Crestor is a statin (rosuvastatin calcium) only, Vytorin is a statin (Simvastatin) with Zetia (ezetimibe). Statins work by controlling the production of cholesterol in your liver while Zetia works by preventing cholesterol to be absorbed in your digestive system.
Of the two, Crestor is the stronger of the two. In addition, recent trials have shown that adding Zetia does not improve the performance of Vytorin over Simvastatin alone.
With numbers as high as yours, you need some medical interaction as lifestyle changes alone will not get your levels low enough to be healthy. You could try getting some exercise, but I doubt if that alone would do it, even with a healthy diet. It is unfortunate that you are in the small minority of people (approx 1% of users) that have adverse side effects from statin use, but not all statins are the same.
Severe liver damage as a result of statin is virtually unknown. The current clinical practice is to discontinue statin when the liver enzymes have increased to more than three times the upper limit of normal. Although zetia on its own does not generally cause liver enzyme abnormalities, it might potentiate the enzyme abnormalities, when coadministered with a statin.
Except for the backache that came with Crestor. It looks like my muscle pain is diminishing though. I am afraid to go on zetia either. I am helpless not knowing what to do. My doctor said I have to atleast take the meds for 3 months before the blood test. But then even with this horrible muscle pain he did not ask me to get the CPK tested. Should I ask him?
Thank you for the support.
Incidentally, unrelated to GA, I started taking Zetia for cholesterol about 3 years ago and soon thereafter developed a severe chronic cough that nearly drove me crazy (and everyone around me!) I saw several doctors and was given many different medicines.
I think they have concluded that neither do Zetia, except when used with a statin, so it is the statin doing the work. I also think Welchol has been shown to not reduce cardiac events too. not sure. I am on Repatha. Third bi weekly shot. have about 1/3 of the severity of symptoms that I had on statins. headache, muscle aches. may put up with it and may not. just keepin on keepin on for now. Will see if this gets better, worse or stays the same.
Fenofibrate
If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving ZETIA and fenofibrate, gallbladder studies are indicated and alternative lipid-lowering therapy should be considered [see ADVERSE REACTIONS and the product labeling for fenofibrate].
Choleithiasis is Gallstones in the gallbladder. Ask about it.
Use this site or the FDAs website to look up the drug interactions and precautions when taking the two drugs together, and if you Dr is not hearing it, then go to another DR.
I am 48 year old female, have had high cholestrol for which I have been on Zetia & Tricor for several years, now is almost normal. I had a bad reaction to the statins- ended up in the hospital with very high liver enzymes. Recently, I have been getting very lightheaded and experiencing pain in my upper arms. My doctor refered me to a cardiologist who performed the heart ultrasound and the holter which came back normal.
Anyone here know anything about zetia and its affect on the thyroid and or levo absorption? I have read it may affect absorption and the rx monograph says talk tp your doctor if you have thyroid disorders.
He knows I am on synthroid, but I am curious how this drug affects it.
1 Kpa
My Hbsag is going down really slowly (which is disappointing). What I am worried right now is my fibroscan results increased from 4.2 Kpa (9 months ago) to 6.1kpa. Is it because of Peg tx? My doc assured me that it's still in the normal range. I shouldn't take HepTec products right now because of tx, right? What should I do to reduce fibrosis? Advice please.
Glomerular filtration rate or its approximation of the creatinine clearance are measured whenever renal disease is suspected or careful dosing of nephrotoxic drugs is required. The normal ranges of GFR, adjusted for body surface area for males is 70 ± 14 mL/min/m2 (56-84) . Risk factors for kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, family history and older age.
Take care and keep us posted.
My (74 year old) father currently is taking these medications together Pravastatin Sodium 80mg, Zetia 10 mg, Isosorbide Mnonitrate 30 mg, Metoprolol tartrate 50 mg, Plavix 75 mg, Amlodipine Besylate 10 mg, Aspirin (nsaid) 81 mg low dose
The doctor told him his liver count is up 66 and the lower range is 64. Would any of these drugs or combination of these drugs make liver count increase?
My (74 year old) father currently is taking these medications together Pravastatin Sodium 80mg, Zetia 10 mg, Isosorbide Mnonitrate 30 mg, Metoprolol tartrate 50 mg, Plavix 75 mg, Amlodipine Besylate 10 mg, Aspirin (nsaid) 81 mg low dose
The doctor told him his liver count is up 66 and the lower range is 64. Would any of these drugs or combination of these drugs make liver count increase?
I had hot flashes and night sweats for several years, but none in the past few years, until the night sweats began again about a year ago. I am in good health. I regularly take the following medications; zetia, prilosec, neurotin, fish oil, glucosimine, alieve, melatonin, and a multi-vitamin.
What could be producing the pink sweats?
My doctor has changed my medication to Crestor which I was told to first take one a week for a couple of weeks, then (2) pills a week for 6 weeks then he will order another blood test. How long does it take after I go off the first medication before I should be able to tell if it is the medicine causing my muscle soreness? My cholesterol was a total of 282 with a HDL cholesterol in the 80's.
Have you been diagnosed by a mental health professional (a general doc is not a mental health professional). Your dose of Effexor is getting very high. You are right now on two of the strongest and most difficult of all antidepressants to take and stop taking, paroxetine and effexor, and both target serotonin in ways that is very strong and is why they are so hard to stop taking. You need a different doctor ASAP, in my opinion, and a psychiatrist at that.
Well, I can only say that when I had my MI, I could not find a single comfortable position to relieve it. Breathing fast, breathing slow, laying down, standing up, curling up, kneeling down, the pain was intense no matter what I did and lasted for about 20 mins then completely disappeared.
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