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What Are the Zetia Medication Side Effects?

Zetia is a drug used to help lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol, or LDL cholesterol. It works in the intestine to block the absorption of additional dietary cholesterol. Zetia is a tablet that is taken once a day unless otherwise prescribed.

  1. Significance

    • Zetia may be taken as either a single therapy or in combination with statins, another class of cholesterol medication. Combination therapy may lead to the development of additional side effects.

    Effects

    • Common side effects of Zetia include joint pain, diarrhea, and sinus and upper respiratory infections. Muscle pain, fatigue and headaches are side effects commonly experienced when Zetia is taken with a statin drug.

    Warning

    • Those with moderate to severe liver disease are typically not prescribed Zetia because, according to the National Institutes of Health, there has not been enough research to clearly establish safety of use.

    Treatment

    • Most side effects are mild and end upon stopping Zetia. Infections that occur as side effects of taking Zetia may require treatment with antibiotics.

    Considerations

    • Patients who have been prescribed a combination therapy of Zetia and a statin should have routine liver enzyme lab tests. Constant elevations of liver enzymes may require cessation of one or both drugs.

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