From 1 July 2011 prescribers will be permitted to prescribe ezetimibe or ezetimibe with simvastatin without regard to the dose of statin that is co-prescribed:1

  • a patient is now considered to have inadequate control after ≥ 3 months of treatment at a maximum tolerated dose of a statin. The requirement of a statin dose ≥ 40 mg daily has been removed.2
  • prescribers may now use their clinical judgment when reducing the dose of a statin in response to an adverse effect. The requirement to reduce the dose of a statin to < 20 mg daily has been removed.2