Ezetimibe (trade name Zetia) is a cholesterol-lowering medication that works differently from statins. Instead of blocking cholesterol production in the liver, it reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, lowering the amount that enters the bloodstream. This leads to decreased LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and total cholesterol, with minimal effect on HDL and triglycerides. Ezetimibe is often used in patients who cannot tolerate statins, or more commonly, in combination with a statin to achieve greater LDL reduction and lower cardiovascular risk.