Ezetimibe

[JoJoDimm]

Good morning, I have just been prescribed Ezetimibe as statins caused lots of problems with my hiatus hernia. Is anyone else in this medication and have they had any stomach side effects.

[JennyRx]

I’ve been on ezetimibe for two years with no obvious side effects.

[Survivor1952]

I’ve been on ezetimibe for 10 months and found it very effective with no side effects of which I’m aware

[EU95PTM]

Yes, I’m on this (alongside max statin). I don’t think I experience any side effects.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to EU95PTM]

Me too 👍

[JoJoDimm]

Thank you all for your replies. I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in two weeks time about the Hiatus Hernia after that appointment, I will start the Ezetimibe.

[Glynone]

I'm on them and I find them OK no side affects.

[Blearyeyed]

I have to take Ezetimibe and Rosuvastatin and use a low fat/ cholesterol diet because I have Familial HyperCholesteroleimia.I've had no obvious side effects with the addition of Ezetimibe and it has had a good effect on my cholesterol levels , the last jigsaw puzzle piece I needed to get my cholesterol back into normal range.

[Survivor1952]

I’ve been on Ezetimibe for 9 months along with Rosuvastatin with no issues. It’s been very effective.

[JoJoDimm]

Thank you for your response, I think I will start to take this meditation, but I will wait until I have had my appointment with the gastroenterologist on 2nd April.

[Enwau]

I was interested to hear that statins affected your hiatus hernia. I too have a hiatus hernia and changed from Atorvastatin to Rostatuvastatin because I suspected that it was the cause of my problem. I was prescribed Ezitimebe six months ago but had to wait until my liver readings normalised. My Atorvastatin was reduced from 80 to 20mg and finally I can start the Ezetimibe. However as I still have a few problems, and like you I’m a bit concerned about side effects, I have decided, as a result of your email, to wait until I have my gastroscopy in a month’s time. Unlike you, I have been told to continue with the Statin although the consultant did say that if I was lucky I might be able to discontinue taking them.

[JoJoDimm]

Hi Enwau thank you for your response. I too am going to wait until I see the consultant next week before I start any other medication. The doctor who referred me says he does not think the hiatus hernia has anything to do with the flare up, but it seems strange that this happened just after taking the statins and gradually, and I mean gradually, healed after stopping the statins.

[PatMat]

I’m just about to start it too, to add to fortnightly self injections of Repatha. I’ve been diagnosed with FH and need to avoid statins because of any existing autoimmune condition which affects my muscles amongst other things. Here’s hoping it works for both of us!

[Maxspencer]

Hi JoJoDimm,

I have been on statins for over 5 years now and have suffered terrible indigestion ever since - mainly during the night, it should be noted. I have been prescribed various Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) over this time - also tried a hundred other so called remedies to no avail - but they haven’t helped much and the long term usage of these comes with other risks.

My GERD/LPR/indigestion problem only started after taking the statins and I did subsequently have an endoscopy that revealed a small (less than 2cm) hiatus hernia. I also take ezetimibe (no obvious effects as started about 2 years ago to further reduce my ldl cholesterol) with the statin but have recently come off the statin (10 days ago).

I wonder if you could please share how long the after stopping the statin that your symptoms from your hiatus hernia cleared up? Also, what were the particular symptoms that you believe the statin caused you?

Many thanks for your help and I wish you every success with your treatment.

Max

[JoJoDimm in reply to Maxspencer]

Hi Maxspencer. I feel for you. I have had a hiatus hernia for many years, had two endoscopy’s, the last one about two years ago which showed up a small hiatus hernia. I started the statins at the end of December, by the beginning of January, the hiatus flared up. It had been under control until then and the PPI’s I had been prescribed, I had eased myself off them until then. My doctor asked me to give them another two weeks to see if it subsided, it did not, made it worse. I was back on PPIs, twice a day. They took me off the statins, it took a good couple of months on a very bland diet, nothing that irritates the stomach for it to go away. Since then I have had no problems, no PPI’s, so you can see why I do not want anymore statins. They want me to take ezetimibe, but I am still reluctant. My cholesterol was borderline.

[Maxspencer in reply to JoJoDimm]

Thank you very much for that JoJoDimm,

That gives me great hope for improvement over the coming weeks/months.

In terms of taking ezetimibe, it has never caused me any additional hiatus hernia problems but then I don't know if it might prevent the issues from clearing while I'm still on it. I plan to come off the ezetimibe in 20 days as part of my 'lifestyle change over medication' choices. I am getting full bloods done every month to ensure that all my important health markers are not being badly affected.

To be honest, I am starting to put more importance on tests like HbA1c, Apo(A), Apo(B), CRP, triglycerides, HDL, VLDL and various ratios than total LDL-C, as from my research there seems strong evidence that high LDL-C (especially at over 60) is not such a useful indicator.

I wouldn't like to advise you because I'm no expert but if you're borderline perhaps a more detailed lipid profile might be worth pursuing first?

Anyway, the best of luck to you and I hope you get things sorted to your satisfaction because worry is the worst thing for you in my opinion.

All the best,

Max

[JoJoDimm in reply to Maxspencer]

Hi Max, a lipid profile is interesting, how would I get one of those? It is something I would like to find out before embarking on more meditation.

[Maxspencer]

Hi JoJo,

You can ask your GP, just please make sure that he includes all the heart markers I have mentioned. I get mine done by a private company called Thrivia and they do a package for you to take your own blood at home - 2 tiny vials' worth so not too difficult or painful (small prick in finger). Obviously they charge you (think it was £106 for my last set) but they are very good and quick and unlike your GP you don't have to wait forever.

There are other companies out there too that may be cheaper but I haven't tried any others.

Good luck!

[JoJoDimm]

Thank you.