Ezetimibe and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2019

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "My experience was horrible. Two weeks in, burping tons of gas turned into vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach problems all the time. Now, I cannot drink milk without having episodes of gas. Just not comfortable in my own body anymore. Unbelievable! I was fine before I took this medication, never had any problems with my stomach or my intestines. Been off it for 2 weeks, still having problems with my intestines and my stomach. Not too happy about it, horrible 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."

• Wat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2022

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "My cardiologist put me on statins over 2021, 80 mg, 40, 20, 10, then changed to Crestor 5, then 2.5 mg. I cannot tolerate them, period. Now, he put me on Zetia, which I resisted for about a month, but he insisted I try them. By the 3rd day, I have muscle pain in my arms, cramps in my legs and feet, diarrhea, queasy stomach, severe headaches, dizziness, and insomnia. My non-fasting cholesterol is 225/85. I am stopping Zetia, and I pray that all these side effects go away within days. No one can live like this. I have a good diet, but will work at it even harder because I will NOT take this poison again. If you have had good results, I am happy for you, but if you experience what I have, get off them now."

• Mai...
• May 24, 2013

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "The ONLY medicine that has resulted in my numbers being normal after many years on Lipitor-Niacin regimen. Added Zetia to the mix every night. Effects - light-headed and loose stools in mornings every day. Small price to pay for good health, but, yes, BIG price for the medicine."

• 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."

• 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."

• Wil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 13, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I'm only on day two, and my stomach is a wreck! Nausea, belching, bloating, and burning. Diarrhea on top of that. I had a crazy night's sleep the first night I took it, and from the looks of some reviews I've read, others have experienced insomnia as well. I work a full-time job, so I give this one more night, then I'm done. I'd rather take my chances of high cholesterol or go full-on vegan than put up with this."

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2020

For High Cholesterol "I am a 68-year-old female. Four days ago, I started this drug, ezetimibe, with Rosuvastatin because of diabetes type 2 and a heart problem. I immediately experienced severe stomach pain, bloating, gas, nausea, diarrhea, lightheadedness, painful urination, and muscle cramping. As of today, I will cease the use of this drug, the pain in my lower abdomen is horrendous. I just looked up the side effects of this drug, and all of the above are listed!"

• 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."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Had high cholesterol for over 40 years and runs in the family. Statins for 12 months took a year out of my life. Even when given different ones, the side effects were intolerable. A recent blood test showed still too high LDL, so prescribed ezetimibe as told not a statin, and only side effects in less than one percent of the population, and possible only side effect would be diarrhea. Day 1, all good. Day 2, some diarrhea in the morning, by afternoon headache which got worse all through the night and into day 3. Day 3, pains in upper shoulder, legs, nausea, and still really bad headache. Ginger tabs eased the nausea, but nothing fixed the headache, and stayed awake all night. Day 4 worse than day 3, so have stopped. I have always reacted to prescription meds, always get the side effects, but would rather have a quality of life with high LDL than feel like this. Have not heard of any other alternatives."

• Fly...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I was taking the name brand Zetia for many years after trying 5 different statins that caused leg cramps that had me jumping out of bed at night and no way to stop the horrendous pain. No, pickle juice and hot showers didn't work. Things were going well with the Zetia until my insurance company refused to cover the drug this year and said I had to take the generic ezetimibe. What a disaster! It was like doing a colonoscopy prep every day. I couldn't leave the house because I was constantly running to the bathroom with severe diarrhea that lasted about 8-10 hours until the drug wore off. It made it impossible to even go to work. I couldn't eat anything without it running right through me (that's how it controlled the cholesterol--nothing stayed with you). Frankly, I'd rather take NOTHING than go through that again."

• Rio...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 4, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I have been on this number of years - maybe 7. I think the Ezetimibe was effective on reducing the cholesterol as designed, however, I have had bouts of diarrhea for years, like my stomach explodes and out it comes. The doctors have not come up with a cause and/or a solution. Lately, I have reason to believe it is caused by the Ezetimibe that I take. It seems to come on me about 2 or 3 hours after I take it. Anybody else have this problem?"

• 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."

• deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2019

For High Cholesterol "My Dr. warned me that I may get stomach problems on ezetimibe, but I wasn't expecting the runs for hours on end and stomach pain. I've stopped it as I'm not sleeping, and I'm constantly burping, and it tastes awful. I messed up my bed and clothing."

• Mar...
• August 1, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Been taking ezetimibe 10 mg about 3 weeks. I do get occasional diarrhea, but my biggest problem is the bloating. My stomach looks like I'm pregnant, and I hate that feeling. I don't have any other symptoms."

• JGB...
• June 18, 2017

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I have been on medicine for familial heterozygous high cholesterol for 15 years, Rosuvastatin half the max dose 20 mg cut total cholesterol from 9.9 UK measuring system to 5.2, with no noticeable side effects. Ezetimibe reduced this by 0.6 to 4.6 monitored quarterly, side effects first diarrhea got worse and next resembled irritable bowel symptoms and then became like having severe gastroenteritis once a fortnight with, in the last 3 days, worsening nausea and delayed stomach emptying for up to 24 hours, followed by 2 days of extremely frequent and exhausting vomiting and diarrhea until only clear fluid was expelled, followed by 3 days recovery starting a new cycle. I endured this for 18 months with various negative tests. Stopping ezetimibe cured these side effects completely."

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

For High Cholesterol "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."

• Myc...
• January 29, 2021

For High Cholesterol "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."

• Ren...
• December 31, 2021

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "My cholesterol ran high, then spiked to 350 despite a strict diet. Started statins, they helped but not enough. Started Ezetimibe and cholesterol down in the 150s after 6 weeks. My body aches terribly at times, my hands and hips are the worst-but that’s from the statins. Probably got a little worse with adding this drug. However, I already have a 70% blockage, so I am sticking with it. I also had loose stool issues with starting Ezetimibe for about 4 weeks, but that has greatly improved."

• Nun...
• March 5, 2014

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

• 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."

• bra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "This caused flatulence and diarrhea, which don't make a good mix."

• LA ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 19, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Severe stomach cramps. Diarrhea. Headache. Muscle weakness."

• Gca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 8, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Used bathroom 4 times after 1 ezetimibe pill, same second day, stomach felt funny for days, had diarrhea a week after, only took 2 pills."