between ezetimibe and tadalafil administration 1

No dosage adjustment is needed for ezetimibe in patients with mild hepatic impairment or renal insufficiency, but it's not recommended in moderate to severe hepatic impairment, and liver function tests should be monitored before and during treatment with ezetimibe, particularly when used with statins 1
No specific dosage adjustments are needed based on age 1
Ezetimibe is generally well tolerated with a favorable side effect profile, with common adverse effects including upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, arthralgia, sinusitis, and pain in extremities when used as monotherapy, and additional side effects such as nasopharyngitis and myalgia when used in combination with statins 1
Hepatic transaminase elevations and myopathy/rhabdomyolysis may occur, particularly with concomitant statin therapy, with risk factors including concomitant use with statins, advanced age, and pre-existing muscle conditions 1
Cyclosporine, fibrates, and bile acid sequestrants may interact with ezetimibe, requiring caution and monitoring, with specific administration recommendations for bile acid sequestrants 1
No safety data in humans is available for pregnancy and lactation; avoid use 1