Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed to treat high cholesterol in adults and certain children. As with other drugs, Vytorin can cause side effects, such as headache and muscle aches.

Vytorin can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Vytorin in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Vytorin use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Vytorin’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Vytorin include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Vytorin and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Vytorin. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Vytorin may cause serious side effects, although they aren’t common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Vytorin’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Vytorin, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • Myopathy (muscle damage) and rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown that can lead to kidney failure). Symptoms can include:
    • severe muscle pain or weakness
    • fever
    • extreme fatigue
    • nausea and vomiting
    • dark-colored urine
  • Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (an overactive immune system response that may cause muscle cell death). Symptoms can include:
    • weight loss
    • extreme fatigue
    • muscle weakness
    • difficulty lifting your arms above your head
    • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • Elevated liver enzymes.*
  • Severe allergic reaction.†

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Vytorin. However, this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Vytorin may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Vytorin.

Muscle pain or weakness

Vytorin can cause muscle pain or weakness. This is a commonly reported side effect in clinical trials of Vytorin. It occurred more frequently in people taking higher doses of Vytorin.

Mild muscle pain or weakness most often happens within the first few months of starting Vytorin or after increasing your dosage. It usually goes away after 1–2 weeks.

Certain factors may increase the risk of this side effect, such as your age and sex assigned at birth. If you have a kidney problem or unmanaged hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels), you may also have a higher risk of this side effect.

What you can do

Tell your doctor if you have mild muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness that doesn’t go away. They can recommend ways to manage this side effect, such as lowering your dosage or changing how often you take the drug. Sometimes, changing to a different statin medication will help.

Your doctor may suggest doing a creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) blood test if you’re experiencing muscle pain. CPK is an enzyme that helps with muscle function. An elevated CPK level could be a sign of muscle damage. If your blood test shows a high CPK or other signs of muscle damage, your doctor will likely recommend that you stop taking Vytorin.

If you have severe pain along with dark-colored urine and a fever, get medical attention right away. This could indicate a more serious side effect called rhabdomyolysis.

Elevated liver enzymes

Vytorin can increase your liver enzyme levels, which can be a sign of liver damage. Elevated liver enzymes weren’t common in clinical trials of the drug.

In most cases, elevated liver enzymes are mild and don’t cause any symptoms. They will likely return to normal levels even if you continue to take the drug.

Symptoms of liver damage may include:

It’s also important to note that Vytorin contains the active drug simvastatin. Liver failure has been reported with simvastatin and other statin drugs since they were approved for use. However, this side effect did not occur in Vytorin’s clinical trials.

What you can do

Before you start taking Vytorin, your doctor will order liver function tests to check your liver enzyme levels. They may also run these tests as necessary during your treatment with Vytorin.

If you have any symptoms of a liver problem, talk with your doctor right away. They will check your liver function for any signs of damage. If these tests show that you have a liver problem, your doctor will likely recommend that you stop taking the drug.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Vytorin can cause an allergic reaction in some people. This side effect did not occur in Vytorin’s clinical trials. However, some cases have been reported since the drug was approved for use.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Vytorin. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Vytorin. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These include:

Liver disease: You should not take Vytorin if you have a history of liver disease or if your blood tests indicate a liver problem. This is because Vytorin can cause elevated liver enzymes, which may be a sign of liver damage. If you’ve ever had a condition that affects your liver function, you may have a higher risk of liver damage with Vytorin. If you have liver disease, or if you’ve had it in the past, talk with your doctor about whether Vytorin is right for you.

Kidney disease: Your kidneys help remove drugs from your body. If you have a kidney problem, such as chronic kidney disease, it may be more difficult for your body to remove Vytorin from your system. In turn, this can increase your risk of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis while taking Vytorin. Talk with your doctor about any kidney problems you may have before taking Vytorin. They may recommend a lower dosage of Vytorin for you.

Alcohol consumption: There are no known interactions between alcohol and Vytorin. However, heavy alcohol consumption may increase the risk of liver problems with Vytorin. Your doctor can advise how much alcohol, if any, is safe to consume while taking Vytorin.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vytorin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vytorin or similar medications. This includes Zocor (simvastatin) and Zetia (ezetimibe), which contain Vytorin’s active drugs. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding: If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, Vytorin is not considered safe for you to take. Before you start taking Vytorin, be sure to tell your doctor if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. They can discuss other treatment options for your condition, as well as the safest ways to feed your child.

Most side effects of Vytorin are mild and tend to go away as your body adjusts to the drug. Serious side effects with Vytorin are rare. Talk with your doctor if you have side effects that don’t go away, are bothersome, or are serious.

If you’d like to learn more about Vytorin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.