This article describes possible side effects of ezetimibe oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for ezetimibe.
Ezetimibe oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Zetia.
You can explore this overview article to learn more about ezetimibe oral tablet, including the drug’s uses, dosage, and more.
More common side effects of ezetimibe
Ezetimibe oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects.
Below are some of the more common side effects of ezetimibe oral tablet that occurred during the drug’s studies. These side effects varied based on whether ezetimibe was taken with or without a statin drug.
More common side effects in people taking ezetimibe oral tablet without a statin include:
More common side effects in people taking ezetimibe oral tablet with a statin include:
- runny nose and sore throat
- upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
- joint pain
- diarrhea
- muscle pain*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of ezetimibe in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of ezetimibe
Ezetimibe may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Keep in mind these side effects can vary slightly depending on whether ezetimibe is taken with or without a statin drug.
Mild side effects of ezetimibe oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* An allergic reaction is possible with ezetimibe oral tablet. This side effect wasn’t reported in ezetimibe’s studies. But it’s been reported since the drug was approved for use. To learn more, see the “Side effects of ezetimibe in detail” section below.
Ezetimibe oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
Serious side effects of ezetimibe
Ezetimibe may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from ezetimibe oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911, or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with ezetimibe oral tablet.
Serious side effects of ezetimibe oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
* An allergic reaction is possible with ezetimibe oral tablet. This side effect wasn’t reported in ezetimibe’s studies. But it’s been reported since the drug was approved for use.
To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects of ezetimibe in detail” section below.
Common questions about side effects of ezetimibe
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of ezetimibe oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can ezetimibe cause weight gain?
No, ezetimibe oral tablet isn’t expected to cause weight gain. This wasn’t reported as a side effect by people who took ezetimibe in the drug’s studies.
Ezetimibe is often prescribed together with a statin drug to lower cholesterol. A large study found that people taking a statin tend to consume more calories and gain more weight over time. This was in comparison to people not taking a statin. Eating more calories can lead to weight gain. But ezetimibe and statin drugs aren’t expected to cause this side effect directly.
Ezetimibe is meant to be taken together with diet and exercise to lower cholesterol. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your weight during your treatment.
Is cancer a side effect of ezetimibe?
No, cancer is not a known side effect of ezetimibe treatment.
When ezetimibe and statin drugs were first approved for use, there was some concern over whether these drugs increased the risk of cancer. But research shows that ezetimibe does not cause cancer. Instead, it may have anticancer effects, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about cancer and ezetimibe.
Will I experience hair loss if I take ezetimibe?
It’s not likely. Hair loss wasn’t reported as a side effect by people who took ezetimibe in studies.
In fact, researchers have studied taking ezetimibe as a treatment for a certain form of hair loss that doesn’t respond to other therapies.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about hair loss. If you take other medications, your doctor can help determine whether they may be causing your hair loss.
Does ezetimibe cause long-term side effects?
There are a few long-term side effects reported with ezetimibe treatment. But these are very rare. They include liver problems and severe muscle problems. To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects of ezetimibe in detail” section below.
These side effects could start shortly after beginning ezetimibe treatment but may continue for a long time.
If you have concerns about the long-term side effects of ezetimibe, talk with your doctor.
Coupon for ezetimibe
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for ezetimibe when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
Side effects of ezetimibe in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of ezetimibe oral tablet.
Severe muscle problems
Ezetimibe may cause muscle problems as a side effect. Muscle problems weren’t reported in the drug’s studies. But they’ve been reported since the drug was approved for use.
It’s unknown whether mild muscle problems are common with ezetimibe treatment. This is because these reports happened outside of controlled studies. But severe muscle problems have been rarely reported in people taking ezetimibe. The risk of this may increase if you’re taking ezetimibe with a statin drug or another medication known to cause muscle problems.
Symptoms of muscle problems can include muscle pain or weakness. It also includes muscle cramps, spasms, or stiffness.
There have also been reports of rhabdomyolysis in people taking ezetimibe alone and in people taking ezetimibe with a statin. With rhabdomyolysis, your skeletal muscle is damaged and breaks down. This is a severe condition that can cause disability or death. It requires immediate medical treatment.
Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis can include:
- weak muscles
- fatigue (low energy) or generally feeling sick or unwell
- low urine output
- urine that’s dark or “tea-colored”
- fever
- nausea and vomiting
- confusion or agitation (restlessness)
Certain factors may increase the risk of experiencing muscle problems with ezetimibe treatment. These include:
- whether you’re taking a statin drug together with ezetimibe and the dose of the statin
- being age 65 years or older
- having kidney problems
- having hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Ways to manage
Should you develop symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the closest emergency room for treatment.
If you notice symptoms of muscle problems while taking ezetimibe, let your doctor know right away. They can check your symptoms and determine the best course of action. This may include stopping your ezetimibe treatment.
Liver problems
Ezetimibe can rarely cause liver problems. Liver problems, including serious ones, are more likely to occur when ezetimibe is taken with a statin drug. Statin drugs are known to cause serious liver problems.
Serious liver problems were not reported by people who took ezetimibe alone in studies. Ezetimibe rarely increased liver enzyme levels when it was taken alone. In rare cases, increased liver enzyme levels can be a sign of liver damage. Liver damage wasn’t reported in ezetimibe’s studies, but it can still occur in very rare cases.
Symptoms of liver damage can include:
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
- fatigue (low energy)
- urine that’s dark
- pale or clay-colored stools
- itchy skin
Ways to manage
It’s important to watch for the above signs of liver damage if you take ezetimibe with a statin. If you notice symptoms of liver damage at any time, immediately contact your doctor.
Before you begin taking ezetimibe, your doctor may order a blood test to check your liver enzyme levels. They’ll do this especially if they prescribe a statin for you to take with ezetimibe. Your doctor may occasionally order these tests throughout your treatment.
If these test results show a high liver enzyme level, your doctor may have you temporarily or permanently stop taking ezetimibe. And they’ll have you stop taking a statin if you’re prescribed one. Usually, your liver enzyme levels will return to usual once you stop your ezetimibe treatment.
Allergic reaction
For some people, ezetimibe oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. This side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies. But allergic reaction has been reported since ezetimibe was approved for use.
Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know if you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to ezetimibe oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for ezetimibe
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking ezetimibe oral tablet.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take ezetimibe oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether ezetimibe oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking ezetimibe oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include those listed below.
Liver problems. Having a liver problem affects how well your body can break down ezetimibe. It’s not known how the drug affects people with moderate or severe liver problems. Due to this, doctors won’t usually prescribe ezetimibe if you have moderate or severe liver problems, such as liver cirrhosis. They can discuss other treatments that may be safer for you to take instead. To learn more, see the “Side effects of ezetimibe in detail” section above.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to ezetimibe oral tablet or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe this medication. Ask them about other treatment options that may be better for you. For more details, see the “Side effects of ezetimibe in detail” section above.
Ezetimibe and pregnancy
It’s not known if ezetimibe is safe to take during pregnancy. But ezetimibe is commonly prescribed with a statin drug. And statin drugs should not be taken during pregnancy.
Talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or can become pregnant. They can review the best ways to treat high cholesterol during pregnancy. They can also review your medications to determine if any of them will affect your pregnancy.
Ezetimibe and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether it’s safe to breastfeed while taking ezetimibe. This is because it’s unknown whether ezetimibe passes into breast milk.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about other feeding options for your child. They’ll discuss the risks and benefits based on the medications you’re taking and your health history.
Ezetimibe and alcohol
Ezetimibe oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol.
But drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause liver problems. In rare cases, ezetimibe oral tablet can cause liver problems, particularly when it’s taken with a statin drug. Drinking large amounts of alcohol may increase this risk further. (To learn more, see the “Side effects of ezetimibe in detail” section above.)
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with ezetimibe oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of ezetimibe oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Based on my health history, do I have an increased risk of side effects from taking ezetimibe?
- If I have a stuffy nose from ezetimibe treatment, will taking allergy medications help?
- If I develop kidney problems while taking ezetimibe, will my risk of side effects change?
- Does exercise increase my risk of muscle problems as a side effect from ezetimibe? Are there certain activities I should avoid?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
