The People's Pharmacy® with Joe and Terry Graedon

I had severe muscle cramps on Vytorin and was switched to just the Zetia. I continued to have muscle pain in my legs so I stopped the Zetia and the pain went away. I would like to see a show done on the erosion of patient confidence in their doctors because of the terrible side effects of most medicines given these days. I just had to stop my blood pressure meds as well because my lips started to swell up. I had to stop my arthritis meds because of the heart risks. So now I don't take any meds but my thyroid medicine. When a doctor offers medication now I tell him or her to please offer an alternative if possible. I will only take a medicatiion now if it is necessary to save my life.

I have taken just about all the anticholesterol medicines (including the statins) on the market over a period of years. The non-statins did nothing for my cholesterol levels and the statins all caused me severe muscle pains.

Then I tried Zetia. It caused the same type of muscle pain as the statins. I have been on WhelChol for nearly a month and am experiencing muscle pain. Muscle pain is not a common side effect of WelChol, but it is listed as a less common side effect on the literature I was given. The diets for high cholesterol have been ineffective for me.

I have been suffering leg pain and muscle weakness for months. I have gone to 2 doctors with my complaints. They all knew I was taking Lipitor. One doctor switched me over to Zocor but didn't mention the fact that Lipitor might be causing my problem. I took Zocor about 6 months and had heard from friends the statins might be my problem.

I have been off of them for about 2 months and my legs and muscles are much better. They were so bad I could barely walk around and felt like I was going to end up in a wheelchair. Going to the toilet was a major event. I could hardly get down and a bigger problem getting up. I still have to push myself up from the toilet seat as my legs are still not strong enough.

I do feel that I am on the road to recovery but I would not take that kind of medication again. My hand coordination was such that I couldn't button my shirt or put on earrings. That problem is almost gone now. Maybe these comments will help others out there before it's too late.
Sherry Brown
Albuquerque, NM

Zetia was prescribed for me a couple of years ago. After taking a half dozen pills, my arm and leg pains were so severe that I could barely walk or change my socks. The pains have been reduced after taking steroids for about 6 months, but they have not entirely disappeared, and they move around to a different location every couple of days.

The medical community seems unwilling to accept that Zetia could cause these severe pains.

My doctor put me on Crestor around November 06, and I had a surgery done in December 06 for my back. Soon after the surgery, I was having a hard time trying to walk-my legs just wouldn"t support me. I had to be hospitalized for the pain in my legs and hips, and nothing given to me relieved the pain. I continued on Crestor everyday that I was in the hospital despite all my pains.

My cholesterol levels were great, but my muscle pain was getting worse. I finally remembered that Lipitor had caused the same symptoms a couple of years ago, and I stopped the Crestor.

After a couple of weeks, I started feeling better, until my next doctor visit revealed that my cholesterol levels had increased again.

My doctor put me on Zetia. But I now have to see my heart doctor because of the following symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle weakness again, very tired during the day, and severe pain in my hips. I bet it's from the Zetia.

I started taking Zetia about 2 months ago, as I will not take statin drugs due to their severe side effects. I'd done research on Zetia and it appeared to have fewer side effects. However, I have developed severe hip pain with pain in my shoulders also. I found numerous reports of the same kinds of problems after taking Zetia, so feel that it is the reason for the pain. I have pulled the plug on Zetia.

How can Doctors in good conscience prescribe these medications? My Dr offered to prescribe pain medication or refer me to an orthopedic Dr, even though xrays of my hips and back were totally normal. I am disappointed, again, in the quality of care given by the medical community.

My doctor prescribed Lovastatin for me about a year ago for elevated cholesterol. I had slight pain in my right bicep area. It was not disabling, & I felt I could put up with it. Recently, though, I've also had intense pain in my hip and right leg to the point that I can hardly function. I saw the doctor yesterday, and he told me it couldn't be the lovastatin as that would cause pain in my entire body. I am tempted to discontinue taking the drug to see if the pain ceases. Would that be dangerous?

I was prescribed Zetia to lower my cholesterol of 230. Within days, I was experiencing muscle pains, mainly in my calves. I thought the pain was from wearing flip-flops; I didn't even consider that it could be the Zetia until the muscle pain spread to my arms, thighs and back within the 19 days that I was on the medication. I also had strange sensations in my feet and toes. I took my last pill this morning, and will lower my cholestreol holistically! Don't want to be a statistic of the dangers of this drug.

I started on statins a year and a half ago after a stent was put in my heart. Severe muscle pains. It was almost a type of myalgia--rolling pain that wasn't predictable. The worst was when I would go to the dentist; my entire jaw would be in pain, even though there was no reason for it. I think the statins contributed to it.

Stopped taking the latest--Crestor--for a month and felt great. I have also been taking prilosec for acid reflux and everything was under control. Doc wanted me to try Zetia to try and keep my chol number down. I now have lethargy, severe bronchitis-like pain and muscle pain.

