Muscle Pain on Zetia: Q. I have tried many statin drugs for cholesterol, but all gave me muscle pain and cramps. They lower cholesterol dramatically through a different mechanism from statins. Can Zetia cause this? BS. Zetia (ezetimibe) is a lipid-lowering compound used to treat high cholesterol. Unfortunately, it didn’t reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular causes. A. Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) lower cholesterol. Safeguards Before Taking Zetia. A. Dysphagia and stomach upset were the two main side effects I experienced with Zetia, at both 5mg and 10mg doses. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, Zetia does have known side effects, one of which is dysphagia or trouble swallowing. Common side effects of ezetimibe include diarrhea, abdominal pain, back pain, joint pain, muscle aches… With so many drugs now available to lower cholesterol, people naturally would like to know about the benefits and risks of each. My doctor tells me that until more is known, I should continue taking the prescribed medicine. Within the past few years, FDA has approved new drugs to lower cholesterol. Join our daily email newsletter with breaking health news, prescription drug information, home remedies AND you'll get a copy of our brand new full-length health guide — for FREE! But what about ezetimibe (Zetia)? There should be no danger switching to simvastatin, since it has been shown to be effective at lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart attacks in people with heart disease (Ursoniu et al, Pharmacological Research, online June 9, 2017). Side effects of Zetia include: diarrhea, back pain, stomach or abdominal pain, numbness or tingly feeling, tired feeling, headache, dizziness, depressed mood, At this time, these pricey medications are considered appropriate for treating people with familial high cholesterol. Vytorin lowered bad LDL cholesterol more than Zocor did but this did not lead to healthier arteries. That’s too bad, they say. Here are some of the other problems those taking Zetia have faced: allergic reactions including facial and throat swelling which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing. Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. They found that when people dropped ezetimibe their cholesterol rose. Here is another question we got from a reader around that time: Q. I am alarmed by recent reports that Vytorin and Zetia are associated with plaque build-up in the carotid artery. Scientists compared the thickness of the lining of the carotid arteries in the neck between people put on Vytorin and those on simvastatin (Kastelein et al, New England Journal of Medicine, Apr. Sometimes, however, doctors find it hard to resist reaching into their toolbox for the newest thing that might help. Is it harmful to switch abruptly to another cholesterol-lowering medicine such as simvastatin? Nearly a decade after the ENHANCE data were reported, cardiologists have taken another look at the value of ezetimibe (Bays et al, Journal of Clinical Lipidology, online May 8, 2017). 3, 2008). It is Show 1031. Dr. said Zetia doesn't typically have the same reaction as statins. Although Zetia works differently from statin cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor or Zocor, it is absorbed into the bloodstream. As it turns out, Zetia may cause muscle problems, too. Evolocumab (Repatha) and alirocumab (Praluent) are PCSK9 inhibitors. I have problems taking statins. I called my doctor, who told me to continue taking it, but if it’s not doing anything good for my high cholesterol, why bother? Another reader wrote us shortly after learning of the results of a study that raised questions about ezetimibe: Q. He was not the only one to see ezetimibe in a less positive light. We don’t know how the benefits and risks of PCSK9 inhibitors will play out over time. We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options. We have written quite a bit about the side effects of statins such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor). About 60 percent of U.S. patients who are taking Zetia now receive the drug as part of Vytorin. Until there is more convincing data about Vytorin or Zetia, the cardiologists recommend using them only as a last resort. They do not have data to show whether people who stopped taking Zetia had more heart attacks or strokes, so the jury is still out on that. Learn about side effects, dosage, and more. You can learn more about these medications from our interview with Dr. Steve Nissen about the GAUSS-3 trial of evolocumab and ezetimibe in people who have muscle pain on statins. The investigators note that many people stopped taking Vytorin or Zetia after they learned about this trial. Zetia (ezetimibe) is a lipid -lowering compound used to treat high cholesterol. I still have muscle pain, cramps and tingling in my legs and feet. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. Probably the most troublesome side effect patients report on one of these drugs is muscle pain or weakness. Muscle side effects seem to be less common with Zetia than with the statin drugs, but Zetia may cause muscle problems. Cardiologist Steven Nissen, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic said he was shocked by the results. As it turns out, Zetia may cause muscle problems, too. 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