For people with heart disease caused by clogged arteries, taking a combo of a mid-strength cholesterol pill (statin) plus another drug (ezetimibe) works better at getting bad cholesterol under 70 than taking a strong statin alone.

What we've found so far is that the evidence leans toward the combination of moderate-intensity statin plus ezetimibe being more effective than high-intensity statin alone at lowering LDL cholesterol below 70 mg/dL in people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Our analysis of the available research shows this conclusion is supported by 39.0 studies or assertions, with no studies or assertions refuting it [1]. We looked at what the data reveals about cholesterol management in people who already have heart disease due to clogged arteries. Based on what we've reviewed so far, using a moderate-strength statin along with ezetimibe appears to help more people reach the target LDL level of under 70 mg/dL compared to using a high-intensity statin by itself [1]. LDL cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol because high levels are linked to an increased risk of heart problems. Getting it below 70 mg/dL is a common goal for people with known heart disease. Our current analysis shows the evidence consistently supports this approach across multiple assessments. However, we base our understanding only on the assertions we’ve reviewed so far, and our view may evolve as more data becomes available. We do not know from this evidence alone whether this combination leads to fewer heart attacks or improved long-term outcomes—only that it is more effective at lowering LDL to the target level in this group. Practical takeaway: For people with heart disease from clogged arteries, adding ezetimibe to a moderate-strength statin may help lower bad cholesterol more effectively than taking a stronger statin alone.