Final answer:
Cholesterol absorption inhibitors include drugs like ezetimibe that block the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, resulting in lower cholesterol levels in the blood. They are often combined with statins or other lipid-lowering treatments for enhanced effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cholesterol absorption inhibitors primarily include a drug called ezetimibe. This medication works by blocking the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, leading to a decrease in the amount of cholesterol that enters the bloodstream, and subsequently reducing the total cholesterol levels. Unlike statins, such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor), which inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase that synthesizes cholesterol within the body, cholesterol absorption inhibitors like ezetimibe target the process by which cholesterol is absorbed from dietary sources. When used in combination with statins or other lipid-lowering agents, such as fibrates or bile acid sequestrants, ezetimibe can provide an additional cholesterol-lowering effect which may be beneficial in managing high cholesterol levels that pose a risk for cardiovascular disease. This dual approach can be particularly helpful in patients who do not reach their lipid-lowering goals with statins alone or who have side effects from higher doses of statins.