Ezetimibe and Pain: What Users Say

• Sus...
• February 20, 2019

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "If I could rate this less than zero, I would!! I cannot tolerate statins so my doctor started me on Zetia. I started having severe side effects after just a few weeks. I didn't realize it was this medication at first and ended up in the ER after five weeks of being on it. I had severe distention in my abdomen, severe cramping, burning in my gut, pain, bleeding. I also had what felt like a bladder infection because I had pinching of my bladder and bleeding in my urine (although a urine test did not indicate I had an infection). I had so much distention in my abdomen that I could barely eat or drink anything. I also had tightness in other areas of my body including my chest, groin, and of course, abdomen. I stopped this the day I went to the ER. I have been off this medication for several weeks now but continue to have issues. I have severe indigestion after I eat now and it seems to have...le, as well as generally not feeling well."

• Bex...
• November 26, 2019

For High Cholesterol "My pharmacist recommended that I take 10mg ezetimibe as I had a severe reaction to statins. I was reluctant, but on the first day, after a couple of hours of taking this substance, I began to feel sad. I experienced sore eyes (and squinted with watery eyes), I was headachy with shoulder pain, and I was bloated the entire day. I began to lose concentration after three to four hours and was unable to focus while reading. The tips of my fingers were numb, and I was unable to use my keyboard. However, with fear and trepidation, I took this medication a couple of days later just to check, but I experienced similar symptoms and, in addition, extreme sadness with unpleasant thoughts. That’s it, no more experimental cholesterol drugs for me! I’d rather have a short life with my high cholesterol than tolerate this abominable torture and poison in my system!"

• one...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2018

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "Couldn't take statins due to multiple side effects. Took Zetia for 6 weeks before realizing it was causing severe nausea on a daily basis, constipation, extreme tiredness, excruciating hip pain, hot flashes with profuse sweating, as well as gastritis. I've been off Zetia for two weeks and I'm still having the awful sweating flashes, constipation, hip pain, and tired to the point I fall asleep for about 30 minutes when I get home from work every day. The nausea is finally gone and gastritis has improved. I hope all this goes away soon!! I'm miserable! I will not take meds for cholesterol again. I'm going to go back to Krill oil and flaxseed oil."

• Oll...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2019

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I have been on Zetia for 4 weeks. I am having pains under my ribs on the left side and radiating to my back. Stomach pains just woke me up in the middle of the night. My feet have been cramping at night. I keep having severe bloating in my stomach. I also keep burping. Calling the doctor in the morning to stop the drug."

• poi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2021

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "Can’t take statins so doc put me on Zetia. This stuff is poison for me! Within 4 days, the pain in my entire body left me unable to do anything, couldn’t sleep, diarrhea was horrible, migraines a few hours after taking it each night. I stopped taking it! Some reactions reversed in about 3 days but I’m now on day 9 since I stopped it and the upper left side down into my abdomen still hurt, yet I have a numbing sensation on my lower abdomen, urgent care doc thinks I may be developing shingles! Zetia has been known to trigger it. Awful, awful medicine! Wish I’d never touched it."

• Pet...
• June 11, 2017

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I am 66 and have been taking Zetia 10 for nearly 5 years now. I had previously taken Zocor, Mevacor, and Crestor consecutively over a period of about 15 years, each giving me severe muscle pain in my feet and legs. At one point, the pain in my arches was so bad that one doctor diagnosed the problem as plantar fasciitis and recommended surgery. That's when I stopped taking any statins and within a couple of months, the pain was completely gone. When I started taking Zetia, I saw no adverse side effects and my bad cholesterol went down a little. About a year ago, I started having pain and weakness in my legs when standing up or climbing stairs. Now, I have pain in my left calf and heel and occasionally in my left arm, shoulder, and back."

• Aco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I’m an insulin-dependent, Type 2 diabetic in his 70s with cholesterol and LDL issues. My cardiologist started me on ezetimibe 1 month ago on 1 tab three times a week (that should have been the first red flag). He also scheduled a review in 1 month (usually 6 mths - the second red flag). Since starting this mongrel of a medication, I have been wracked with leg pain, diarrhea, flatulence, fatigue, belching, and occasional noisy heartbeat. After reading the reviews on this site, I have decided to stop the ezetimibe immediately. I hope I’ve dodged a bullet. I also feel like I’ve been used as an experimental lab rat, but it will never happen again."

