The most common side effects of ezetimibe are joint and muscle pain, respiratory infection, and diarrhea. This table shows the most common side effects and how many people out of 100 taking ezetimibe are likely to have them.

Common Side Effects of Ezetimibe

People who take start taking ezetimibe with their statins usually don’t notice a rise in side effects. The rate of side effects is usually about the same as when they were only taking statins. In fact, studies show that people taking a placebo have about the same rate of side effects as people taking ezetimibe. A placebo is a pill with no medicine in it.

Uncommon, but Serious Side Effects

Some people taking ezetimibe have had serious allergic reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you have:

  • trouble breathing
  • hives
  • swelling of your face, mouth, eyes, or nose

Other uncommon but serious side effects have been reported by people taking ezetimibe. These include severe muscle damage and inflammation of the liver, pancreas, or gall bladder.

The Bottom Line

Most people don’t have side effects when taking ezetimibe. Luckily, if they do, the symptoms tend to be minor. Still, always talk to your doctor if you have concerns or have side effects.

Side effects may be few, but tell your doctor if they happen to you!