Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol User Reviews (Page 5)

• Bee...
• July 2, 2019

"Has lowered bad cholesterol and raised good cholesterol, but - not sure if ezetimibe (10 mg) or other medications. Feel completely exhausted, cannot tolerate statins (pain). Changed PCP's (an endocrinologist put me on this medicine + Synjardy XR + amiloride < due to low potassium). Also blood pressure medications - Lisinopril 20 mg + Amlodipine Besylate 10 mg? Overmedicated? Have an appointment with PCP tomorrow to discuss. Had very recent metabolic profile + Hgb A1C = 5.7, so good BP - 127/67 pulse 67. I take BP medication Lisinopril and Amlodipine Besylate at night as too tired if taken in the day. I take Synjardy and ezetimibe and amiloride in the morning, from endocrinologist last July and great diabetic control med - diet and home testing. NOTE: I have lost > 40+ pounds since August 2018 and dropped from 44 waist to 36-38. I am a male - Yes, I adjusted my diet, but not that radical. Help? Panic? Will post > but (IMO) medication(s) cause fatigue."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2023

"I have inactive CAD, so recently my cardiologist suggested Zetia to lower my bad cholesterol, which, although not very high, is still higher than where it is recommended. I decided to wait on starting the med until I had my annual checkup with my primary doctor, and she ran a new blood panel. I was happy to see my LDL had dropped 20 points, but still 30 points over the optimum level of 70. So I thought I would give Zetia a try, but still nervous because of potential side effects since I am very drug sensitive and have had adverse reactions to statins and some other drugs. I only took 1/2 tab yesterday to test it out, and I thought I felt a sensation later on my tongue. Tried 1/2 again today, and about a half hour later felt another sensation like numbness on my tongue and the roof of my mouth. So that's it for me. Can't speak to the drug's effectiveness. I will continue to take lecithin, as I have been doing to work on lowering my cholesterol further through exercise and diet."

• RJP...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2017

"Reduced LDL by about 25%, good. But made me feel terrible, disrupted my already tenuous sleep. I tried it 3 times, same result each time. Too bad, as it works to reduce LDL. Need to try something else."

• Sma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2021

"Was having some heart issues (fluttering, tightening in chest). Went to the hospital. Ran tests and found the heart issue was a fluke, but my cholesterol was high, which I knew. Can't take statins. Told the doctor not to put me on any statins. Had me take Ezetimibe (Zetia). I was really hesitant. Took approximately 2 days before the rash and severe hives appeared. 3rd day it was from my neck down to my knees with severe rash and raised hives. Back to the ER. Put me on 50 mg of Prednisone for 5 days. The doctor told me to NEVER take it again. Wish they would listen. Was out of work for a couple of days until the hives/rash started to subside. Awful few days. Prednisone was giving me grief, also, but helped with the rash/hives."

• TMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 5, 2018

"Started taking ezetimibe 10 mg on 7/1/18. Diarrhea and pain in the left side of the back by 7/4/18. Taking this along with Simvastatin. Can't continue on the ezetimibe with the back pain, especially, so will stop until my Dr. and I can figure out another alternative as the Simvastatin 20 mg alone not doing it."

• Ali...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 6, 2023

"I added Zetia, 10mg, to my 40mg daily Crestor, and it drastically improved my HDL (I was routinely around low 40s, and with Zetia, it went to mid 50s). My LDL was also improved (was 120+/-, and with Zetia, it went below 100). I have had no side effects with either of the medications."

• Myc...
• January 29, 2021

"After a heart attack, I started Vytorin (Zetia & Zocor). My total cholesterol dropped to 120. When components went generic, I took Ezetimibe and Simvastatin. My first Ezetimibe was from Impax Labs. I had about 2 weeks of diarrhea in conjunction with the change. I got back on Vytorin for 3 months, and diarrhea promptly cleared up. Guessing all generics are not exactly the same, I found different manufacturing for Ezetimibe via Walgreens, and had no problems since. The doctor ran an experiment for three months by dropping Ezetimibe, and my total cholesterol went up to 135. I got back on Ezetimibe, and my cholesterol went back down. I concluded the combination works well for me. I take it and my other medications during the evening soon after dinner with a small amount of food. I believe Ezetimibe allows me to control cholesterol with the smallest amount of statin drug, thereby reducing stress on my liver."

• PJS...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 30, 2025

"Got on generic Ezetimibe 10 mg/day to lower LDL 6 months ago, and it works for me with zero side effects. My LDL after 2 months on it came down to 100 from 143. Nice reduction of about 30%, and ApoB went down 20%. Good result for a cheap generic that is $6/month. I simply cannot believe the odd and extreme side effects others report, I don't feel it changed a thing, and I've been as active and energetic as ever. Just add to my daily vitamins and supplements. All it does is lower how much cholesterol you absorb in your gut. I am also taking psyllium husk fiber, which is also good for lowering cholesterol. We'll see what it does to the numbers in my next test."

• Jon...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 13, 2021

"TC was 320. Was on statins and Zetia for 10 years until I decided to try a whole food, plant-based diet (WFPB). TC dropped to 146, TG: 60, APOB: 86. Wanted to get APOB down under 70. Worked brilliantly. I’ve NEVER had a reaction to Zetia and am only too happy to be back on it. I consider arterial health as being a prime longevity factor and want to ensure no hardening from any causes."

• wil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2021

"I've been taking this medication for months and still can't get it right. If I take it in the morning, it makes me go to the toilet 2 or 3 times within 3 hours and have stomach cramps, making it difficult to go out for fear of pooing your pants with slimy poo! If I take it at night [as recommended], I sleep 2 hours, it's horrendous! I've tried reducing my fat intake and now use olive oil to cook with, low-fat margarine, and 1 takeaway [fatty fish and chips] a month."

