Statin Drugs & Memory Loss
Dr Graveline's articles are a must read and great follow up to my earlier post "Bad News About Statin Drugs". Here again is another incredibly serious side effect that's great for business with disease but certainly not what the customer expects and gets....
"Recommended risk scoring methods overestimated coronary risk in a representative British male population" One has to wonder how many Alzheimer's Dementia cases are a result of this non essential treatment, in the first place, let alone the fact that the whole cholesterol hypothesis is based on smoke and mirrors. See: "What's a little cholesterol amongst friends?". More "evidence for profit based medicine" not that more is needed but then it keeps falling on deaf ears and they keep getting away with it.
There are so many iatrogenic complications that one must try, as best as possible, to take matters in their own hands or be subjected to these sleeping, incompetent and/or corrupt charlatans. To get started on your own research for heart disease see: "Orthomolecular Solutions to Heart Disease".
Chris Gupta
Transient Global Amnesia - A Side Effect of Statin Treatment
Duane Graveline, MD, former NASA Astronaut, USAF Flight Surgeon, Space Medicine Research Scientist, Family Doctor. 4414 Cormorant Ln., Merritt Island, FL 32953
Try to imagine the complete inability to formulate new memory. This condition is known as transient global amnesia, now known to be associated with statin drug use. My first encounter occurred six weeks after my annual astronaut physical at Johnson Space Center. Despite regular exercise, weight maintenance and proper diet my total serum cholesterol had risen to 250 mg and the recommendation of the flight surgeons there was to start Lipitor, 10 mg daily. My wife noticed me walking aimlessly about the yard after my return from my usual walk. I did not know who she was and would not enter our house. Our family doctor referred me immediately to a neurologist and finally, in the office of the neurologist, my senses returned to normal. Following a negative MRI the following day, the diagnosis of transient global amnesia was made. I discontinued Lipitor because I suspected it was the cause.
At my next NASA physical I was assured that statin drugs do not do this. Reluctantly I started again with 5 mg, daily, one-half my previous dose. Six weeks later I descended again into the black pit of amnesia, this time for an extraordinary 12 hours. In addition to the mainly antegrade amnesia which characterized my first attack, this time I had a retrograde element all the way back to my high school days. Gone was my medical school training, USAF flight surgeon career, my marriage and four children and even my selection as scientist astronaut. Again the same doctors made the same diagnosis, transient global amnesia. Again I stopped Lipitor on my own knowing it was the cause but I was the only one convinced.
Several months later I got in contact with the statin drug study at UCSD's College of Medicine. There, Dr. Beatrice Golomb reported she had several cases just like mine. A few days later, thanks to the Graedons of the radio program Peoples Pharmacy, thousands of case reports of memory dysfunction started flooding in from patients across the country, all with the same common thread - association with statin drug use. And the amnesia is just the tip of the iceberg of the true incidence of memory impairment associated with Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor. For every case of amnesia, thousands of cases of extreme forgetfullness, incapacitating confusion and profound disorientation have been and are being reported. Neither patients nor doctors are aware of this side effect.
The Statin Dialogues ( Side Effects of Lipitor and similar statins )
Cast of Characters
Almighty: The powerful makers, promoters and distributors of the stronger statin drugs ( Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor ).
Candide: Innocent and skeptical doctors and their patients.
Watchover: FDA's medwatch program.
Shield: Pharmaceutical companies adverse drug event reporting program.
PDR: Physician Desk reference of drug use and effects.
Almighty: "Our wise counselors tell us the time has come to promote the use of our wonderful statin drugs to an even wider audience. Perhaps all blood relatives and even children now should be included in our primary prevention efforts. It is for the common good that we seek this."
Candide: "We admire your promotional efforts but what of the side effect issue? Certainly this deserves some consideration."
Almighty: "The side effects are but a nuisance - a minor and almost negligible factor with this fine product. Think of the thousands of lives we are saving. Is there any real doubt as to the common good of our efforts?"
Candide: Over fifty deaths occurred among users of your fine statin drug, Baycol, only recently removed from the market. I do not consider this minor or negligible nor do you, I am sure. I am very concerned about these deaths. Why did there have to be in excess of fifty tragic events before action was taken? Would not ten have been sufficient, or even one? What say you to this?"
Almighty: "This was a failure of your government's Watchover program, not ours. We have been scrupulous in our adherance to governmental guideline`s. Deficiencies such as you describe are attributable solely to guideline inadequacies. Certainly our vigilant Shield program gave us no warning.
Candide: "May I say that your Shield program in its present form may be more protective for you than the public? In its present form your so called drug hotline is nothing more than a barrier, prohibiting, rather than encouraging, communication with those among you serving as medical advisors. Manned by robots only superficially resembling life forms their response to an earnest request to talk with someone with authority is considerably less than satisfying."
Almighty: "Your critical statement is completely unjust. Think of the good we are doing from the extensive use of our statin products and the lives we are saving? Millions of people now are taking our products. Most assuredly our sentiments are for the health of the public."
Candide: "I appreciate the saving of lives but at what cost? On the subject of cost may I state as an aside that the astronomical financial rewards you have derived thus far from your drugs already have vastly exceeded your developmental costs yet we still must pay the same exorbitant price we paid years ago. I sense greed here but the costs I was referring to are the costs of pain and suffering as well as deaths in some users of your wonder drugs. Is this really necessary?"
Almighty: "This war against mankind's greatest threat, that of atherosclerotic occlusion of major arteries due to cholesterol plaques, cannot be fought without some casualties. There has never been an effective treatment without some side effects. We consider the record of the statin drugs in this respect to be exemplary."
Candide: "What you say is generally true with the possible exception of your Baycol drug but because of the vast numbers of people now taking statin drugs even a one in a thousand incidence of a problem, low by any reckoning, becomes one thousand when a million people are taking this drug. Total Global Amnesia, once so rare that most physicians have never seen a case in their entire careers, is now quite common in our emergency rooms associated with simply being on a statin drug. But amnesia is only the tip of the iceberg. For every amnesia case report there are hundreds if not thousands of cases of confusion and severe memory disturbance associated with being on statin drugs."
Almighty: "Memory disturbance you say. What person over the age of fifty has not encountered memory disturbance, long before the advent of statin drugs."
Candide: "Right you are and therein lies the problem. For years patients have been interpreting deterioration of memory shortly after starting statin medications as simply coincidental presenility or the earliest harbingers of Alzheimers, never making the association that these symptoms might be a side effect of a medication their physicians have prescribed. Similarly, physicians have tended to discount patient reports for the same reasons, never suspecting the medication the drug company's detail men have been pushing could be subtly aggravating the relatively common complaint of memory problems among those over the age of fifty. This also could explain very well the failure of your Shield program to alert you that statin drugs might be causing serious cognitive problems. Neither patient nor doctor is likely to file an adverse drug report when they firmly believe they are dealing with advancing senility."
Almighty: "But we have listed these very problems in our PDRs description of possible side effects. What more can we do?"
