[medik8]

Vytorin
Generic Name: ezetimibe and simvastatin

Have you taken or do you take Vytorin?
How did it work for you? Did you experience side effects?
We want to hear your story. Please feel free to share your experiences while taking this drug.

Consumer Information at
http://www.drugs.com/vytorin.html

Professional Information at
http://www.drugs.com/pro/vytorin.html

[Hazel100]

I switched from Zocor to Vytorin around Oct 2004. Zocor no longer worked for me.
Around the first of March, I began experiencing a lot of lower abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms for several days. The last day of what turned out to be the first episode, my left leg became useless. A month later, I had similar symptoms. This time, at 8:45 a.m., I checked my blood sugar and blood pressure. Both were around 180. A few days later, both returned to normal. Though I did not have any unusual bowel problems during these episodes, I had begun having very bad diarrhea 24/7, and at times, explosive diarrhea that came on without much warning. My doctor told me to stop taking Vytorin for two weeks, then get back on. I went to a new family doctor about my "episodes" and told him of the diarrhea. as well as everything else that had happened. He advised me to stop taking it immediately and to tell my endocrinologist what was happening.
After having a colonoscopy, I have now been diagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome. However, I am certain I was experiencing the serious side affects from Vytorin.
Do you think these side effects caused me to have irritable bowel syndrome? Will this go away in time? I'm quite old to begin having IBS--69 1/2. Thank God for enzyme pills or I would be housebound.

quote:Originally posted by medik8

Vytorin
Generic Name: ezetimibe and simvastatin

Have you taken or do you take Vytorin?
How did it work for you? Did you experience side effects?
We want to hear your story. Please feel free to share your experiences while taking this drug.

Consumer Information at
http://vytorin.drugs.com

Professional Information at
http://www.drugs.com/vytorin.html
http://www.drugs.com/vytorin.html
http://www.drugs.com/vytorin.html
http://www.drugs.com/vytorin.html

[yomba1]

After starting to take Vytorin my blood sugar soared more than 50% higher than normal. Only abstaining from Vytorin allows it to return toward its usual much lower levels.

As an example, my fasting blood sugar for 7 years has remained in the 90-100 range. Seldom did it ever go over 125 after meals. (I use no diabetes drugs at all but have successfully controlled my blood sugar with diet and exercise since being diagnosed with borderline diabetes in 2000.)

Since beginning to take Vytorin, my blood sugar has risen dramatically, despite the same rigid diet I have maintained for years. When taking Vytorin, my fasting blood sugar averages 145 and levels over 200 after meals are not uncommon.

However, if I don't take Vytorin for even a single day, my blood sugar drops dramatically to much lower levels. (20% drop the first day without Vytorin.)

I'm now in the process of gradually withdrawing from Vytorin as the extraordinary increase in blood sugar from using it do not seem to be worth the supposed benefits to my cholesterol levels.

I have a very low carb diet, avoid all sugars, soft drinks, etc. I eat lots of fish, mainly wild salmon, green vegetables and exercise by walking at least a mile per day.

Has anyone else had this bad blood sugar problem when using Vytorin or other statins?

[yomba1]

After starting to take Vytorin my blood sugar soared more than 50% higher than normal. Only abstaining from Vytorin allows it to return toward its usual much lower levels.

As an example, my fasting blood sugar for 7 years has remained in the 90-100 range. Seldom did it ever go over 125 after meals. (I use no diabetes drugs at all but have successfully controlled my blood sugar with diet and exercise since being diagnosed with borderline diabetes in 2000.)

Since beginning to take Vytorin, my blood sugar has risen dramatically, despite the same rigid diet I have maintained for years. When taking Vytorin, my fasting blood sugar averages 145 and levels over 200 after meals are not uncommon.

However, if I don't take Vytorin for even a single day, my blood sugar drops dramatically to much lower levels. (20% drop the first day without Vytorin.)

I'm now in the process of gradually withdrawing from Vytorin as the extraordinary increase in blood sugar from using it do not seem to be worth the supposed benefits to my cholesterol levels.

I have a very low carb diet, avoid all sugars, soft drinks, etc. I eat lots of fish, mainly wild salmon, green vegetables and exercise by walking at least a mile per day.

Has anyone else had this bad blood sugar problem when using Vytorin or other statins?

[NB1]

This exact same thing has happen to me. I just tonight discovered why my blood sugar levels are so high, I had missed 4 days of Vytorin and was taking my blood sugar readings all of those days, I noticed that my levels returned to normal (for me - 100 +/- 10). Tonight I remembered to take my Vytorin and one hour later my blood sugar had risen 50% to 150. Quite frankly, this is BS, this drug should be pulled from the market, I am writing my congressman and Senator plus the FDA this evening.

Originally Posted by yomba1

After starting to take Vytorin my blood sugar soared more than 50% higher than normal. Only abstaining from Vytorin allows it to return toward its usual much lower levels.

