Ezetimibe is a selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor used to manage hypercholesterolemia by reducing intestinal cholesterol uptake. It targets the Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 (NPC1L1) protein in the small intestine, preventing cholesterol from entering enterocytes and lowering delivery to the liver, which boosts blood cholesterol clearance. This leads to decreased levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and non-HDL-C. The medication treats primary hyperlipidemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, heterozygous or homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and homozygous sitosterolemia, often alongside diet or statins like in combinations such as Vytorin. Available as 10 mg oral tablets under brand names like Zetia, it offers a distinct approach from statins by not affecting cholesterol synthesis.