Candide: "Could it be that your presentation of memory and amnesia in your side effect profile may be more like burying them amidst the confusing paradoxes of both agitation and lethargy, constipation and diarrhea, drowsiness and sleeplessness or both high blood pressure and low blood pressure often reported side by side as possibly related to statin use in some people. I consider presentation in this format beyond reasonable interpretation of even the most trusting and dedicated practitioner? Could we suggest that, like your adverse drug reporting system, such presentation is more for your legal protection than doctor edification?"
"What we are concerned about here is the relative significance of memory loss and amnesia compared with most of the other possible side effects. Our memory is what makes us what we are. To be deprived of memory, however transitory, is comparable to one's never having existed for that time period - to suddenly disappear from life as we know it. This is not a complaint to be buried with constipation and insomnia. Memory is the essence of what we are. And to be deprived of memory can place one in harm's way. Their very lives or the lives of others may be at risk because of that transitory period of lapse."
Almighty: "You have made your point that memory and amnesia are important in our daily lives but aren't you exaggerating things a bit. Can you relate even one case report where someone has been harmed because of poor memory attributable to our statins?"
Candide: "My inability to cite a specific instance at this point is the very same reason that your Watchover and Shield programs have failed to alert you promptly - lack of awareness among the general public and primary care physicians that cognitive side effects can result from statin drug use. So when a senior citizen goes on a two-day "walkabout" or, much worse, drives his car across three states in a whirlwind of wanderlust with absolutely no recollection when finally apprehended, rarely is the association made between his actions and his medications. One of our doctors, a senior primary care physician, who experienced a prolonged episode of total global amnesia six weeks after having been placed on Lipitor, reported that neither the emergency room doctors or the attending neurologist had the slightest awareness that their might be a relationship between this drug and his amnesia. The following year this same doctor when re-challenged by Lipitor at one-half the previous dose experienced a much longer amnesia episode shortly thereafter in which he regressed nearly to his teens with absolutely no recollection for the intervening fifty years. Again the same doctors marveled over his completely classic Total Global Amnesia while expressing strong doubts as to any possibility of a relationship with a statin drug. Incidentally this same doctor has expressed the gravest concern as to what might have happened had he been an airline pilot or a school bus driver when his statin drug abruptly took control of his life. Later he added that had he been flying his ultra-light, a common past-time for him, loss of control would have been inevitable."
Almighty: "An interesting, even amusing anecdote of no real consequence and explainable equally by other non-drug factors, which have been around long before statin drugs and you must agree that no harm resulted. Since you are unable to cite for me even one instance of harm resulting from statin drug induced transient memory loss and confusion, I rest my case as to the inherent safety of our remarkable product."
Candide: "Even though I have no actual record of physical harm you know as well as I that physical harm may well have occurred, not once but perhaps many times. Did you not just express to me your surprise and even shock at the numbers of Baycol deaths? Is anything more harmful than death? Certainly I did not know of these deaths until the time when the unfortunate drug was abruptly removed from the market. So the credibility of your Shield and FDA's Watchover programs has been seriously compromised. You might say it is lacking. Perhaps you should tell ME how much evidence of physical harm you people are sitting on, no doubt hoping it might just go away.
Almighty: "Surely you do not mean this terrible allegation? Tell me you jest? I promise you that if anyone had reported cases of this type to our Shield program, we would have been the first to react. Our product is a boon to society. The only problem of substance I see is that we are not reaching all those unfortunates who are in dire need of statin therapy. Your quibbling about your rare, relatively minor and quite harmless cognitive side effects may seriously hamper our outreach efforts."
Candide: "Again I must direct your attention back to the point we already have made. Lack of physician and patient awareness of possible relationships between cognitive side effects and the use of statin drugs almost guarantees that no instances of accident and statin drug use will be reported to you. The medical examiner or police are very satisfied with a "touch of senility" or "senior moment" causation in this climate of complete statin "safety" you have established. Rare is the examiner who would look more closely."
"Let us redirect our attention again to the subject of harm and this time view harm from a different perspective - that of psychological harm. Here I am speaking of the reports we have received from guilt ridden and thoroughly angry sons and daughters who watched their parents rapidly descend into dementia shortly after having been started on statins by their doctors who were striving only for the very best preventive care. We now know that many of these cases were not coincidental senility or Alzheimer's disease but drug induced cognitive side effects. The harm here is to the guilt-ridden relatives who now suspect the statin drug and especially to the prescribing doctor who forever will be regarded by them as inadequate at best and possibly negligent. This well-intentioned doctor may be completely unable to accept the reality that he may have been contributing to this sad state of affairs. He has been using this drug for years and only now is the cognitive issue surfacing. His ignorance of a possible relationship between his statin prescriptions and the subsequent decline in mental faculties of his patients is because you have buried this information in your PDR rather than effectively presenting it. This doctor has been wounded just as critically as the bereaved children. In light of this reality please do not say to me how "harmless" is your statin."
Almighty: "Why will you not accept that theses infrequent cases you cite are simply co-incidental, nothing else? One of our very learned colleagues in the hallowed halls of Pfizer has recently stated that, "There is a lot of evidence that statins improve memory function and no good evidence that it affects memory in a negative way." What say you to this?"
Candide: "If this man be truly learned then I would say he is ignorant of the data which now exists and which I have seen. If, on the other hand, he has seen this data and can still make that statement then he is a fool, wearing the hat of medical advisor but not qualified for it."
Almighty: "Strong words, indeed, and perhaps brash. May I ask why you feel qualified to pontificate so authoritatively on this subject?"
Candide: "I am trained, I have seen the data and I am not on your payroll. The last point is perhaps the most important - for the advice of a hireling is always confounded by secondary gain. A truly wise man always seeks independent counsel."
Almighty: "I want you to know that all of my many advisors flatly dispute the notion that statins contribute to memory problems but your words have strange appeal. Tell me more, especially about Total Global Amnesia but be warned that this condition is described in a medical encyclopedia printed long before the development of statins. Common sense would compel me to ask why you look to statins as the cause?"
Candide: "You ask a fair question and I have an answer that, in my opinion, is equally fair. When I was in my first year of medical school, Total Global Amnesia was described in my texts as a condition so rare that few physicians ever saw even one case. I was to practice medicine for nearly fifty years without encountering it. Now in this past year I have encountered a veritable flood of reports from all walks of life and across a wide spectrum of ages, all associated with statin drug use."
Almighty: "But my medical advisors tell me such reports are anecdotal and not to be considered as definitive evidence."
Candide: "Not admissible in your corporate court, therefore? I challenge your cavalier dismissal of such information. My medical professor used to say - listen carefully to the words of your patient. He is telling you the diagnosis. I would say the same to you - listen carefully to these case reports, for they are telling you a problem exists. To ignore them for no other reason than because they lack the double-blind format of standard research data is to deny they exist. Protocol appears to have blinded your advisors. None are so blind as those who will not see."
Almighty: "I wish to state for the record that we strive to do what is best for our public, which includes common citizens as well as our many shareholders. That we have saved thousands from premature strokes and heart attacks through the use of statins is accepted throughout the medical community. That a healthy pharmaceutical industry is good for society in general is also accepted. Now suppose you tell me of some of these case reports so that I may judge for myself how heavily they tilt the scale of justice.'
