Ezetimibe and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Pol...
• December 8, 2020

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "Started Zetia in September 2020. In October, lab work was done, and everything was normal (liver, kidney function). On November 8, I started having scalp/head pain. I also noticed my hair had been thinning. On November 10, I had SEVERE right-sided abdominal pain, fever, and chills, cough, and shortness of breath. Went to Urgent care and a series of tests came back showing very high liver panel and very high inflammation markers. I stopped taking Zetia on 11/14/2020. Over the next 3 weeks I continued to have many side effects. They included head/scalp pain, hair thinning, cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, sweating, severe abdominal pain on the right and left side, a bad rash on forearm and hand, severe ankle and top of foot pain, fatigue, body aches, and night sweats. I had 4 negative COVID tests and 2 negative antibody tests. Now, I have atrial fibrillation going on (just started 3 days ago). I was a very active 74-year-old with perfect blood work for years. We ruled out COVID and have narrowed it down to Zetia really causing bad side effects."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2018

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I don’t know if Zetia is helping my high cholesterol since I have only been taking it three weeks and haven’t had the follow-up lab work yet, but I am getting ready to discontinue it on my own. My main complaint is extreme fatigue to the point where I feel like I need to lay down after quick outings. My blood pressure has dropped, and I have started taking a half dose of my blood pressure medication and a half pill of the Zetia. Still, I’m tired and find myself short of breath after moving around or even while talking sometimes. I just generally feel bad and weak, but I can’t tolerate statins. I was hoping this would work, but it doesn’t look like it."

• Fli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2015

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "After having difficulties with Simvastatin (sudden flailing of limbs), Lovaza (hyperhidrosis), Tricor (worse hyperhidrosis, fatigue, acid reflux), and high dose Niacin (same but worse), I was put on Zetia. Hyperhidrosis to the point of hyponatremia (constant sweating even in 30F weather & low sodium), inability to walk & breathe for more than a few steps at a time, reduced cardiac & respiratory function, clammy skin, constant feeling of being on fire (normal body temp but felt like I was burning alive), fatigue, and...severe craving for milk. I was drinking 2 to 2 1/2 GALLONS of milk PER DAY. I was always dehydrated. I gained 50 lbs on skim milk. Did lower my triglycerides but almost killed me. Improved swiftly after stopping Zetia."

• 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."

• Jac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 11, 2014

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I have been taking this for 10 years, and although my cholesterol numbers are good, I'm constantly fatigued. I take a handful of other medications as a result of a heart attack that left no permanent damage to my heart. Sometimes I wonder if the side effects of a lot of these medications are worth the benefit. Plus, Zetia is expensive."

• 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!"

• 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."

• pja...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 9, 2021

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I'd been on Zetia either 60 or 90 days before it affected my liver enzymes and pancreas. I first noticed the dark urine and light feces around a month ago. Then fatigue, loss of appetite, itchy skin. I was diagnosed with jaundice, then fearful that I had cancer while ruling out hepatitis and autoimmune diseases. Finally, I'm told by the GI specialist that it must be the other supplements I'm taking, which he claimed weren't FDA approved. However, I'll know soon, and I suspect that I was in the currently 0.1% who had serious and severe side effects. As a result, my cholesterol levels doubled instead of improved."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2023

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "46 yrs old. I had high cholesterol of over 300 and have been taking Lipitor 40 mg for 7 years. A cardiologist added Zetia 10 mg to my Lipitor to bring down my overall cholesterol. Started taking it on July 7th, 2022. I didn’t have side effects right away. By August, I developed a pain on the left side of my neck that over time nothing I took would get rid of the pain, only dulled it. During that time, my menstrual cycle was not consistent, and I became very fatigued over time. To the point, I was exhausted by the end of the day, which caused me to gain weight. In November 2022, I just stopped taking it to see if my neck pain would go away, and two weeks later it was gone. A month later, my menstrual cycle was back to normal, and within the last 30 days, I’m not as fatigued as I used to be while working. Yes, it did lower my LDL and brought my overall cholesterol number down within 3 months. But keep in mind I have had high HDL and perfect triglyceride numbers prior to taking this and still do!"

• 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."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2020

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "I'm 26 years old, have severe familial hypercholesterolemia. Was on ezetimibe for only 4 days in addition to Crestor 40 mg. Urine became brown, had horrible fatigue and pain in my legs and feet, plus a blocked nose. Have stopped taking it even though the benefit of this drug (in addition to statins) apparently outweighs the importance of my quality of life. Also, dark urine suggests liver or kidney problems, and I could tell the small amount of symptoms I had was only getting worse by the day. Will continue to search for an answer to my problem."

• Mic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 4, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I wasn’t sure if I could stay on Zetia at first because my blood pressure was lower than usual (78/56), and I had shortness of breath with extreme fatigue. I secretly took only half a pill and half of my blood pressure medication for a while (not recommended). Almost a month later, everything leveled out, and I’m now taking a full dose of both meds with none of the problems listed. I had a lipid panel at the 4-month mark, and my values were all normal, and my LDL dropped 28 points. Best of all, recent lab work shows my liver enzymes as normal, and this was the first medication that didn’t elevate them into the triple digits. I have a bit of back pain along the spine, but nothing major. I’m not sure if it’s the Zetia or just me. Unless it gets unbearable, I’m gonna stay the course. $30 for the generic 90-day supply with insurance. Very pleased so far."

• Bee...
• July 2, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Has lowered bad cholesterol and raised good cholesterol, but - not sure if ezetimibe (10 mg) or other medications. Feel completely exhausted, cannot tolerate statins (pain). Changed PCP's (an endocrinologist put me on this medicine + Synjardy XR + amiloride < due to low potassium). Also blood pressure medications - Lisinopril 20 mg + Amlodipine Besylate 10 mg? Overmedicated? Have an appointment with PCP tomorrow to discuss. Had very recent metabolic profile + Hgb A1C = 5.7, so good BP - 127/67 pulse 67. I take BP medication Lisinopril and Amlodipine Besylate at night as too tired if taken in the day. I take Synjardy and ezetimibe and amiloride in the morning, from endocrinologist last July and great diabetic control med - diet and home testing. NOTE: I have lost > 40+ pounds since August 2018 and dropped from 44 waist to 36-38. I am a male - Yes, I adjusted my diet, but not that radical. Help? Panic? Will post > but (IMO) medication(s) cause fatigue."

• Agg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 13, 2024

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol "I took 10mg of Zetia for high cholesterol for a period of time. Later, I needed heart surgery and was off of it for a period of time. When I resumed the medication, I realized how bad it made me feel, even at a low dose, nothing specific, just general fatigue."

• 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."

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2023

Ezetimibe for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Exacerbation of neck pain, fatigue, dizziness, extreme weakness in legs to the point of having difficulty walking. Took it for 4-5 months. Stopped it 4 days ago, mild improvement in leg weakness."