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I've been on this drug for 5 days and already feel like a giant yuck. Muscle pain, hip pain so severe I can't get up and start walking. Foot and ankle pain waking me up all night, diarrhea early in the morning, exhausted. Can't take statins. Gonna give up."

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I've been on this drug for 5 days and already feel like a giant yuck. Muscle pain, hip pain so severe I can't get up and start walking. Foot and ankle pain waking me up all night, diarrhea early in the morning, exhausted. Can't take statins. Gonna give up."

• 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!"

• Lis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2022

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I have been on different statins and can’t handle them. They give me vertigo, abdominal pain, stiffness, aches, and pains. I tried just fish oil for a while, but my triglycerides were too high. I am diabetic, and they want my cholesterol and triglycerides in check. My doctor put me on Zetia 6 months ago. My triglycerides are down 90 pts and my cholesterol lowered significantly as well. The problem I am having now is all the side effects just like when I was on the statins besides vertigo. I am also having anxiety and some depression, which I am now reading is also a side effect of statins. As I look back, I had them then as well. In fact, that's when my anxiety started, and I thought it was perimenopause or from my strict dieting at the time. I would love to stay on it because my numbers are great, but I can’t handle the side effects anymore. My muscle spasms have gotten really bad, and my back pain and joint stiffness are unbearable at times. My moods are horrible."

• jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2019

For High Cholesterol "I put up with night pains for the first 6 months. Now I have chest pain and arm pains when working and moving my arms. Memory and concentration seem to have become an annoyance. Just know, when you suddenly stop using ezetimibe, the side effects do not suddenly stop."

• mol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2021

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I was put on Zetia when I could not take statins because of severe muscle pain. Three weeks in, I started having pain in my elbow and both shoulders. I stopped the medication, so I ended up taking it for less than one month. Six months later, after stopping the medication, still the pain did not go away."

• Gar...
• August 24, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Multiple statins over the years caused severe muscle aches in the lower body, fatigue, stomach pain, and scary loss of memory and focus. Took months but dramatic improvement after stoppage. Have talked to many people with identical experiences. Been on ezetimibe for two months. Experiencing pain and swelling in the left hand, wrist, and forearm, body fatigue, sudden short bouts of liquid diarrhea, waking up during the night sleep absolutely drenched and awash in perspiration, loss of muscular strength, and increasing loss of mental focus. Talked today to a friend having comparable symptoms. Stopping this drug immediately."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Started taking Ezetimibe about two months ago. Terrible side effects to start with, but just thought my body would get used to it. What a mistake, as I never felt so ill in my life. Shoulder pain, stomach pain, chest pains, most of all, it's the feeling of being ill, fuzzy head, not just with it. Stopped taking it now for two days, still getting symptoms. Hope I can get back to my normal self soon. I would rather have high cholesterol than take this pill that makes you feel like rubbish."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2023

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I was hoping this would work as I am statin intolerant. I began belching nonstop and had chest pain. I have never felt like this before. Quitting my one cup of coffee a day and anything else known to aggravate GERD had no impact. I also had leg pain starting from the buttocks all the way down through the arches of my feet. I rarely get ocular migraines but started to get them frequently. I’m off of it and feeling much better. A glass of wine or coffee does not bother me. It was the medication."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Lil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 29, 2019

For High Cholesterol "After having a TIA (transient ischemic attack), I was put on Avandia, which works well. Now I've been given ezetimibe to go with it, and the pain in my legs hurts. Every night I'm tired with headaches all the time. Thinking of dropping it. PS I have swollen ankles too."

• sta...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 14, 2019

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Ezetimibe has replaced previous statins. Over 17 years, I had tried most common brands of statin following 95% blocked LAD (left anterior descending artery). Similar side effects to others: back pain, leg ache, not sleeping well. Cholesterol reduced to half previous level. Ezetimibe, however, I have no problem at all tolerating. My brother, who has a similar condition, is exactly the opposite!"

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

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "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."

• ahi...
• September 8, 2015

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I experienced severe abdominal cramps and pain, as well as diarrhea. I also experienced weakness and fatigue. I could not tolerate the drug, so I do not know if it had any effect on my cholesterol."

• Kai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Poison, never felt so ill in my life after 5 days. Pressure headache, neck pain, sinus problems, body pains, constant peeing, and tiredness."

• 134...
• December 16, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I have pain in my leg muscles due to Zetia. It can cause synovitis but has a benefit on cholesterol and triglycerides by lowering blood glucose."