Candide: " I agree that you undoubtedly have prolonged the lives of thousands of individuals who tolerate the statin class of drugs. My concern quite obviously is not with your successes but with the large numbers of patients having intolerable and harmful side effects. How much a price must society pay for your successes? You pointedly left unsaid that your statin drug is now a multi-billion dollar industry. May I suggest these profit dollars and homage to your shareholders weigh heavily on your scale of justice? I never trust the words of those who would profit from them nor could I ever trust judgments you make of your statin "cash cow" but I will cite some of these cases if it pleases you."
"A wonderfully bright and witty lady, recently retired to her rural home after a rewarding career as top-level administrative secretary, awoke one morning to view new snowfall and the realization that she must go outside to split some wood for her kitchen stove. One can imagine her surprise when after opening the kitchen door she noted wood already split and piled somewhat haphazardly on her porch. Also evident were numerous footprints in the new snow suggesting to her that the nice young man next door must have done her the favor of splitting her wood, although this had not happened before. After collecting a few pieces of wood for her stove and returning to her kitchen she noted a partially consumed plate of food on the table. Someone had entered her home, she thought, and helped himself to food from her refrigerator. Now alarmed and confused, she naturally suspected an intruder, prompting her to do a thorough search of her home. Finding no one and about to call the police she took another look at her porch. It was then she noted that the pattern of all the prints matched the pattern on the sole of her winter boots. Realization dawned -she was both the well-intentioned neighbor and hungry intruder. Her anxiety over this alien amnesia lingered for weeks despite reassurances from the emergency room doctors that all her tests were negative and that her symptoms possibly were due to Lipitor, her new statin drug, which she stopped immediately. Constantly she wondered when and if this strange abduction of her memory would recur. Only when she learned of the compilation of similar statin related cases by a doctor at San Diego medical college did her confidence begin to return and her feelings of anxiety slowly disappear."
Almighty: "Bravo. You have thoroughly entertained me with this colorful anecdote, which my medical advisors tell me could have related just as directly to a purely co-incidental psychomotor seizure or a transient ischemic attack. Do you have any cases that prove anything other than your ability to entertain?"
Candide: "There are many similar cases but I feel I am wasting my mind. As already I have said, "None are so blind as those who will not see."
Almighty: "Perhaps you should be telling all this to Watchover, FDA's mechanism for the reporting of adverse drug reactions. Certainly if we have missed something in our own Shield program, Watchover will pick it up."
Candide: "Watchover was informed of each Baycol death as it occurred during these past two years but bureaucratic inertia allowed over fifty fatalities to occur before action was taken placing the credibility and effectiveness of FDA in serious question. Watchover has been informed of each of these memory loss case reports and after two years of review still has been unable to make a decision. The overwhelming majority of prescribing physicians in the United States today are completely unaware of the potential of statin drugs to alter memory."
Almighty: "Suppose you tell me more of these cases. If nothing else they are quite entertaining."
Candide: "I will continue to entertain you as you wish if for no other reason than the chance, however slight, that the sheer numbers may impress you even though your medical advisors still discount them."
"A husband noted for his sharp mind and ability for almost total recall got out of bed wondering what day of the week it was. His surprised wife quickly ascertained he did not even know what month it was. She reported he nearly drove her crazy asking this same question over and over again despite her repeated reassurance as to time and date. He knew nothing of their stocks and other money matters and could not understand how his wife could know all these things and he could not. Emergency room workup was negative Condition cleared completely after eight hours. Neurologist diagnosed Transient Global Amnesia, cause unknown but Zocor was suspected as it had been started six weeks earlier. The patient discontinued this drug and remained well."
"A university professor who always remembered everything lost an entire day during his first encounter with memory loss while on Lipitor. Weeks later during his second, he was unable remember his social security, telephone or bankcard numbers and could not even remember his birthdate. Suspecting Alzheimer's disease he had himself screened by a neurologist with negative findings. Only after his family doctor fortuitously substituted Pravachol (because of his complaints of co-existing muscle pain) did the amnesia episodes clear completely."
"A young loadmaster in the United States Air Force, who by the way is responsible for the proper loading of our military's huge cargo planes, was given a waiver for flight status for the use of Lipitor for cholesterol control. He soon began to experience multiple episodes of what he termed "short term memory loss". He stopped taking Lipitor immediately after learning of the possibility of such side effects from the Internet and his symptoms slowly regressed. He was very concerned that they persisted for several weeks after stopping the drug."
"A man parked by the side of the road on a dark night was interrogated by a state trooper and found to be lost, not having the slightest recall for traveling to this unusual site far off the beaten track and many miles away from his home. The trooper naturally suspected alcoholism but the man recently had started Lipitor. His attempts to offer this drug as a possible cause for his confusion fell on deaf ears but when several more similar episodes occurred the patient self diagnosed cognitive side effects of Lipitor and stopped the drug. The episodes slowly ceased. Despite his inability to convince his doctor he remains forever certain that his confusion and amnesia were Lipitor related."
"A former CEO of a company, known as a thoroughly competent, high achieving, typically type A personality, had been on Lipitor for nearly three years before being struck down by severe myositis and memory defects. He reported a bizarre episode of total global amnesia three months after discontinuation of the drug. His serum enzymes at that time, though improved, still were moderately elevated. His muscle pain was improving. He remarked to his wife that because their swimming pool, neglected by his recent near incapacitation with muscle pain, was green with algae he had to get some pool chlorine and other supplies. Imagine his surprise when after making a purchase of several gallons of chlorine and returning to his car, he found in the trunk a similar supply of chlorine already purchased. Distraught, he called his wife who determined from the sales slip that he had made the chlorine purchase the day before at a completely different store. He had absolutely no recall for having done this but there was no doubt that he had done it for his daughter had seen him while engaged in this purchase. She had been somewhat concerned because she had waved from her car as they always did and he had not responded. He did not acknowledge her presence in her very distinctive car. Always they had greeted each other with hand waving in a warm friendly fashion. In her judgment there was no possibility that he had not seen her. He simply had not been able to recognize her or the car despite their close proximity. She passed it off as just one of those things until her mother called the next day and they compared notes. The husband and father could function sufficiently to drive to a store and make a credit card purchase yet he was a completely different man who seemed to have regressed in memory then so that he no longer knew his adult daughter. Once having identified this "flashback " sort of a reaction the family began a more serious review of the father's memory problems of the past while still on Lipitor and discovered many more unreported, strange episodes. One time he abruptly realized he inexplicably was on a freeway, heading away form home in the wrong direction from anything he intended to do. He passed it off as being preoccupied. On another occasion he left in the morning to do some shore fishing. Later that day when asked if he went fishing he could not recall and was clearly flustered. On another occasion he called his wife on his cell phone to ask why he was in the Home Depot parking lot. He had planned to run some errands but none involved Home Depot. Woodworking materials were cut repeatedly and remained unused as he cut them out again and again. His wife feels that since the cessation of Lipitor he seems to be improving in that his episodes are less frequent but of course they are better reported in that the entire family is looking for these events and monitoring him closely. His pattern of amnesia episodes illustrate a very important fact about documenting such events - there has to be an observer for accurate reporting. The patient has no recall especially for the more mild events. Only if considerable time has passed or the patient winds up in an usual location, is he prompted to consider that something unusual has occurred. In the absence of an observer any patient history is apt to be very miss-leading."
