These problems can include muscle pain and muscle weakness, and rarely, muscle breakdown. Zetia is indicated as an adjunct to a low-cholesterol diet for treatment of the following types of hyperlipidemia: For treatment of primary hyperlipidemia, Zetia is indicated to reduce total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol, and apiloprotein B (ApoB). This can cause gallstones (hardened stones in your gallbladder). And your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed. Bock's fainting spells are one of the hallmarks of POTS. Read on to find out more about healthy cholesterol levels, and if a cholesterol level of 250 ml/dL is considered, Heart disease is a top cause of death in the U.S. It isnt known how often this side effect occurred with Zetia in clinical studies. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose. If your cholesterol levels havent started to improve, they may recommend a different treatment for you. While there's no cure, several treatments and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of POTS. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. If you have questions about using Zetia and cholestyramine together, talk with your doctor. Clinical studies have shown Zetia to be effective for treating homozygous sitosterolemia when used alone. Your doctor may prescribe Zetia with a statin drug. zetia. Learn about alternatives like new drugs, A new class of self-injectable medications are showing promise in treating high cholesterol. And talk with your doctor if you have any questions about eating certain foods with Zetia. If your doctor confirms you had a serious allergic reaction to Zetia, they may have you switch to a different treatment. More common side effects in people taking Zetia* include: * In studies, these side effects were reported in people who took Zetia by itself. It can cause mild side effects and, less commonly, serious side effects. High cholesterol occurs when you have more cholesterol in your blood than your body needs. Zetia may cause joint pain. Symptoms of a swollen gallbladder may include: Tell your doctor if you experience gallstones while using Zetia with fenofibrate. The cause of the disorder is unknown. The underlying cause is not known, although it sometimes follows bedrest after injury or illness. If your muscle-related side effects dont go away or become severe, tell your doctor right away. Theyll guide you on the safest treatment options for you. If you have high cholesterol with hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes, youll likely have to take other drugs with Zetia to treat these conditions. Brain fog. Taking Zetia with cyclosporine (a drug that suppresses your immune system) can raise the levels of both medications in your body. For more information on the possible side effects of Zetia, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Talk with your doctor to learn more about which medications are right for you. When you get Zetia from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle. If you have joint pain while taking Zetia, you may also experience swelling, redness, or weakness in your joints. Muscle-related problems are a possible side effect of Zetia when used with other medications. For most people, CoQ10 isnt a harmful or dangerous supplement. Note: Zetia isnt approved to lower these types of cholesterol: Cholesterol is measured in several ways. Less commonly, taking Zetia may lead to serious side effects. Statins are commonly prescribed with Zetia to treat certain types of high cholesterol. Diarrhea is a common side effect of Zetia. If youre interested in finding an alternative to Zetia, talk with your doctor. It may take about 2 weeks for your cholesterol levels to improve after you start taking Zetia. (A class of medications is a group of drugs that work in a similar way.) You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug, or whether certain side effects pertain to it. Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. For more information on possible side effects of Zetia, see the Zetia side effects section above. Chylomicrons help your body, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), sometimes referred to as bad cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins (HDL), sometimes referred to as good cholesterol, triglycerides, which are a type of fat that are building blocks of cholesterol, Apo B (high levels of this protein are a sign of high cholesterol), non-HDL cholesterol (calculated by subtracting your HDL cholesterol level from your total cholesterol), were reduced by an average of 13% to 14% in people who used Zetia, ranged from not changing to being reduced by an average of 1% in people who used a placebo, were reduced by an average of 18% in people who used Zetia, increased by an average of 1% in people who used a placebo, decreased by an average of 13% to 14% in people who used Zetia alone, decreased by an average of 15% to 40% in people who used a statin alone, depending on the statin used, decreased by an average of 24% to 46% in people who used Zetia and a statin, depending on the statin used, ranged from decreasing by an average to 1% to increasing by an average of 4% in people who took a placebo, decreased by an average of 19% to 20% in people who used Zetia alone, decreased by an average of 20% to 54% in people who used a statin