What should patients taking Ezetimibe do when also taking a bile acid sequestrant?

When a patient is taking Ezetimibe alongside a bile acid sequestrant, it is important to ensure proper absorption of the medications. Ezetimibe works by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, while bile acid sequestrants bind bile acids in the intestine, which can interfere with the absorption of Ezetimibe. Taking Ezetimibe at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after the bile acid sequestrant helps to avoid this potential interaction. This timing ensures that Ezetimibe can be adequately absorbed and maintain its effectiveness in lowering cholesterol levels.

The other choices do not provide appropriate guidelines for managing this combination of medications. Taking both at the same time could decrease the effectiveness of Ezetimibe due to the competition for absorption. Switching to a different cholesterol medication may not be necessary if the medications can be properly timed, and increasing the dose of Ezetimibe without addressing the timing issue does not solve the problem of absorption interference. Thus, the recommended approach is to properly space the doses to maximize the therapeutic benefits of both Ezetimibe and the bile acid sequestrant.