"I could go on and on with these anecdotes, as you call them, but in my world they are patient case reports and would prompt most doctors to examine them critically, especially doctors affiliated with a pharmaceutical industry. What more can I say? You will note that in most of these cases it is the patient or family members who make the diagnosis not the prescribing doctor, so complete has been your PDR brainwashing."
Almighty: "I admit the shear numbers of reports almost forces a reconsideration of our labeling but remember, we long have stated that memory problems can occur with our statins. We are not our brother's keeper. What more can we do?"
Candide: "If you mean by that statement that your PDR listing of amnesia in its voluminous list of possible side effects absolves you from further responsibility you are wrong. You have not effectively communicated the problem of statin associated cognitive side effects to your doctors. I demand special labeling. I want all prescribing physicians to know of this possibility, however rare, so that when memory problems and growing confusion are reported to them by distraught patients, statin drug side effect should be the first thing the doctor thinks of, not the last. When that time comes I shall be satisfied."
The end.
Duane ' Doc' Graveline
See also:
Bad News About Statin Drugs
LIPITOR,® THIEF OF MEMORY
posted by Chris Gupta on Friday December 5 2003
updated on Saturday September 24 2005
URL of this article:
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2003/12/05/statin_drugs_memory_loss.htm
Readers' Comments
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Nancy-Ann Button on March 23, 2004 02:39 PM
I JUST STARTED TAKEN LIPITOR A FEW MONTHS AGO. I STARTED TO FORGET THINGS, AT FIRST IT WAS JUST LITTLE THINGS I WOULD SIT THING OUT AND I COULD NOT REMEMBER DOING DOING IT. THEN ON SUNDAY AT CHURCH I ASKED MY HUSBAND IF WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THE OFFERING UP TO DAY AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID WE JUST DID!! THE NEXT DAY I CALLED MY NURSE AND ASKED HER ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIPITOR. SHE ASURED ME THAT MEMORY LOSS WAS NOT A SIDE EFFECT OF LIPITOR. I JUST KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE REASON FOR MY SUDDEN LOSS OF MEMORY. I HAVW STOPPED TAKEN IT. I WAS RELEAVED TO READ THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THANK YOU.
Posted by: on April 13, 2004 03:22 PM
I have been taking statins on and off for the past 2 yrs..Since Jan of 2004 I have been on 40 mg of Zocor daily. My wife began to comment after a few months as to my forgetfulness (60 yrs. old with no history of Alzheimers in the family). I blew her off until the past month when I would start to say something and then forget what I was going to say. It came to a head yesterday when I was in an important meeting. I was half way through a sentence and I completely lost my train of thought. Is the situation reversible?
Posted by: Dennis Andrew on May 8, 2004 12:48 AM
My mother started taking Lipitor and start exhibiting painful muscle deterioration. She took herself off the medicine and her caridiologist became upset with her. She wants to know if the muscle damage is reversible. Any suggestions for a faster recovery?
Posted by: LaDeta Crawley on May 24, 2004 02:21 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: William L. Odom on May 25, 2004 12:14 AM
I have been taking Zocor 20 mg. and zetia10 mg was increased to 40 mg of Zocor and am having terrible memorie loss. I f I stop taking these will I be okay I wonder.
Posted by: Linda Dawley on May 25, 2004 06:43 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Steve Principe on May 25, 2004 07:54 PM
For info go to: http://www.health-heart.org/
Posted by: Chris Gupta on May 25, 2004 08:11 PM
What about Lopid (is a Statin too!) and Tricor.
Posted by: Prosper J. VanderWeijden on May 26, 2004 08:04 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Susan K Nelson on May 27, 2004 08:50 AM
I have been doing quite a bit of research to back up my feeling about this memory loss thing also. I have been on Zocor for about 6 years now and have noticed lately especially, a serious lack of ability to concentrate...loss for words in a simple conversation and a general loss of memory when it comes to the simplest things (like what I had for breakfast!). I am only 30 years old and reading this information has given me the guts to tell my doctor to take me off the stuff! I am too young to feel like I am losing my mind. Thank you Dr. Gupta for such an informative article.
Posted by: Marie Noble on June 1, 2004 06:04 PM
See what I mean...sorry, Thank you Dr. Graveline!!!!
Posted by: Marie Noble on June 1, 2004 06:06 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: J. Canino on June 8, 2004 03:03 AM
Lipitor has other side effects also. I had symptoms of severe heart pains as if I was having a heart attack (over several hours). I took myself off by telling the Dr. and have been taking Lipidil - not a statin. Lipidil Supra 160 mg. keeps my cholesterol where the Dr. wants it and I have no side effects.
Posted by: John Neely on June 10, 2004 04:40 PM
My son is suffering from delusional disorder at age 44. Never had any mental illness before. Started around time he started taking Zocor for heart disease prevention. (His father died from heart attack at age 45.) Dr. thought Zocor was a good preventive idea for his high cholesterol. I feel the drug caused this. I found one article listing this as a side effect along with anxiety, depression, obsessions and delusions. Has anyone else had this side effect? Any one know of any articles or reports on these type side effects?
Posted by: Allen Beth on June 18, 2004 05:18 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: gdabbs on June 19, 2004 10:32 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Chris Gupta on June 20, 2004 03:00 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Rich on July 8, 2004 03:24 AM
I too have had severe memory loss due to taking statins as well as being unable to walk with a troubled achilles tendon caused by this medication. I was admitted to hospital in January this year also with severe nose bleeds which I think was also due to the statins. I feel lost and depressed as I have very little confidence as now know that I cannot hold an intellectual conversation with anyone about anything without losing the thread of what I was talking about. I wish that there was someone who could help me. I eat bilberries twice a day which has helped a little. Will my memory ever be restored ?
Posted by: G Bates on August 18, 2004 08:50 PM
All those wanting to restore thier health first need to stop the the statin insults and then immediatley change their diets as per:
Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats
by Sally Fallon, Mary G. Enig PhD.
Posted by: Chris Gupta on August 18, 2004 09:22 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Linda Farren on August 21, 2004 05:26 PM
I have been on Zocor(20mg) for 6 years. Two months ago, my physician recommended 40mg. I have been "forgetful" lately and assumed that was normal until my wife and I went out to a special dinner which was a first in many months. The next day, she made a comment about dinner and my only memory was of dinner at home two night previously. When pressed to remember what I ate or where we ate, I could not remember. Fortunately my memory did come back when remined where we ate. However, I knew I had a problem. My physician said he did not think there was any corelation with memory loss and Zocor and recommended that I see a Neuro Psychologist for memory testing. When I pressed him, he agreed to let me stop the medication. After reading additional information such as listed here, I am glad I stopped.
