Zetia and Pain: What Users Say

• Sus...
• February 20, 2019

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."

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

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

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

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

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."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 7, 2025

For High Cholesterol "This medicine was fine until I had to take a hormone cream. The pain in my shoulder, arm, and spine was terrible. This was at Christmas. Couldn't get to a doctor. Rang pharmacist, he said it was not the cream. Waited three weeks, went to a physio, cost £100 pounds. Rang pharmacist again, told him he said to stop taking Zetia, this would exacerbate the pain, so stopped just after Christmas. Just tried again two weeks ago, pains all over, so stopped again. Waiting for the pains to stop. Never again."

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

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."

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

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."

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

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."

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

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

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."