Get Informed: Zetia
Active Ingredient(s)
Ezetimibe
What does it do?
This product is primarily used to reduce cholesterol levels. It works by reducing cholesterol absorption from the intestine.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-14 3:11 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Zetia
- Ezetimibe
- Ezetrol
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 25 Oct 2002
- Est US Patients*
- 1,195,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Zetia or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Zetia Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Zetia interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Zetia used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 7,900 patients that use Zetia (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Cholesterol | 100% | 
|
How well does Zetia work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 7,900 users taking Zetia (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 80%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Zetia outweigh the bad things.
- 5%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Zetia.
Common Side Effects of Zetia
iGuard regularly polls our more than 7,900 users taking Zetia (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
6% of patients experience side-effects on Zetia
< 1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Zetia
Most Common Side Effects...
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Muscle Pain/Cramps, Nausea/Vomiting, Swelling/Edema
Global Patient Feedback for Zetia (Ezetimibe) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Because of extreme weakness, I am no longer taking Zetia. My replacement is Niaspan.
77 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-29 09:13:10
Answer/Reply:
I also take Zetia and I have leg cramps that hurt so much that it is difficult to walk up steps. I blamed this problem on another drug that I stopped taken, but the pain kept going with Zetia. Did the lady that startrd taking Niaspan get better?
80 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-10 13:52:21
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Muscle cramps are a side effect of both Zetia and Niaspan. Weakness can also occur while taking Niaspan. The muscle cramps could be a sign of a serious side effect, so you should make an appointment with your doctor to determine if your course of therapy needs to be adjusted. The serious side effect is very rare.
Posted: 2010-02-21 13:55:52
Question/Comment:
you have my medicine list. I'm started having touble with my kidney and bowels and soreness in my arms. Could one of my medications be the cause? I'm 65 yr old female. my meds on listed on your site Thanks
65 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-12-23 10:33:16
Question/Comment:
PLEASE,LET ME KNOW ABOUT TETRACICLINE 500mg four daily
i drink plavix,zetia lipitor ecotrin
is possible side effect..?
thank you
manuel
68 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-11-18 07:20:01
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Most patients tolerate tetracycline without experiencing any side effects. However, some people experience upset stomach or abdominal pain, sore mouth, redness of the skin (sunburn), and changes in skin color - contact your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away.
Tetracycline can increase your sensitivity to sun - so you should take proper precautions when going outside, including using sunscreen on any exposed skin. Avoid taking tetracycline with food, particularly dairy products, or calcium containing supplements or antacids. Calcium reduces the amount tetracycline absorption by the body. To minimize this interaction, take tetracycline one hour before or two hours after meals or calcium containing products.
Posted: 2009-11-22 21:50:08
Question/Comment:
i am 55 year old female and been on zetia for about 3 to 4 months now taking with simvastatin.and just stared having foot and leg pain. i told my Dr about this she check me for some thing else. now reading all of there now i may know it from the zetia. i did not have the pain until i took this med. i sure will till my Dr about this. thank to all of you and good luck
56 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-09-25 20:56:21
Question/Comment:
I have had gastric bypass surgery and can no longer take anti - inflamatory drugs for my arthritis. When my doctor put me on Zetia (in addition to the Crestor I was already taking), I started having severe muscle pain. When my 30 day supply ran out, I didn't refill it. My muscle pain went away. I'm 100% positive that the muscle pain was a side effect of Zetia. Not worth the pain to me!
58 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2009-08-21 12:40:07
Answer/Reply:
YES - I Too have severe Rhuematoid Arthritis and Diabeties, and have been through this for years with my Drs. IF i stop taking the Chol. med the pain will go - sometimes takes weeks for the drug to get out of system and nerves to rebuild coating. Many doctors try to poo away the adverse reaction of muscle and leg pains, and cramps from all the different cholesterol meds out there, but the reality is they can and frequently do cause this problem. As they remove the fat from our blood, they also remove the mylein sheeth (a good fat) that coates the ends of nerve endings - this can cause nerve damage in the form of pain, pins & needles, involuntary muscle movements, numbness, etc. Can take a long time to rebuild
52 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-14 14:55:52
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
65
Patient Comments about
Zetia