Posted by: Mark H on September 3, 2004 06:18 PM
I currently take 5mg of lipitor. I have cut the lowest dose of 10mg in half. I have been concerned about all the negative information on the Statin Drugs. However when I stop taking the drug, my total cholesterol goes over 300 my good cholesterol remains at 57 or 60 which is good. When I take lipitor my total remains in the normal range. My total was not over 300 when I went on the drug and I have asked many times has the lipitor made me dependent on the drug for the rest of my life. The Doctor said that I could try Zetia instead of the Lipitor. What do you think of Zetia? Would the side effects be as bad?
Posted by: on September 4, 2004 06:08 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Terij on September 17, 2004 06:54 PM
Terij, A statin is a statin switching from one to the other is not going to cut it. See my response above...
Posted by: Chris Gupta on September 18, 2004 03:34 AM
In reference to CRESTOR, it has already been linked
to one death. The Health Research Group has warned
against it.
Posted by: Bob McFarland on September 19, 2004 09:48 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Paula on September 23, 2004 05:39 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Cathy on September 30, 2004 11:07 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Pip on October 1, 2004 01:39 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Camille on October 1, 2004 06:55 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: claudia on October 3, 2004 02:25 PM
I took myself off Lipitor when I saw a piece on tv about memory loss and statin drugs. I walked around the house like a zomby. Forgot about a cake I had in the oven, forgot a lot of names and felt sad a lot. I had this feeling of pending doom, plus a lot of anxiety. I was not happy about anything and everything I did was such an effort. I am predisposed to high cholestrol. Within a week after I stopped the lipitor I began to feel better. I would like to know if there is alternative solution to our problem.
Posted by: Cleo Farrington on October 9, 2004 07:15 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Susanne Blandford on October 12, 2004 04:34 AM
I heard about these side affects on the CBS news channel. Then I did a google search and found your website. I have already told my sister to stop taking her zocor immediatly & told her what I had heard.
Thankyou so so much for this information. We are going to discuss these meds with our doctor.
Posted by: Maryann Clark on October 12, 2004 06:39 AM
I just read today in "Balance" magazine about problems with memory loss associated with stins. I told my G.P. last week I thought I was forgetful due to the menopause and she agreed this was most likely. So I was appalled to read that memory loss, skin irritation and joint aches were all possible side effects. Reading some of the comments posted I was alerted to the possibility of nightmares, which I have also siffered from. It seems critically important to me that these drugs MUST be re-examined for safety.
Posted by: Lesley White on October 21, 2004 11:27 PM
I have been on Zetia about two weeks. One of my graduates told me where her classmate was working now. Ten minutes later I asked again. When she told me, I remembered that she had already told me. Ten minutes later I asked again. I stopped taking Zetia today.
Posted by: Bruce Ott on November 15, 2004 02:14 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: TJ on November 16, 2004 01:33 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: SG on November 18, 2004 02:08 PM
Please advise: My mother has been having severe leg and thigh cramps up into the groin. Completely incapacitates her. Also, muscles severely weakened and tearing in her biceps. The muscles are actually hanging. She is now on 40mg of Lipitor. Could this be the drug???
Posted by: J Gayhart on November 23, 2004 03:31 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Masango on December 2, 2004 03:53 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: on December 12, 2004 07:14 AM
THe VA put me on 40 mg statins to
lower my glucose but in less
then two years memory loss,bone pain,deep depression have sucked the
very core of my life out of me. I failed to mention the
reason I got the stain was
that they failed to find that I had diabetes for 2 years before telling me,and wanted to help me get my health back.All veterans should look
very careful at the meds they get and the effects they do.
I recommend a a walmart pill
book(papeback) to look for
cause and effect and symptoms
that may destroy your health
such as it hasdone to me.
Posted by: j.dean on December 16, 2004 03:51 AM
I am 79 years of age, I was given a triple Bipass about 10 years ago,then given Lipitor by the Cardiologist,
I have now stopped taking the
drug, as I believe it has been
the cause of severe leg cramps
and quite unusual memory loss
which I find distressing.
Posted by: Oswald Duggan on December 18, 2004 06:25 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Lisa on January 1, 2005 06:06 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Bruce McClintic on January 3, 2005 02:45 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Ed on January 3, 2005 04:38 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Cheryl on January 5, 2005 02:27 AM
Cheryl,
Many of the side effects are due just to lowering cholesterol it does not matter if it is from Statins or not.
See: LIPITOR,® THIEF OF MEMORY
Cholesterol is not the problem it is Homocysteine which can easily be reduced with the B vitamins hence no interest by the medical mafia.
Posted by: Chris Gupta on January 5, 2005 03:36 PM
I have always been a little absent minded (always thinking about something else), but following hospitalization for atrial fibrillation, I began taking Zocor, and the ability to think and to remember is ridiculous. My daughter, visiting from Oregon, really noticed it and told me she was worried. I find myself standing in front of the computer at school
Posted by: Priscilla Kelley on January 10, 2005 02:11 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Frederica Hanmore on January 29, 2005 03:15 AM
Read the book in comment posted on June 20, 2004 03:00 above.
Beside affectng memory Lowering Cholesrol in the brain can also depress you.
Posted by: Chris Gupta on January 30, 2005 04:12 AM
I am experiencing the same type of memory loss as every one else. I was at my family doctor today (Feb.4th 2005)and he was thinking that it sounded like mini strokes. Confusion has been a better part of my life the last 9 months. I started Zocor in June 2004. I have very high cholesterol which is heriditary. Had stents put in my legs in May and that is when the medication changed from Mevacor to Zocor and Setia which they say is the perfect combination started having amnesia spells and brain dead situations but never told anyone but my husband until my last incidient I decided to see my doctor and he said there were cases of my condition reported and he said I have to stop the Zocor. I was on Mevecor for 21 years and had aches and pains which was always contributed to fibromyalgia.
Well I have been diagnosted with peripheal neuropathy in December and I am on Neurontin and Vicodin due to all the pain and numbness in my feet. I am now wondering if that is also part of the "statins"
Posted by: Susanne Blandford on February 5, 2005 04:01 AM
I am 56 years old and my doctor had me on statins for the past three years to lower my cholesterol. Due to changing insurance providers I have been on and off the drug. I started on Pravicol, then tried Zolcor and last tried on Lipitor. I had a TIA event in September or 2003 and after that I started the Lipitor and stayed on it. My wife felt that the TIA event must have been more serious than the doctors were admitting because she thought my cognitive capabilities were seriously impaired. In August 2004 I had a minor stroke, a thrombosis in my right eye causing me to loose about 50% of the sight in that eye. In the medical testing after these events it was determined that I have a bicuspid aortic valve with some degree of stenosis (stiffening). After this last event the doctor increased the does of Lipitor and I really lost it. I run a small software development company and my employees could see that I was losing it. After embarrassing myself in front of customers and experiencing an event very close to amnesia, I started a search on the web about memory loss. After reading about the potential side effects of statins, I called my doctor and stopped taking the statin drugs about a month ago. I feel my memory is recovering at this time. I am not sure it will ever be fully restored. Since my business depends on my cognitive capabilities, I feel I have been working with a drug induced disability for the past year. One key to memory loss test I was failing daily was the ability to write down a seven digit telephone number. I could only write 3 or 4 digits at a time. I had go back and look at the number or ask the person I was speaking to to repeat the number.
