Muscle and Memory Problems with Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

I have never taken any statins - nor would I, but 3 relatives did and that forced me to look for information.

I think it`s very important to know why you take a certain medication and therefore everyone who is about to embark on long-term medication should pose some serious question to their doctor about side effects, long-term side effects as well as medicine-induced diseases.

This is an excellent site for sharing and if you click on statins you will find a lot of patient stories.

All statins have similar side effects. They can appear at once - or after many years - when they (not seldomly) are diagnosed as something else (with more medications as a consequence) - or the patient is told that it`s old age and something that you have to learn to live with.

Here are some suggestions regarding books and www-addresses:

The Great Cholesterol Con (Anthony Colpo)
The Cholesterol Myths ? (Uffe Ravnskov)
Lipitor - thief of memory + some more books (Duane Graveline)
The Truth About The Drug Companies (Marcia Angell)
Malignant Medical Myths (Joel f. Kauffman)
What if medicine disappeared? (Gerald E. Markle and ....)
Bitter Pills (Stephen Fried) - about quinolone antibiotics and his wife`s experience

www.spacedoc.net
www.ravnskov.nu
www.thincs.org (many links and also interesting articles under news)

www.askapatient.com + name of medicine, for instance Lipitor, Zocor = Simvastatin, Mevacor etc.

wwww.medications.com + Drugs + name of medicine + side effects = patient stories
They are really interesting and as far as I can gather uncensored.
The news, though, are mostly about the stock exchange.

Google "Stopped our statins"
Lots of information.
Under "print articles" there is an interesting article from Weston Price Foundation

You can also go to Dr. Mercola´s site, www.mercola.com, and search for statins, cholesterol etc. and order his free news letter.

I am sure this will increase your knowledge and make it easier to take a well-informed decision.

I am the middle sibling of two brothers who both had problems when taking different statins. They were switched to other statins and continue to take them. I had a creeping borderline high LDL (159) with a cholesterol in the range of 230 for over five years. I started a low dosage of red yeast rice suggested by a naturopath (600 mg a day w/ CoQ10) a year ago last month and 8 weeks later started having muscle/joint arm pain.

It got to the point where I could not lift a heavy pan without pain or cramping. After making other lifestyle changes that I thought could be causing the pain I slowly weaned myself from the red yeast rice after a few months. Now a year later I sometimes have a little burning in my elbow when I overuse my arms, but they are much improved.

Even with my elevated cholesterol over that extended period of time, an Ultrafast CT scan showed me to have a 0% heart calcium score. Needless to say, I have a definite opinion about the pharmaceutical industry and the speed in which many physicians prescribe statins.

Everyone seems to think the statin drugs are POISON to our systems, LET US THINK CLEARLY. The doctors put us on Statin Drugs to

help our cholesterol numbers AND TO LOWER OUR CHANCES OF HAVING A HEART ATTACK OR STROKE!!!!!!!!

Do you want to go back to 1950's----when the life expectency was in the low 60's--------REMEMBER------people are living

into their nineties these days.

THAT WAS UNHEARD OF 45 TO 50 YEARS AGO. JUST THINK CLEARLY ABOUT THIS STUFF.

I had been taking statins for about 10 years. About a year ago, I began losing weight. Finally my doctor found that my enzyme level was elevated. I was diagnosed with Myositis from statins. My PROGNOSIS is that I will continue to deteriorate . THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE FOR STOPPING THE PROGRESSION. I now walk with a rollator and not any long distance.

I agree with R.E.S. about statins, however who knows for sure what the long term side effects will be. I sure don't but I know one thing, I have a family history of heart disease, my dad was 59 when he had a heart attack and died. I'd rather chance it than die of a heart attack or stroke. When I go to my doc he asked me if I have muscle weakness, so he is aware. I have been taking Lipitor for several years and am now taking the generic of Zocor because it is a better price. I only take 10 mg. and that keeps my LDL at 100. I don't have muscle weakness or memory loss. My cousin has taken Lipitor for a very long time, he is 84 years old and is as sharp as a tack.

