Zetia - High Cholesterol Message Board

edkal · 09-14-2006, 02:57 PM

My Dr. put me on Zetia 10 mg about a week ago,because my protocol of all natural vitiamns was not doing enough.

Any one out there taking this Cholesterol lowering drug can let me know what if any side effects, you are having and how well has it done it job.

I am having headaches all day long. The worst is in the morning to 3:00 pm and the least is in the late evening.

Any comment on this is appreciated.

NHone · 09-14-2006, 09:24 PM

Zetia is NOT what they tell you it is. While it is true that zetia does not stop the production of Coq10...they did not go far enough. Zetia is know to stop the absorption of COq10. It also stops the absoption of other essential vitamins. The longest tests that did on Coq10 was a 12 week period. Side effects were supposed to be reported by doctors; however, we all know that doctors rarely report side effects because their drug reps tell them it is not a side effect of the medication. I did report some of the side effects of Zetia directly to the maker. They are supposed to keep this information (by law) and file a report. When someone else I know had the same problems, they also reported this to the maker of zetia. They put them on hold , while they "said" they were checking to see if this had been reported before. They came back on the line and side they had not had a report of this. (also by law the maker of zetia should have reported this to the FDA....I guess they did not. It is not right having the headaches. Contrary to popular opinion (and many people know this).... the side effects do not always go away...you can have permanent damage. Cholesterol numbers are only that..they are numbers..they do not tell you if you have inflammation in the arteries. From current research inflammation is what you should be watching for. A CRP test will tell you (to a certain degree) if there is inflammation present.

20withacne · 09-18-2006, 09:23 PM

Because of the way zetia is recycled in the body you might also have a lot of GI upset. Why did you DR choose zetia?

Lenin · 09-19-2006, 05:22 AM

edkal,

With Zetia, headache isn't uncommon but the most likely side effects are gastrointestinal like 20 mentioned...diarrhea and stomach upset.

I gather you are still off your statins?

My hat is off to you with your 30 year survival since your bypass. How long has it been since you stopped the Lipitor and how long had you taken it?

edkal · 09-19-2006, 04:52 PM

Thank you all for responding to my post. I'll try to answer all questions in this post.

I am not taking satins.

Have been off Lipitor now over 8 months.

Was on satins for over forty years. ( What ever was available at the time to present)

Dr, put me on Zetia because my lipids were high and he will not put me on satins again because of past side effects. He told me theat Zetia works through the intestines and not the liver.

Headaches are gone. No apparent problems with the lower tract

Will have a complete blood work up done in first week in Oct.

Yes, I am very grateful that my bypass has kept me around all these years, thanks to my surgeon and Huntington Hospital in Pasadena, Ca.