The bronchitis-like pain is what I experienced before on statins, which the prilosec keeps under control. I wonder, since Zetia works through the gut, if it is somehow counteracting my prilosec. Finally, muscle pains are starting to return. I am beoming a disagreeable person and wish there were another way to lower my cholestrol--my child suffers because of my discomfort; it causes me to be worn out and not very pleasant sometimes.

So what can be done to lower cholesterol? I had severe muscle pain with both Zetia and statin drug use. I thoght I was having an aneurism of the brain. My mother died of natural causes at 82. She weighed 105 lbs., smoked, her cholesterol was 400, and she had no heart problems, no HBP? What can I do--mine is 277.

I was given Zetia for a year, to lower my cholesterol. I noticed muscle weakness, gradually turning into problems raising legs, weakness in arms and spine. Went into hospital for two weeks in Feb. CPK level at 12,000. Given mega dose of steroids, then brought home with 64 mg Medrol. Many side effects from steroids. Lost 25 lbs--brain "fried." CPK lowered after 3 months--removed from steroids--(they now believe too quickly). Was "normal" for 4 weeks, then muscles weakness started again. Back on 64 mg of Medrol--almost as weak as Feb.--losing more abilities each day, & PCP, Neurologist, Arthritis Dr., have no clue how to help. Steroids might be counterproductive. I have always had low tolerance to meds. Feel like I will be bed-bound again shortly. Had 4 weeks of remission since this started. Any help would be so appreciated. Thanks
P.S.: After this--I hope to take no meds, only vitamins.

A very short trial of Lipitor caused me extreme muscle pain and weakness. I was trying to be a "good patient" and follow doctor's orders. The doctor lady seemed quite annoyed at my complaint. Next came a short trial of Zetia and she was totally annoyed again as this medicine "does not cause the symptoms" I described to her. She warned me of the risk I was placing on myself by refusing to take it.

I don't think I will ever recover to my former condition before going for an "annual physical checkup" a couple of years ago. Previous to that I only went to the doctor when I was truly feeling sick, maybe 1 or 2 times a year. I am now 69. Like I said, I was trying to be a compliant patient but I am not too interested in returning, so will think twice before making another casual medical appointment.

I have taken different statins and at times Welchol. I have been taking Vytorin for a while, and then we added Welchol. I am getting muscle pain. I think it is from the Welchol. I would love to see other comments regarding this single issue of having muscle pain with Welchol.

I have had similar experiences with statins. After a few weeks on Lipitor, I began waking up multiple times each night with tingling so severe in my hands / arms that I would have to get up and walk around. I then switched to Crestor and tried multiple times through dosage reductions and augmentation with Zetia to make this work, but recently muscle & joint pain forced me to stop again. Now, I feel great and am convinced these drugs are not for me! I exercise quite a bit and have heard that side effects like this are more common with active people.

I have been on Zetia for a year. I never attributed the small creeping discomfort to the drug. Last week I went to emergency at the hospital because of excruciating pain in my legs. When I can get around again I will be lowering my cholesterol naturally.

Have taken Zetia for 6 months, which did not lower cholesterol significantly. However, was informed yesterday my thyroid gland "is not working" and I should go on thyroid meds. No prior thyroid problems at all. Could the Zetia cause this?

I too was placed on zetia along with lipitor to reduce my cholorestol. My doctor stated that the lipitor had reduced my hdl to 111, but he wanted it to be under 100, so he put me on zetia to get that done. I must admit, I have been feeling much better since hdl has been lowered, but man... I just started having terrible cramps in my calf. They would run all the way down to my feet. Walking would help it. This has happened about 3 times. I am pretty sure that the statins are causing this problem. I am sure that if I lost weight my statin days would be over, though. I will have to get off this medication if, in fact, it is doing something this bad to me.

I started Vytorin and after only three days had abdominal pain, leg and hip pain and weakness in my legs. My doctor suggested that it must be the "statin" element in this drug. Now only two weeks on 10 mg of Zetia and I have had 2 sleepless nights of muscle and joint pain especially in the hips and lower back.

This seems like a rare reaction--but with what I have been reding perhaps it is not so rare! I am taking myself off this med immediately and will only try natural supplements from now on.

The first statin I was perscribed was Zocor. I started having severe low abdominal pains and diarrhea. My Dr. had me stop the Zocor and started me on Lipotor. I developed flu-like symptoms and my Dr. then started me on Crestor. It took about 3 weeks for a persistant, dry hacking cough to develop.

My Dr. then started me on Zetia and Welchol. This time it took 15 days for severe low back pain to develop. I was sure I was trying to pass kidney stones. After being treated at the ER and everything coming up negitive, the pain persisted for 3 more days. A CT scan also came up negitive. About 2 weeks later, I developed severe low back pain, Rt hip/flank pain and Rt calf and ankle pain. The calf pain felt as if my muscles were trying to blow out the side of my leg. The pain was continous and excruciating.

I went back to my Dr., who told me he didn't think it was from the Zetia. He thought it was a pinched nerve in my back and ordered an MRI of the lumbar. I had that done today and am waiting on the results, which I know will be negitive. My Dr. also perscribed Vicodin and Fentynal pain patch.

