Zetia

[sal858]

I would like to know if anyone is having a good result with Zetia. My doctor has given me Zetia samples and a prescription to take in addition to Lopid. I have been taking Lopid which has reduced my triglycerides but my cholesterol is still high. I tried niacin but had some reaction. I know Zetia is new and would just like to know if anyone is taking it without problems before I start the samples.

[Mandie]

Hi Yes I am starting zetia. I took my first one last night and unfortunately had terrible stomach distress with it. I will try it again tonight and see. I cannot take any of the statins due to leg pains. The do work great for me too. I was going to try non flush niacin- how much did you take and what happen to you I am hesitent about the zetia due to the "newness" of rhe drug, but at this point I really don't have too many options, although, if I do have stomach problems from it then I will have to discontinue it as well Let me know what you decide.

[sal858]

With the niacin I started on regular type about 500mg per day. Got very severe flushing. Switched to the no-flush type and flushing diminshed. Worked up to 1000 mg per day. I started to get a lot of joint pain. Just about anywhere I had some existing joint stiffness I got a lot of pain and swelling. So I stopped the niacin and was prescribed Lopid (gemfibrozil). I understand most people tolerate the niacin well but I guess not me. The Lopid has been very effective on lowering triglycerides, raising HDL and lowering LDL but my total cholesterol has stayed high. I tolerated the Lopid pretty well.

[Mandie]

Gee every time I think that maybe I have another option, I hear bad reports and I get so very disgusted. Well, I have tried zetia for two days now, and I have to report that each time that I took it I developed terrible stomach pains and gas. This is very very very discouraging being that I went off the zocor and was hoping to replace it with this pill. I finally got up the courage to take it, and now I don't know what to do since I am sitting here with a bad stomachache. I don't know what I would rather have- leg pains from zocor, or a stomachache from zetia. What a choice?? The lopid also gave me stomach pains. I have IBS and I have to be so careful as to what I take internally. I did not try the niacin yet, but you said that you developed joint pains? I have never heard of this. NO one else on this board has reported this.

[maryrnbsn]

I had been taking Zetia for about 3 weeks but I was experiencing extreme nausea so I stopped taking it. I also experienced a fullness in my throat that felt as if something was pressing on my trachea and had a runny nose the entire time. I found out that some of the adverse reactions to this drug included all I was experiencing. Not good news. I am still taking Niacin and I tolerate that very well. For those who cannot tolerate the flushing I suggest taking it at night before going to bed.