Zetia (ezetimibe) is a medication prescribed for people with high cholesterol levels. Zetia works in the digestive system to prevent the body from absorbing cholesterol from food. If your doctor prescribes Zetia, talk with her about any other medications you are taking, expected outcomes from treatment and potential side effects. The most common side effects are diarrhea, pain in the joints and tiredness. Weakness or pain in the muscles, nausea, chest pain or pancreatitis could be serious and should be reported to your doctor immediately. Do not make any changes to your medication without talking with your doctor.
Serious Adverse Reactions
Serious adverse reactions to the use of Zetia include liver enzyme abnormalities, rhabdomyolysis and myopathy. Allergic reactions, especially anaphylactic reactions, always have the potential to be serious.
Monotherapy
During clinical trials comparing Zetia to a placebo, the following side effects were noted: arthralgia, upper respiratory tract infection, dizziness, diarrhea, sinusitis, increases in gamma-glutamyltransferase, and pain in the extremities. Diarrhea was the most common complaint.
Use with Statins
During clinical trials where Zetia was used in combination with other statin medications, the following side effects were noted: myalgia, fatigue, headache, increases in alanine aminotransferase, increases in aspartate aminotransferase, pain in the extremities, arthralgia, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis. Nasopharyngitis was the most common complaint.
Post Market
Since Zetia has been approved and in use, the following side-effects have been reported: anaphylaxis, arthralgia, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, pancreatitis, headache, depression, cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, rash, angioedema, urticaria, myalgia, elevated liver transaminases, thrombocytopoenia, paresthesia, pain, erythema multiforme, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis and elevated creatine phosphokinase.
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