I told my Dr I was going to stop the Zetia and Welchol. He was against it, but I was insistent. After 3 days, the pain has decreased about 75%. I still have waves of burning pain, but I can handle it without feeling like I'm going to die.

Once the MRI results come back, I intend to find another Dr. One who will listen to me and hopefully I can trust. I no longer trust my current Dr.

Have experienced muscle and joint pain from both statins and Zetia. Tried both lipitor and provacol. Tolerated former for years and the latter for about a year. In the end had severe joint pain and weakness in legs. Confirmed this by going off and on meds with symptoms reappearing when back on. On Zeria for about a year with no side effect, then intense muscle spasms in lower back. Nearly could not get out of bed after attack. Immediatly went off of Zetia and symptoms went away within 4 days. Staying off of both statins and Zetia family until I get a reading from internal medicine specialist on what is going on and what damamge may or may not have been done to organs.

After 10 days of taking Zetia I developed severe leg muscle pain & weakness and severe vomiting & no sleep for 4 days.

After recent blood work, I was placed on Welchol and Zetia. I sincerely tried to get through one month but am now having severe rib, low back and leg pain. I cannot walk without discomfort.

I have heard a lot about Red Yeast Rice. What are the facts about its use? Any side effects? I had used statins before and stopped them because of the pain. Severe pain is not a fair trade-off for lowered cholesterol! Thanks.

I had problems with Lipitor in the past, so my doctor prescribed Zetia. I took the drug for a month with continual symptoms of nausea and vomiting. I finally figured out that the vomiting was directly caused by the Zetia! So after a month of not being able to eat anything but a turkey pot pie a day (and some of that didn't stay down) I went back to my doctor who agreed that the Zetia was to blame. I was very weak, had palpitations, and back aches as well. I still have the weakness (though not as severe) and the back aches and palpitations after over a year off the Zetia. Have been on a regimen of vitamin c, L-lysine, L-carnatine, pantothenic acid, coQ10, and fish oil... will see if that works.

Two years ago I used Crestor. Experienced extreme muscle pain & weakness... I was so ill I thought I had Lou Gehrig's disease... Lost 40 + pounds.

My doctor (former doctor now) just wouldn't believe Crestor was causing trouble. I stopped it myself against medical advise. It took about 6 months to completely recover.

I've been on Zetia for about 6 months now and I'm beginning to feel some muscle pain/weakness, but not like Crestor.

Just took matters into my own hands. Was on Lovastatin for 3 years and suffering severe hip pain and extreme fatigue. Dr. insisted it was none of my medicines and I blamed the pain on my heavy vacuum cleaner. So I decided to stop the Lovastatin and see what happened. Within 2 weeks I was pain free, alert, not tired and thrilled that I took matters into my own hands. Now they want to put me on Zetia which I hear is also causing severe muscle pains. I am afraid to go back to suffering. Any advice?

I was put on lipitor and eventually an alternative statin after my legs were so painful I could not function or walk properly. I read on the internet that this could be a side effect of taking statins so I stopped.

The leg pains ceased almost immediately. Howoever two years later after ventricular tachycardia and a medical misadventure when my heart was pierced during a procedure to find and oblate the arrythmia (RVOT) causing the tachycardia and the breastbone was severed to repair the hole in the heart, I am again experiencing pains so severe in legs and hips that I have difficulty walking and my quality of life is poor.

I wonder now if this is a side effect of any of the other drugs I am taking to slow down the heart and reduce blood pressure to stop the entricular arrythmia (sotolol, inhibace, norvask, felodopine). Anyone suffering from leg and hip pains from any of these??

I have found the medical profession to be very inexact in the science of diagnosis and especially if you have different problems each expert only seems to be able to look at one, their own, not how they all interact. Your life is literally in your hands. FG

I HAVE BEEN ON lOVASTATIN FOR 10 YRS. Two yrs ago I started having problems with the abdominal muscles... tightness. Answers?

My mother has also been on Zetia for several months with increasing rotator cuff pain developing into arm pain so severe that she could not dress herself. She had similar problems with Lipitor and fell down constantly, had severe leg and hip pain, etc. Now with Zetia, the doc insists that it doesn't work the same way and couldn't be the cause of the arm pain. RIGHT??!!

After hearing and reading ads for Zetia, it has the same side effect profile as other statins. I told her to stop taking it as of today and see what happens. However, after reading these posts, it seems that too many folks are having the same unexplained searing pain in their extremities--and all are on Zetia! Makes you wonder!! Incidently, we spent Christmas eve in the ER with every test known to man from blood work, heart tests, CAT scans, etc--nothing showed up.

My amylase became elevated on Lipitor so I was changed to Zetia about 4 years ago--I've had right knee discomfort for 1 1/2 years and for the last 6 months I've had right hip pain as well. Even though I exercize and practice yoga regularly, I felt that I was not able to develop any muscle strength... I've gone for physical therapy, chiropractic treatments, acupuncture... 2 days ago the lights went on and I considered Zetia as a possible cause--within 36 hours I experienced a noticable decrease in my hip and knee pain--there's no way this is a coincidence.