alone, depending on the statin used, decreased by an average of 34% to 61% in people who used Zetia and a statin, depending on the statin used. Total cholesterol was reduced by 12% more in children who took Zetia and simvastatin than children who took simvastatin alone. If you and your doctor decide that Zetia treatment isnt right for you, you simply wont take any more doses. Talk with your doctor right away if you have fever or chills with your joint pain. . In studies, some people had to stop taking Zetia because of this side effect. This active drug is also available as a generic medication. But in studies, some people had to stop taking the drug due to feeling dizzy. And some may be easily managed, too. Specific statins that were studied included atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and lovastatin. If youre currently taking cyclosporine, talk with your doctor about whether its safe for you to take Zetia. Any time youre considering taking a supplement, its important to discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist. Memory loss isnt a side effect of Zetia. Zetia, Baclofen, and Xanax are not known to cause itching at all, but the Xanax can cause problems with memory which you do describe. When taken together, it should be administered at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after a bile acid sequestrant. Using Zetia for high cholesterol. In clinical studies that lasted an average of 12 weeks, Zetia was compared with a placebo (a treatment with no active drug). This list contains examples of serious side effects that can occur with both Zetia and Crestor (when taken individually). Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency. Zetia can interact with several other medications. Last medically reviewed on September 18, 2021. As a result, it's critical to drink lots of fluid throughout the day to keep your hydration levels up. The current stance of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to avoid using expired medications. This includes grapefruit and grapefruit juice. Zetia is approved to treat certain forms of high cholesterol in adults when used with a low-cholesterol diet. But if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away. This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. Zetia is approved to treat certain forms of high cholesterol in children ages 10 years and older when used with a low-cholesterol diet. Zetia may stay in your system for several days after you stop taking it. Muscle problems were reported in clinical studies of adults and children who took Zetia with statin drugs. For those who aren't familiar with POTS, it is an often-disabling neurological condition that causes your heart rate to rise a great deal when you are upright, and often blood pressure drops when you are upright (when it should be rising), and it causes fainting, fatigue, headache, nausea, face and hand tingling, and blood pooling in legs. Zetia contains the active drug ezetimibe. They can suggest ways to help relieve your side effects, or they may recommend a different treatment option for you. During Zetia treatment, your doctor will likely recommend blood tests. They may suggest foods that can help lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of weight gain. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Zetia comes as a tablet that you swallow. . Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. The bottom line: Zetia may cause fewer side effects than statins (though some clinicians might dispute that) but Zetia may cause muscle problems and other adverse reactions. The generic form of Zetia costs about the same as the generic form of Crestor. But, they can have side effects and might not be right for you. Another is trouble standing up, primarily because not enough blood returns to the heart upon standing, which causes a rapid increase in heart rate called tachycardia. 1. For information on the effectiveness of Zetia, see the Zetia uses section below. The most common side effects of Zetia include: muscle or joint pain, Instead, it belongs to a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Other drugs are available that can treat your conditions. Zetia shouldnt cause weight gain or weight loss. Specifically, Zetia is used along with a low-cholesterol diet to treat: Zetia is approved to treat these conditions in certain situations. It belongs to a class of drugs called cholesterol absorption inhibitors. Your risk of developing serious side effects may increase if you take Zetia with other medications to treat high cholesterol, such as statin drugs. This means you should avoid foods that are high in cholesterol and other types of fat. Zetia can be used to treat high cholesterol or homozygous sitosterolemia (a condition that causes high fat levels) in certain people. Zetia can cause mild or serious side effects. If you feel dizzy from Zetia, it may help to take your dose at bedtime. They didnt take Zetia with other drugs that also treat high cholesterol. It can develop suddenly or gradually over time. The only FDA-approved dosage of Zetia for children is 10 mg once a day. Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Zetias side effects. This is because it isnt safe to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while using a statin. 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