So you have talked to your doctor about lowering your high cholesterol. You have changed your diet to include low-cholesterol foods and incorporated daily exercise into your routine. But your levels still will not go down. What now? Many people are not able to lower high cholesterol through diet and exercise alone.

Adding medication such as Vytorin can be an important way to heading down the right road to lower cholesterol

There are two sources needing to be targeted in order to fight high cholesterol, intake and natural production of cholesterol. VYTORIN works by helping your body block the intake of cholesterol from foods while also reducing the amount of cholesterol your body makes. This single tablet contains two cholesterol medicines, Zetia (ezetimibe) and Zocor (simvastatin). Zetia is an absorption inhibitor which will prevent cholesterol from crossing into the bloodstream. Zocor reduces the body’s production of cholesterol. Vytorin combines both of these medicines into a pill that is designed to take once daily and has been proven to lower bad cholesterol between 40% and 65% depending on the dosage. The doses vary to include different levels of Zetia and Zocor. There are four dose options: Vytorin 10/10 (10 mg of Zetia, and 10 mg of Zocor), Vytorin 10/20 (10 mg of Zetia, and 20 mg of Zocor), Vytorin 10/40 (10 mg of Zetia, and 40 mg of Zocor), and Vytorin 10/80 (10 mg of Zetia, and 80 mg of Zocor). Your doctor will help you determine which one is right for you.

Vytorin is not recommended for women who are nursing, pregnant or who might become pregnant, or for anyone with liver problems. Also tell your doctor if you have a history of kidney disease, diabetes, underactive thyroid, or muscle disorder so the dosage can be adjusted. Side effects include headache, muscle pain, and diarrhea. Your doctor may want to do regular blood tests before and during treatment to check for liver problems. Rare but serious side effects could be brought on by unexplained muscle pain or weakness and should be reported to your doctor immediately.

It is important to tell your doctor what medications you are already taking as Vytorin may interact with those increasing your risk for serious side effects. It is especially important to tell your doctor if you are taking any steroid medicine or hormones such as birth control pills as a dose adjustment or special tests may need to be discussed along with this medication.