I am angry that this side effect was not published by the drug manufacture. If I would have realized that this was a potential side effect I would have stopped taking the drug when the first symptoms appeared over 18 months ago.
Posted by: Ray Grosch on February 6, 2005 09:54 PM
My mother has been on statins for at least 3 years and we are seeing a worsening of short term memory loss after her general anesthesia for a rotator cuff repair-no stroke found on CT/MRI. Will she have a reversal of memory loss NOW if the statins are stopped? If so, what is the expected time frame?
Her MD wants to know if I have a web site indicating memory loss to Zetia OTHER THAN ANECTECDOTAL.
Please direct me to any science/medical based studies.
Thank you
Posted by: Vivian on February 14, 2005 05:31 PM
Vivan,
Read the Post on January 5, 2005 03:36 PM above for a book that contains the referances...
Posted by: Chris Gupta on February 14, 2005 09:53 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: SFJ on February 15, 2005 04:13 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Laura on February 18, 2005 06:03 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Greg on February 19, 2005 08:18 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: David on February 21, 2005 05:47 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Jim Keyes on February 21, 2005 01:35 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: KLH on February 22, 2005 07:43 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Connie on March 3, 2005 09:21 PM
these statin drugs should be banned. we already have a very good med for high cholesteral and i have been taking it for 6 months and my cholesteral levels are now normal and i feel very good havent had any side affects at all the name of this drug is called lipidil supra. if your doctor tells you to take a staten tell him/her that you would rather try lipidil instead
Posted by: charley on March 15, 2005 05:48 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Cheryl L on March 21, 2005 02:46 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Jeanette B on March 21, 2005 03:43 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: on March 29, 2005 05:38 PM
My mom is 59 and has been diagnosed with mild dementia - we are thinking it is early onset alzheimers. Just saw this info - mom has been on zocor for 5 years - and this is when the problems started. Have calls into her DRs - what are the other GOOD options (good meds)to take to lower cholesteral? What a miracle if this is her problem!!
Posted by: Beth on April 8, 2005 04:16 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Israel on May 14, 2005 10:43 PM
Israel, generally yes but depends on the individual and if you stop taking this rubbish as early as possible.
Posted by: Chris Gupta on May 15, 2005 04:12 AM
I have never taken a statin drug, even though a doctor wanted me to.
The first time was Baycol and I still have the prescription never opened. I few weeks after they gave me this. It was annouced that Baycol was being withdrawn.
They still try to to get me to take a statin drug, but I insisted that they give me the c-reactive test and if that turned out unfavorable that maybe I would take lipitor.
My c-reactive test came out very low. So I refused to take any statin drug.
My mother and aunt had high colesterol, about 275.
My mother lived to 96 and my aunt is still alive @ 93.
Memory loss can also come from too much MSG in your food you eat. Do a search on google on msg and you will be surprized at what you find.
MSG has 30 other names.
I was suprized that cottage cheese had msg in it, of course called by another name anneto and/or carriagean.
These food addivtives can also cause memory loss.
Posted by: H. Busch on June 1, 2005 10:40 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Albert Smith on June 16, 2005 12:19 AM
just finished reading all the comments on statins. my doctor put me on lipitor about 5 years ago for my triglycerides, which were way to high,but my cholesterol was good. I too have experienced memory confusion.Is there a site to go to for alternative help. asap. Jon
Posted by: jon on July 6, 2005 08:27 AM
Jon, see: STATIN DRUGS Side Effects
Posted by: Chris Gupta on July 7, 2005 09:26 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Laura Peterson on August 5, 2005 03:58 AM
Is their anything I can do or take to help improve my memory due to the lost caused by statins? I just stopped using Lipitor, but will most of my memory problems be resolved once off the medication?
Posted by: on September 7, 2005 01:17 PM
I am 31 and my total cholesteral is at 230, i have been on Crestor (my knees hurt so bad I could not walk) then I tried Lipitor and had massive pain around my rib-cage. My doctor has now put me on Pravicol and then she said to take "Coenzyme Q10" apparantly this will address and muscle pain, is this true???
Posted by: Tom Stodolka on September 13, 2005 03:32 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: on September 29, 2005 05:20 PM
I am 59 years old and have been taking 10MG of Zocor for over two years. I have been having such a problem with memory loss that I thought I had early Alzheimers. Today I discovered this web site and the possible link to Zocor! I found this site by accident when I was looking on the Internet for side effects of taking too much Ibuprofin (now I realize my muscle and joint pain might be Zocor, too). Now maybe I can get off the Ibuprofin as well as the Zocor. Thanks!
Posted by: Brenda Jackson on October 1, 2005 06:55 PM
I am 69 years old male. I have been on Zocor 40mg for 3-4 years. For the past two years my wife and her sister have been noticing dememtia but did not do anything until 5 months ago. We who loose our thinking abilities do not know it is happening. An appointment was made for me at a Neurologist to be tested for Alzheimers. We read about Zocor side effects and 3 weeks before the appointment I quit Zocor. I passed the Cognitive test. I went back on Zocor and retested 1 month later. At that time the Dr informed me that the CT SCAN showed that I had a stoke. I did not do well on the cognitive test this time. We (Dr & I) decided I should go off of Zocor and come back in several months. I have started to regain my memory and my thoughts are now sharper but still not up to where I should be. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that Zocor is bad and maybe other Statin drugs may be as well. I WOULD RATHER DIE AS RESULTS OF BLOCKED ARTERIES THAN SITTING IN A CORNER DROOLING WITHOUT ANY MIND.
Posted by: Norman Erickson on October 10, 2005 05:01 PM
I need to amend my statement above. {I} desided to take myself off of Zoco & my Neurologist did not try to change my mind. He did ask me to take Centrum Silver, a multivitamin & to try an find another colestrol lowering drug to take that would satisfy me. I am taking the vitamins but will not go back on any statin drug.
Posted by: Norman Erickson on October 10, 2005 06:00 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Suzanne Culp on October 15, 2005 01:14 AM
I v some memory loss and I have taken the Oroxadin and sintoms of memory loss and pain on my legs
Posted by: Cida Bassi on November 7, 2005 10:48 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Debra Clark on November 10, 2005 06:36 PM
I stumbled on this place after I read a UCLA article that came out Novemver 7th, 2005. The article is about Statins being a possible treatment for learning disorders and memory problems. I have memory problems, so when I read the article, I became excited. Of course having seen this, it makes me think twice. Here is the article I am referring to: http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6608
Anyone have any opinion on this?
