Compare Zetia vs. Lovastatin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers cholesterol.
Zetia (ezetimibe) can improve your cholesterol and can be used as an alternative to statins.
●●●●●
3.3/ 5 average rating with 128 reviewsforZetia
Lowers cholesterol.
Mevacor (Lovastatin) can improve cholesterol, but it's not as strong as other statin medicines. Statin side effects can be difficult to deal with, but the benefits might outweigh the risks.
●●●●●
3.4/ 5 average rating with 89 reviewsforLovastatin
Upsides
- Lowers "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and raises "good" cholesterol (HDL) in people who have trouble doing this through diet and exercise.
- Can be used with other medicines to improve cholesterol.
- Available in a combination pill with simvastatin.
- Available as a generic.
- Lowers "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (fats) and raises "good" cholesterol (HDL) in people who have trouble doing this through diet and exercise.
- Can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death, particularly if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or a history of smoking.
Downsides
- Doesn't lower triglycerides (fats).
- Hasn't been shown to lower the risk of heart attacks or heart disease.
- By itself, it isn't as effective as statins for improving cholesterol.
- Not the best choice for people who have very high cholesterol levels.
- Statins can cause digestive problems, blood sugar problems, muscle aches and stiffness, muscle injury, kidney damage, and liver damage. Some people have to stop taking this medicine because of these problems.
- You're at higher risk for these side effects if you are female, are 65 years or older, drink alcohol every day, take more than one medicine for cholesterol, or have liver disease, kidney disease, or diabetes.
- Not safe to use if you're pregnant.
Used for
- High cholesterol
- Hereditary high cholesterol diseases in adolescents
- Hardened coronary arteries
- Hardened coronary artery prevention
- High cholesterol with diabetes
- Heart failure
- Heart attack or pre-heart attack
- Heart bypass surgery
- Coronary angioplasty
- Stroke prevention
- Atrial fibrillation prevention
- Nephrotic syndrome (kidney problem)
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
- Extended release
Price
Lowest price
$21.21
Find instant savings near youLowest price
$5.32
Find instant savings near youWant to save even more money?
Sign up now for a 30-day trial and save up to 95% at CVS, Kroger, Albertsons, and other pharmacies.
Learn more
Reviews
128 reviews so far
42%
saidit'sworth it
34%
saiditworked well
21%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Zetia (ezetimibe)?
Leave a review89 reviews so far
43%
saidit'sworth it
39%
saiditworked well
22%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Mevacor (Lovastatin)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
12possible side effects
- Diarrhea4%
- Common cold4%
- Sore throat4%
- Sinus infection3%
- Joint pain3%
- Pain in arms and legs3%
- Muscle pain3%
- Abnormal liver tests3%
- Fatigue2%
- Flu2%
- Back pain2%
- Gallbladder removal2%
2possible side effects
- Elevations of CK levels11%
- Increase in serum transaminases2%
Risks and risk factors
- Harm to fetus
- Muscle pain
- Taking Zetia (ezetimibe) with statins
- Abnormal liver blood tests
- Past history of liver disease
- Taking Zetia (ezetimibe) with statins
- Muscle pain
- Kidney disease
- High dose of Mevacor (Lovastatin)
- Combining with certain cholesterol-lowering drugs
- Older age and female gender
- Liver damage
- Heavy alcohol use
- History of chronic liver disease
- Harm to fetus
- Pregnancy
- Breast feeding
- Drug interactions
- Taking with certain drugs that increase the dose of Mevacor (Lovastatin) in the body
- Muscle weakness (autoimmune)