High cholesterol is a major controllable risk factor for heart disease and stroke. According to the American Heart Association, or AHA, each year approximately half a million people die of heart disease in the U.S., making it the number-one killer of adults. Cholesterol medicines can lower cholesterol to healthy levels, but they may also occasionally cause bothersome or harmful side effects. The risks of taking these medicines need to be weighed against their benefits.
Effects
Vytorin is a combination medicine consisting of ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, and simvastatin, a statin, says the NIH. This combination allows for increased effectiveness by the dual cholesterol-lowering effect of decreasing cholesterol absorption form the intestine by ezetimibe and lowering cholesterol production in the liver by simvastatin, says the NIH. Also, the combination allows for lower doses of each drug to be used, thereby decreasing the chance of side effects, reports the NIH.
Common Effects
According to the NIH, common side effects of Vytorin occurring in 2 or more percent of users include head pain, diarrhea, problems breathing, cough, fever and muscle pain. Other reported side effects include allergic reactions, nausea, lightheadedness, pain in the joints, insomnia, depression, gall bladder problems and liver problems, says the NIH. Liver function tests are needed to check for liver damage, and blood tests are also done to check for muscle damage, reports the AHA.
Precautions
Vytorin can cause problems when taken together with certain medicines such as blood thinners, cyclosporine, fenofibrate and gemfibrozil, so close watching for side effects is needed, says the NIH. The NIH also advises that use of any prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbs with Vytorin should be reported to the doctor. Vytorin should not be taken if liver damage is present or during pregnancy, as it may cause serious problems, says the NIH.
