muscle pain and Zetia

[Guest guest]

Hello all, Have any of you developed muscle pain while taking

Zetia?

I was put on Zetia approximately 6 months ago. This doc was an endo

I was referred to for hairloss. But he took one look at previous

labs I brought that were ordered by my gp and said, " you have high

cholesterol. " I said I had to stop 10 mg of Zocor that I had taken

for about 6 years due to myositis, muscle inflammation. Those lab

numbers were as follows:

Tri: 127 normal range

TC: 208 high

HDL: 49 normal

LDL: 134 high (According to the lab results paper, the

desirable range for LDL for patients with CHD or Diabetes is <100 and

<70 for diabetic patients with known heart disease.)

I have never had any diagnostic tests that show that I have known

heart disease. I have had pre-operative tests to monitor my heart

and always passed these tests. Even my gp wants my LDL below 70. He

is the one who originally prescribed the Zocor back in 2001, as soon

as my TC went over 200.

I had to stop taking the Zocor 18 months ago when I

developed " myositis " while doing P/T for tennis elbow. I couldn't

lift even 10 lb. weights or use the therabands without extreme buring

pain in the biceps, also the tennis elbow just got worse, probably

also from the Zocor. I asked my gp if the sore biceps muscles I had

for 4 months after stopping P/T could be due to the Zocor. I had

seen the commercials for Lipitor that said, " tell your doctor if you

develope any unexplained muscle pain or weakness as this could be

the sign of a serious condition. " (Rhabdomyolysis) That's when the

lightbulb over my head went on. With my gp's permission, I stopped

the Zocor and the pain started to go away in 3 days.

While taking the Zetia starting in July, I developed lower back and

neck pain, this was something I had before, but did not associate it

with taking statins. After I had my next labs done in October, I

stopped the Zetia, and the pain in my neck and back started to

subside.

The endo said taking Zetia should not cause muscle pain like Zocor,

but the info that he gave me with the Zetia said possible side

effects include joint pain and muscle aches. I guess the endo

doesn't read the literature he hands out. Also, on the Zetia.com

website in states, in bold print:

Unlike some statins, Zetia has not been shown to prevent heart

disease or heart attacks.

HELLO, WHY AM SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT THEN?????????

I do still have some muscle pains, but not nearly as bad as on any

kind of cholesterol lowering drugs. I had one doc, a rhuematologist

tell me " don't forget you are 54 and have diabetes. " But if the pain

gets better after stopping the drug, I think it's the drug.

Connie