Q. I have read that Lipitor may cause memory impairment. I am taking Lipitor and am having trouble with speaking and memory along with intense muscle soreness. My lab tests are within the normal range so my doctor says Lipitor is not the source of my problems.
Are there other drugs without these side effects? A friend mentioned red yeast rice. Do you have any information about it?
A. A study of statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs (such as Crestor, Lipitor or simvastatin) revealed that that these drugs can cause structural muscle damage. Normal blood tests (creatine phosphokinase) don’t rule out serious muscle injury (Canadian Medical Association Journal, July 7, 2009). Memory loss and amnesia have occasionally been reported as side effects with statins.
Red yeast rice is a dietary supplement that has centuries of use in traditional Chinese cooking and medicine. One recent study suggests that some people who have difficulty with statins can lower their cholesterol with red yeast rice (Annals of Internal Medicine, June 16, 2009). Others may find, though, that it causes similar side effects to statins.
We are sending you our Guide to Cholesterol Control and Heart Health for the pros and cons of statins and more details about red yeast rice and other ways to lower cholesterol.