• Pet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2018

"35-year-old Caucasian male. I take Ezetimibe along with Lodalis and Repatha for high cholesterol. I have severe hip pain, but I don't know which drug causes it. Otherwise, I have no side effects from these three meds, and they have dramatically lowered my cholesterol. Recommended if you can afford these drugs."

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2022

"I had some muscle pain and joint pain the first week, but now that is gone. My biggest complaint is urinary retention. I can barely go to the bathroom. It takes a long time to empty my bladder, which I believe does not empty fully. My stomach and abdomen are very distended, and that's very uncomfortable."

• Dai...
• March 23, 2025

"I disagree with most of you on this drug. It is a godsend, and it has only had good side effects for me. Recently, I was found to have extensive calcium deposits in the biggest coronary artery. A blockage in that artery nearly killed my father at age 58. Three of my four grandparents died of strokes. I have not had perfect control with pravastatin, but am stuck with it because I have mutated cytochromes, which cannot handle hydrophobic statins. The same mutated cytochromes would make me unable to take many cardiac drugs, so prevention is key. My new cardiologist ran tests of my apolipoprotein A and B and said the results show I probably have familial hypercholesterolemia. She started me on ezetimibe 7 weeks ago. My ApoLP-B is ↓ 8 pts, cholesterol ↓ 15 pts, triglycerides ↓ 5 pts, VLDL- ↓ 1 pt, LDL ↓ 20 points, and my good HDL ↑ 6 pts. I have had no nausea or other symptoms. My weight has dropped to normal, my chronic constipation gone."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 23, 2025

"Been taking ezetimibe and 40 mg statin; atorvastatin for well over 1 year while several blood tests show cholesterol normal. Several days ago developed muscle pain in left upper area. Will call my MDVIP doctor this AM."

• Rus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2025

"All I will say is get an Lp(a) and an ApoB blood test done. Your doctor may not like it. You can order this test without your doctor's knowledge. You may not need to be on high-dose statins if you have low readings in these blood tests."

• GMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2025

"I have high cholesterol but can't tolerate statins. A month after starting ezetimibe, LDL went from 144 to 100 with varied, intermittent possible side effects like stuffy nose, burping/flatulence, pee urgency but manageable. Then by 2 months I experienced persistent daily fatigue and weakness that lasted all day even with good sleep. Simply couldn't get anything done until evening. A month into ezetimibe, the doctor added evolocumab, so I thought I'd experiment and stopped ezetimibe. Six days later I ordered a lipid panel. Fatigue is gone and LDL now at 49. Will order another in a week or two to make sure the drop is from evolocumab. I had to enter a yes/no recommendation. I hated the stuff but would not tell anyone not to try it. That's between you and your doctor - just reporting my experience."

• Ano...
• July 7, 2025

"For high cholesterol, I have been taking 10 mg of Rosuvastatin daily for several years. My most recent LDL reading was 76 (prior to taking Ezetimibe). Several years back, I had a calcium scan, and my score was well above 500. I am wanting to get and keep my LDL below 70. I started taking 10 mg of Ezetimibe along with my Rosuvastatin recently and have not noticed any adverse side effects. Hopefully, I can avoid having an angiogram and stents or worse by taking it. There are lots of negative reviews about this medication and its side effects. No doubt some are real, but I have to believe that many are psychological."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 29, 2025

"I've been on ezetimibe 10 mg for about 20 months. It was recommended to better control my cholesterol, which was okay, but not great. Since taking ezetimibe, my cholesterol is consistently controlled. No side effects. No complaints."

• BMI...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 4, 2024

Ezetimibe "As with Zetia or statins, you must have a BMI of less than 29. If you are too fat or not continuing to get your BMI down to 25, you will not benefit. You can't just pop pills and expect magic if you continue to eat junk food and have a BMI of 30+. My BMI is 26, and 10mg of Zetia works with no side effects. I will add 20mg of a statin soon (not 40mg like crazy doctors prescribe). If your BMI is over 29, you will be lucky to live 5 weeks longer on meds. If your BMI is under 29, you may get 5 years longer. Exercise and diet are the key. There is no magic pill. If you don't care about living 5 years longer, then get off the pills and go smack down some more ice cream, candy bars, and Cokes. Any doctor that tells you any pills work without a better diet and more exercise is on the crack pipe and doesn't translate the scientific findings over the last 4 decades... Many doctors tell you how it really is, in that you need to lose weight. You are not listening to the most important part of the conversation."

• fgr...
• June 25, 2013

Ezetimibe "I have been using Zetia for two years. I am also having extreme muscle pain with profuse sweating when I get too hot."

• Nun...
• March 5, 2014

Ezetimibe "Dizziness, tiredness, runny nose, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, generally feel bad."

• Hei...
• March 21, 2013

Ezetimibe "Stopped taking Zetia at night as I had horrific nightmares. Will try it in the morning, see if I have any side effects. Can't take statins because of muscle pain."

• gon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2016

Ezetimibe "Only took 2 days. Leg pains already, flu-like symptoms, felt feverish, but no fever. Cold, clammy chills. I can't take statins, and it seems this is a no-go also."

• Car...
• April 20, 2013

Ezetimibe "After starting Zetia, I began to have weird dreams which lasted throughout the night. I began taking it in the morning with my breakfast, and had stomach discomfort."

• Not...
• October 22, 2015

Ezetimibe "I took 1 Zetia and my throat swelled up. I wound up in the ER, getting IV steroids and Benadryl. I will never take it again. I cannot take statins due to terrible muscle pain."