Ezetimibe and Joint Pain: What Users Say

• Fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2019

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I cannot take statins as they tank my depression. I am a disabled veteran and have had my depression under control for several years now. My general practitioner at the VA put me on Zetia for cholesterol. I took it for approximately 4 days. My depression got so bad that I stopped it today and notified my psychiatrist and my general practitioner that I was stopping it as of today. I spent the last two days crying because I felt so bad. I also was extremely tired, and my joints and muscles were hurting. This is just how the statins affected me. If you suffer from depression, run away from this drug as fast as you can!! It works very quickly and can catch you completely off guard!"

• Suz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 20, 2019

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "Started taking ezetimibe 7/17 to lower my high cholesterol. I developed sore joints and started belching, but didn’t relate this to the medication. In August, I noticed a large patch loss of pigment on the skin below my kneecaps. Then patches developed on my hands and feet. Within ten months, the pigment loss showed around my mouth. I then stopped the Zetia and the joint pain disappeared, I had no more belching and no more pigment loss. But then I had shingles. I have read that pigment loss and shingles result from a damaged immune system. As I am an otherwise healthy and active 65-year-old, and the fact that all of these symptoms occurred shortly after beginning this medication, I believe the ezetimibe damaged my immune system."

• Non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2018

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I have tried statins to bring my cholesterol down but the side effects were unbearable! Have been on Zetia for a week and the side effects are insane. My muscles and joints hurt so bad I want to scream. My skin even burns! Give me high cholesterol over these medications and their side effects any day. I only hope they will go away!"

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2016

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I was prescribed this drug after my liver decided it was going to show sensitivity to statins. I'm in tears right now. It's only been 4 days and I've been experiencing severe joint pain, muscle tenderness, chest pain, and now woken up by a night terror. I don't know what I'm going to do, but I can't take this drug anymore. It's frightening!"

• TLC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2019

For High Cholesterol "My husband began ezetimibe less than two weeks ago because of his intolerance of statins. Like many of the other patients on this thread, he has experienced severe joint pain in hips and elbows, severe back pain, muscle pain in arms and legs, insomnia, depression, chills, cough, and general flu-like malaise. He is exhausted from lack of sleep. The discomfort is so great that sleep is impossible. He has always been a stoic individual when not feeling well but not so now! A light bulb went off when he thought it might be this medicine. Sure enough, this tiny white pill is the culprit. It has been three days since the last dose and his symptoms are still raging on."

• Red...
• May 31, 2017

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "My efforts to take something other than Statin is Zetia! My liver enzymes spike with Statins along with fatigue, muscle weakness, and cramping, major confusion, and memory difficulty! Overall, my cholesterol is in the 300s, and I need to get it lowered, so Zetia is one of many I've tried and couldn't tolerate! Side effects for me are fatigue, chills, and flushing, then sweats! Muscle charlie horses, joint pain!"

• 65...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 22, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I'm a 65-year-old female who cannot take statins because they cause severe hip, joint, and muscle pain. I was put on ezetimibe and am now having the same issues along with severe lower back pain and tiredness - the side effects are horrible. I stopped taking this drug about a month ago, and I am still waiting for it to leave my body and get back to normal. I can't even walk 2 blocks without suffering. I don't recommend this drug to anyone, it's not worth it! 10 MG was the dosage... never ever am I taking another cholesterol drug. More harm than good!"

• EAa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I have decided to stop taking this horrible medicine. I have been taking this medicine for my cholesterol, and my joints, hands, legs, and feet hurt so much that I can't even sleep. This medicine should not be prescribed if the quality of life is going to be this poor."

• bob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 17, 2020

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I started taking Ezetimibe in Feb. 2019. I cannot tolerate statins. After 10 months, I started to develop joint pain, muscle weakness, a runny nose, and was very tired. I checked my blood pressure. It was 213 over 120. I decided that Ezetimibe could be the problem. I stopped taking Ezetimibe. After 2-1/2 days, my blood pressure dropped to 152 over 94. I feel 100% better. There is a question that my liver could have been damaged."

• Rub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I am a diabetic, so of course the doctors automatically say I have to be on cholesterol medication. My LDL is only 116, so just over the within range for the lab tests. Tried statins in the past, and the cramps were unbearable. Well, after 4 days on this drug, I feel like I have not slept in weeks. I have lost 5 pounds in the short time, the severe diarrhea is keeping me up at night, and I have developed a rash on my chest. Also, my joints and muscles are really sore, and my chest feels very tight. Like I could not do anything that would elevate my heart rate. Also feel dizzy and lightheaded, but that could be because I have not slept much due to running to the bathroom multiple times at night. I will be stopping medication as of now! I do not have a gallbladder, and they state in their consumer guide that it is safe for patients who do not have a gallbladder. If you do not have your gallbladder, really think hard before trying this."

• Mee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I have been on statins for the last 4 years. Was placed on Crestor last December, and I had serious adverse effects like dizziness, loss of balance by taking just 2 times. Later placed back on Lipitor 20 mg, and then since September 9, Lipitor was reduced to 10 mg, and Ezetimibe 10 mg was added. Now I have severe joint and muscle pain with mood swings, which I can't explain. How often should liver function tests be taken, especially when I have had a cholecystectomy done? What other options are there to reduce high LDL? With no family history of diabetes, I now have high levels of HBA1C 6.5-7.2 thanks to statins. Can anyone reading this reply to me? I will be very thankful. Take care, all statin users."

• Sit...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Was on Zetia 10 mg daily for four years. Underwent numerous scans, testing, ultrasounds, and vascular studies to determine why I was having severe leg cramping every single day (worse at night). I discontinued Zetia by myself, and my legs had a 100% return to normal. Unable to take statins due to joint pains but was assured this med was not the same."

• Cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2018

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "After taking this drug for a week, I experienced severe joint and muscle pain, stomach pain, and headaches. Disappointing as I am unable to take statins for the same reason. Will just have to contend with high cholesterol."

• Suf...
• August 6, 2021

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Doctor prescribed 10 mg of ezetimibe (Zetia), 1 dose a day. After 1 mo, I was feeling tired, with sore muscles. I thought I was working out too much, walking, yoga, jazzercise, jogging, so I slowed down. By 6th wk, the muscle pain and weakness was so bad I could barely lift my arms. I was extremely tired, the muscle and joint pain from my chest up is excruciating! It's in my jaw, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, and hands. I've been off the drug for just over a month, and now the muscle pain and weakness is moving down to my hips and legs. Blood work showed severe liver and muscle damage. Extreme high CK 1182 even after being off the drug for a month. I was an active, fully functional middle-aged female, now I feel like a 90-year-old with RA! 5 years ago, I was on a statin. I ended up in the hospital with a stroke. Took 6 mo to get statin out of body. Cardiologist and neuro said I had no cardio problems and it was the statin that caused the stroke and TIAs. Cholesterol drugs are bad for you."

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

For High Cholesterol "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."