Posted by: JP on November 13, 2005 02:54 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: La Nelle Parker on November 15, 2005 03:33 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Ted Booker on November 24, 2005 06:23 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Shirley on December 20, 2005 03:39 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: on December 25, 2005 06:36 PM
My mother recently under went knee surgery. she is 86. she had the beginnings of Alzheimers but was totally able to fuction on her own
Posted by: g cassidy on January 5, 2006 10:09 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Chris Gupta on January 5, 2006 04:21 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Peter Wiederhold on January 9, 2006 12:23 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Peter Wiederhold on January 9, 2006 12:24 AM
Peter, you must be joking, cholesterol @ 240 is hardly high! You are inviting trouble by lowering it. See:
FAQ about Cholesterol & Heart Disease
Posted by: Chris Gupta on January 9, 2006 09:39 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: John Horner on January 10, 2006 08:19 AM
Sirs,
How can I print the lower half of this article. My sister is taking Zetia and is having severe memory problems.
She needs something in print to take to her doctor. What can be used to lower colesterol. Jolene Harrison
Posted by: Jolene Harriaon on January 16, 2006 05:02 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Virginia A. Radaza on January 18, 2006 01:40 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: on January 21, 2006 06:59 PM
I sure do hope that my memory comes back. I read where someone posted that theirs did. Does anyone else have anything to report on this subject?
Posted by: Jayne on January 21, 2006 07:16 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Al55 on January 24, 2006 02:20 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Charles Boyer on January 25, 2006 11:59 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: M. Martin on January 29, 2006 03:07 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: D. F. on January 30, 2006 12:09 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: NELL on January 31, 2006 11:58 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Gery on February 27, 2006 01:06 PM
I was taking lipator for a few years and quit the pain has gotting so bad in my knees that i am going to have surgery this will not be a long term fix but should help for a while I HOPE!!!
Posted by: Lisa Smith on February 28, 2006 08:55 PM
My 71yr. old mother recently started taking the drug Pravachol a couple of months ago and she has been having severe nose bleeds - could the drug Pravachol be the culprit?
Posted by: Cheryl on March 18, 2006 09:51 AM
Worried about my current state of memory loss and i came across this site and wonder if simvastatins can be a problem as well?
Im 54 and been on these for 2 years now any comments gratefully recieved.
Posted by: Colin on March 29, 2006 04:02 PM
Colin, simvastatins is a statin drug hence will have the same problems.
Posted by: on March 29, 2006 09:35 PM
why am I still alive?
after recent stentoscopy left carotid I have noticed extreme cramp in my right calf and lack of circulation to that foot.after more doplar scans it seems the surgeon may have damaged the illiac region where he entered to do the procedure, another attempt at angioplasty then failed. after hearing views on statins and reading many posts here and from educated people in their field, now realise that for the past decade of taking lipitor or statin drugs just how much damage they may have caused. at present since stopping lipitor 4 days ago and now on omega 3 fish oil capsules and 120 mg of coq10 capsules am hoping for some relief.also have started on the himalayan berry known as goji. and before I accept my surgeons advice for a femural bypas, will look into the angioprim program.which tells you to take massive doses of vitamin c and e.I also have recently stopped taking celebrex after taking that for 5 years.the human body sure is one tough machine, dont give up hope..just read and learn from others without a financial gain
Posted by: gerry n on April 14, 2006 11:06 PM
I was prescribed Zocor following the placement of a stent. Within a few days, I was experiencing numbness, tingling, and pain in my right thigh. I contacted my doctor immediately, and was told the symptoms were likely due to spinal compression from my time in the hospital beds. Two weeks later (after a second visit to the cardiologist) the numbness and tingling turned into burning pain and was spreading to my arms, hands, feet, and face. At this point, I did my own research and stopped taking the Zocor. The pain lessened immediately, though it took months for the symptoms to subside. Two years later, I still have numbness in my right thigh.
Posted by: Michael on April 16, 2006 06:02 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Patty on May 19, 2006 11:59 AM
About a year and a half ago I began experiencing difficulties recalling words and formulating sentences when speaking with others. The problem was getting progressively worse and people were consistently commenting on how bad my memory was getting. My staff and girlfriend were getting angry with my inability to remember prior conversations and events. I knew something was wrong but did not know what. I contacted my doctor and suggested to him that I may have suffered a small stroke because my memory was not just bad, it was awful. Some time later I was filling out medical paperwork and needed to disclose all medications I was taking. I used the internet to get the correct spelling for Pravachol (yes, I was too lazy to go to the cabinet). Splattered on my computer screen were many links noting the association of short-term memory loss and Provachol (as well as other statin drugs). I called my doctor who stated that there was no evidence that statin drugs were linked with memory loss. He didn't convince me. I immediately stopped taking the medication. Within a week my memory was improving and now, a year later or so, my memory is CONSIDERABLLY better; back to normal. I was taking 40mg Pravachol tablets daily. Doctors and other supporters of statin drugs can deny from now until the end of time that there is no connection with statin drugs and memory loss (including cognitive dysfunction); my experience is that there is definitely a link and people need to speak out. There is nothing worse than the feeling of losing your mind.
Posted by: Jeff on May 24, 2006 01:51 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: John Honer on May 25, 2006 02:36 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Diana Lauth on May 27, 2006 12:27 AM
My husband has been on pravachol for years and has in the past two years started with memory loss. would it be best for him to stop the medication and see if things would clear up. it has gotten worse in the last few months (july05) was when we noticed the problem had gotten twenty time worse.
Posted by: Shirley Hughey on June 8, 2006 07:36 PM
Any comments on how to lower the bad cholestrol with vitamins minerals etc. what has worked for you? My bad cholestrol was 96 (HIGH RISK)Thanks email cleosmaster2004@yahoo.com
Posted by: Diana on June 9, 2006 07:25 PM
Diana, see:
Class Action - Statins Increases Heart Disease By 10% In Women
Posted by: Chris Gupta on June 9, 2006 11:54 PM
My wife was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers. An MRI showed atrophy of the brain. She has been on Zocor (60mg) for several years and Zetia was added about two years ago. I have read most of the articles and messages on your website but I have not seen one that addressed brain atrophy. Is there any correlation between atrophy and Zocor ?
Posted by: Terry McKee on June 17, 2006 06:47 AM
Terry, the brain is mostly cholesterol and reducing it aggressively in some can indeed have a profound effect please read:
STATIN DRUGS Side Effects
Posted by: Chris Gupta on June 18, 2006 12:04 AM
i ve noticed my aunts memory fading she was a real smart professional woman ...but now she cant remember simple things .
She has been lipitor for three yrs. doc took her off it my request. But put her paracol. When i mentioned memory loss from lipitor the doc ignored me. And said to take her to a neurologist..she is suspecting alzheimers..I just dont believe it...Does anyone have anything to add to my delimna?
Posted by: joan on September 4, 2006 01:26 AM
Hi every one
Iam a doctor I am on atorvastatin and for the past 2 months I am getting increasingly forgetfull.Today I did a net search after telling my father about my condition and Iam sure like others I came across this site.Iam sure all the symptoms described by others are true,even I feel like being in a trance,I have to exert much to register small things and all that stuff.Iam sure tomorrow will be the last day of my taking this dammed drug.I will report back in a few weeks time
Posted by: Rakesh on November 13, 2006 01:28 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Poonam Jain on November 15, 2006 07:33 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: ron on February 16, 2007 12:55 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: gillian hyde on May 29, 2007 09:21 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: helen peters on July 23, 2007 11:33 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Azmil Hussain on August 6, 2007 02:26 AM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: Shadow on September 18, 2007 09:04 PM
well, im pretty much taking a different look at this. how do you lose your memory? i have sertin days and years of my life i need to forget, its why i have such horrible depression problems.