As an example, my fasting blood sugar for 7 years has remained in the 90-100 range. Seldom did it ever go over 125 after meals. (I use no diabetes drugs at all but have successfully controlled my blood sugar with diet and exercise since being diagnosed with borderline diabetes in 2000.)

Since beginning to take Vytorin, my blood sugar has risen dramatically, despite the same rigid diet I have maintained for years. When taking Vytorin, my fasting blood sugar averages 145 and levels over 200 after meals are not uncommon.

However, if I don't take Vytorin for even a single day, my blood sugar drops dramatically to much lower levels. (20% drop the first day without Vytorin.)

I'm now in the process of gradually withdrawing from Vytorin as the extraordinary increase in blood sugar from using it do not seem to be worth the supposed benefits to my cholesterol levels.

I have a very low carb diet, avoid all sugars, soft drinks, etc. I eat lots of fish, mainly wild salmon, green vegetables and exercise by walking at least a mile per day.

Has anyone else had this bad blood sugar problem when using Vytorin or other statins?

[malhas]

I had no such problems in sugar level and I used Vytorin for one full year . THE MOST DISTURBING ISSUE was that I had a stent placed in my LAD artery Feb 1999 , and has been on lipitor 20 mg daily till JAn 2007 . During which I have done 5 catheterizations to check on my self and each time I was completely cleared , My LDL was on average 115 and My HDL 36. Doctors decided , due to new research!!! that I should lower my LDL ( after 8 full years of excellent results ) and had me start the simvastatin-ezetimib ( Vytorin named Inegy outside the USA ) and my LDL was pulled down to an everage of 87 and HDL rose to 43. THE BIG PROBLEM is that after using this drug or a full year , I did another catheterization to check myself , and AMAZINGLY enough , after 9 years ( 8 of which on lipitor 20mg with wonderfull results and the last year on this stuipid drud that lowered my LDL more ) I has a 95% stenosis , blockage inside my original 1999 stent !!!!! A new imperoved stent was put inside my artery were the old one was , and I am back to Lipitor and ezetrol. I am confident that Lipitor has something in it that made my 8 years clear and good . From my humble studies on my self , and I have all the CDs and blood results for 7 catheterizations and 39 blood tests along the years , the year of Vytorin ( Inegy) , with the lowest LDL reading , BLOCKED my LAD artery . Vytorin (Inegy) should be sued to the ground ..... I promissed myself to share all this with whomever is using these drugs . God bless . Yazan ( 47 year old and counting...)

[lgbnme]

Originally Posted by Hazel100

I switched from Zocor to Vytorin around Oct 2004. Zocor no longer worked for me.
Around the first of March, I began experiencing a lot of lower abdominal pain and flu-like symptoms for several days. The last day of what turned out to be the first episode, my left leg became useless. A month later, I had similar symptoms. This time, at 8:45 a.m., I checked my blood sugar and blood pressure. Both were around 180. A few days later, both returned to normal. Though I did not have any unusual bowel problems during these episodes, I had begun having very bad diarrhea 24/7, and at times, explosive diarrhea that came on without much warning. My doctor told me to stop taking Vytorin for two weeks, then get back on. I went to a new family doctor about my "episodes" and told him of the diarrhea. as well as everything else that had happened. He advised me to stop taking it immediately and to tell my endocrinologist what was happening.
After having a colonoscopy, I have now been diagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome. However, I am certain I was experiencing the serious side affects from Vytorin.
Do you think these side effects caused me to have irritable bowel syndrome? Will this go away in time? I'm quite old to begin having IBS--69 1/2. Thank God for enzyme pills or I would be housebound.

Finally finally finally someone who has the same symptoms and diagnosis as myself! I was a healthy 37 yr old with no health issues except for high chloresterol. My doctor perscibed Vytorin 10/20. Thats where my health began to decline. Every morning I would have explosive diarrhea and immediately after meals. At first I thought it was my diet never associated it with the Vytorin so I continually change what I was eating. Even after having chicken and rice I would have diarrhea!!! I went from 205 lbs to 170 lbs within a couple of months ( from the daily diarrhea). It was affecting my work and I wouldnt leave the house on my days off for fear of an uncontroled bowel movement. I finally went back to the doctor after about a year and he said he never heard of that side affect. I stopped taking the Vytorin and he diagnosed me with IBS. Now I'm on a SSRI to aleave some of the anxiety and cramping associated with IBS. I knew this wasnt all in my head. I knew it had something to do with the Vytorin and that other post proves it!!!!!!!!

[lgbnme]

Great IBS website http://www.gutsense.org/gutsense/ibs.html

[newyorkgal]

I have to go against the tide here. Used to be on lipator but it didn't really work well. I've been on Vytorin for about 3 years at least and I have none of the side effects mentioned in the literature or mentioned here, in the posts. It has kept my cholesterol under control as well