Posted by: jim on October 30, 2007 09:31 PM
I just got a prescription for Simvastatin, but after reading this article on the dangers of statin drugs, I don't wanna take them. I prefer Natural cures, anyway. What do you recommend for lowering bad(LDL)cholesterol, that are natural foods, remedies, or vitamins? Is CoQ10 a good remedy for this? I'm eating cloves of garlic, and exercising regularly, but my doctor said to significantly cut down my cholesterol, quickly, that the statin drugs are best. I NEED a natural remedy! Thank you for your informative articles.
Mytch
Posted by: mytch on February 8, 2008 10:13 PM
Try a natural product you can purchase at Walmart - called Policosanol. I had a cholesterol test after taking it under my doctor's supervision for 6 weeks, and it had lowered my bad cholesterol (LDL) by 16 points...and RAISED my good cholesterol (HDL) by 15 points!! Try it!
Posted by: Joy on March 12, 2008 11:39 PM
I was on the drug Vytorin for 3-4 months and developed symptoms of polymyositis and later inter-myositis, sleep atnea, high anxiety, depression, glucose variations between Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia, and memory, concentration, dexterity, and swallowing problems. All the above led to severe pain and extreme weakness throughout the body.
A rheumatologist took a CPK Blood test that indicated 2600 Units and should have been less than 170 Units and an Aldolase test was more than 8 times the normal reading. Polymyositis or Inter-myositis was the probable diagnosis until a byopsy was completed. The biopsy indicated heavy destruction of muscles caused by the Statin in the Drug Vytorin.
An Endocrinoligist and my primary doctor validated the hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia fluctuations by Fasting Glucose Tolerance and Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests. Diet changes have somewhat stabilized the fluctuations in the low pre-diabetes or mild diabetes stage controlled by diet.
A sleep study was conducted at the local hospital and data validated that I had sleep antnea with breathing problems that resulted in not breathing several times during the study for minutes and many times for 30 seconds or more. Suspicion led to both an airway blockage and a lack of messages from the brain that tell you to breathe. An automated CPAP machine was prescibed and a light sleeping pill every night.
Now my doctors want me to get an MRI on my brain because of numbness on my left side of my upper head, hearing problems on the same side, and headaches on the opposite side. If I lift my arms a tingling of instant weakness runs down my body and I get dizzy.
Does the Statins cause problems with the brain, I don't know I am not a doctor. If I am allowed to use common sense based on what I have experienced so far. I would say yes, and the FDA and Drug manufacturers are taking chances that they obviously can write checks to keep such drugs on the market.
Bill
Posted by: Bill on May 28, 2008 09:38 AM
Blaming cholesterol for heart disease is like blaming firemen for house fires!
Posted by: Charles Sullivan, D.O. on June 13, 2008 05:49 PM
Here once again I am on another cholesterol medication which is a combination of Crestor and Zetia and starting with terrible pains and cramps in my feet and hands. So far its the first time my cholesterol reached 305 in 40 years. Usually 500-700 is the normal for me. Although one quick thing to think about is I added a bowl of oatmeal with flaxseed ground up on the top to the menu. I have always watched my intake of fatty foods. I just added pomegranite juice to the diet and will see on my next blood work if this changes things. There is a family history of high cholesterol and heart disease in my family
Posted by: Susanne Blandford on September 7, 2008 09:13 AM
having just read all the comments i think it can be a real problem,i will stop zocor and see i feel in a few weeks time before i post my comments.
back
Posted by: mak on November 28, 2008 03:38 PM
I am heart-sick after reading this information. My mom was put in a nursing home where Alzeheimers and dementia is constantly used to identify her case. There IS confusion, but I have to wonder if her years of being on statins was the cause.
Posted by: C Freeman on February 21, 2009 09:58 AM
My mom was put on 40mg of Mevacor back in June and within a few months of starting the medication I began to suspect that she had early onset of Alzheimers. She is 63 years old and has never had a memory problem. Now she can't remeber anything that has to do with dates, times or numbers. She cannot hold a normal conversation with anyone because she forgets her words. She will go to the store and forget why she is there. These symptoms literally showed up overnight and did not get worse or better. She had MRI's, blood work, CT's and not a damn thing showed up wrong with her. Her doc decided that she must be crazy and sent her to a psychologist. When I came across an article on the side effects of statins I was floored. I immediately went to my moms and took her script away from her and she and I are hoping that this will reslove the problem. We are giving it 2 weeks to see what happens. I plan on raising holy hell if her memory returns to normal after stopping the meds. I will update in a few wekks.
Posted by: JEM on March 26, 2009 02:03 AM
I thank you most profusely for this article. I too suffered with mental blocks. Then afterwards I couldn't remember what had taken place.
I have since stopped the statin drugs and I amm heaps better. Almost back to normal.
Posted by: david page on September 9, 2009 07:39 PM
Thank you for the article. After taking Crestor for over a year, I was demoted, and almost lost my job. I couldn't remember telephone conversations and meetings. I was suffering from global memory loss and impaired cognitive function. I switched to lipitor with no improvement. After 6 weeks without a statin my memory is dramatically better.
Also. My ravenous hunger is gone too.
Who wants to take a drug that makes you fat and stupid.
Posted by: Dave g on November 16, 2009 08:41 AM
I didn't know about the fat bit from Statins. I thought I was just getting fatter with age and eating with lower excersise. It figures that so many other side effects are apparent why not weight as well? Thanks heaps Dave G
Posted by: EdwardWP on July 20, 2010 09:11 AM
I was put on Lipitor after a mild stroke although my cholesterol wasn't high. Tests showed no brain damage from the stroke but I felt a shadow of my former self with poor memory, balance & orientation, focus, concentration and processing and it was getting worse. I had blank spots where I had no memory of a place we'd visited or task at work. I couldn't sleep - I just wasn't tired. Give up work, you no longer have your health my Doctor told me. A change of Doctors, further investigtion and a re-diagnosis of the stroke to a severe silent migraine (which made perfect sense to 'off-days' all my life) lead me to this site. Thank you. Thank you. I did not take one more Lipitor and immediately I could sleep at night and my memory, balance, focus and concentration improved. I'm now almost my former self again and off all medication. There are just a few fuzzy spots in my memory where the blank spots were. Thank you so much I owe my life to this site.
Posted by: Rae on January 11, 2011 03:19 PM
I am a nurse,was,I can no longer do my job.I was on Lipitor for many years,dose increased after a stent, then heart Bypass in 2006.over the next several years I was increased to 80 mg. To try to achieve a goal of Lipitor below 100 !!!!my husband started noticing forgetfulness, and an odd way of walking. I asked if Lipitor could do this and following a heartache. Suggested he provide me with more talc any hugs.furious my husband wanted to switch Dr.I
Posted by: Carrie Lynch Dixon on February 23, 2014 07:16 AM
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