What are the blood tests that show if the Lipitor is causing memory loss?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: NO BLOOD TESTS SHOW THIS. IT IS BASED ON THE PERSON'S EXPERIENCE, AND THEREFORE MAY NOT BE BELIEVABLE IN EVERY INSTANCE.

I do beleive Statins are poison! Just remember also, 10 years or so ago the number for high cholesterol was 300 I believe, until the drug company's invented medication, then the number all of a sudden needed to come down below 200. Coincidence?

With all these illnesses coming to light, death from ALS is as bad as it gets, don't you think?? So why chance such a disaster? Or for that matter any of the other things that might not go away after stopping the drug? Most of the time I am told, you can control cholesterol with diet & natural things & exercise.

I can't believe that statins are a poison. But If ever it is true what are the possible effects to our body? Can you help me to answer this?

I was put on Crestor a few years ago because I was born with a bicuspid aortic valve. I had to valve replaced 2 years ago, but have had many issues since then. I sometimes wonder if my issues are related to Crestor. I have a lot of leg pain; mostly in my knees and shins. About a month ago I broke my finger when I was using a sponge to clean my sons aquarium and my finger slipped off the sponge and caught the glass. I heard it snap and couldn't believe it broke so easily. This is when I really begin to suspect Crestor as an issue. I've had all the other symptoms that others have mentioned, too. In addition, I know there are problems with my mechanical valve. I'm only 46, but feel like I'm 70.

I am only 30 and I was told by my doctor that my cholesterol is very high, above 220, it's so scary. I run 3 miles a day, do spinning twice a week and take aerobic classes 3 days a week. I eat very healthy, but my cholesterol is still sky high... I was told by my doctor that I might need to start taking medication, after reading all these stories I am horrified....... Any suggestions how to cope with this??

Do nothing. It is all a big hype. Do you know that your body needs cholesterol? My husband was put on simvastatin and starting having severe memory loss and amnesia episodes. Your body needs cholesterol for proper brain functioning among other things. I was all set to retire to take of a husband developing Alzheimers. All because I was not aware of the side effects. You are young, do not risk anything. Enjoy life. Do not worry about this, and don't go looking for trouble.

Get Off the Statins! I was on them for about 2 years. During that time I had numerous night time severe cramps in my legs and thighs and groin. Miserable! When I began hearing about all the people having problems with them, I decided I too was going to find another way to lower the cholesterol. After being off for about 2 months I realized how much clearer my thinking was and I was remembering things better. I will not go back on a statin.

My cholesterol was 280 the last of October after trying red yeast rice for 6 months. After the blood test I discarded the red yeast rice and went on a plant sterol and niacin. Maybe one would be enough but I'm not sure. Anyway, I had it tested again in March and it is now 160 !!!! That is wonderful for me. Its always been high and truthfully, I don't think the statins did that well.

I found the plant sterols on an on-line vitamin seller's website. There are different ones out there but I just kept looking till I found a site I felt comfortable with and I now buy from them all the time. They only charge about $4 or 5 for shipping and that isn't bad. I just buy a lot when I buy.

My mother has osteoarthritis of knee she took drugs to relieve her pain. She could not walk even after knee surgery. She used to take Statin drug to lower her cholesterol. The drug had loosened the muscles around her knee cap. She stopped taking the drug now after 2 months she feels much better. She can walk and does not take pain relief tablets. For the same reason patients who have lower back pain and take statin drugs cannot improve their pain markedly even through exercise. All due to loss of muscle.

Please see a doctor. My husband was on Lipitor and taken off it for a bad reaction. He had an MRI w/contrast of the brain (speech and memory problems). They found a brain bleed.

I have a problem with all of the cholesterol med that my doctor has been giving me.
liptol, and other names. I tried the red rice thing bad stomach problems. zita seem to work for a while and after I had my gall bladder out I guess it caught up with me also. Yes stomach problems, I have had problems with bladder infection, now it seems I get the more.

I am on crestor 5 mg was ok for about a month and half. Now I have stomach pain and a bladder infections (yes two in a month) The doctor tells me it has nothing to do with crestor. I really don't know if it does. As of today I am stopping crestor to see if my stomach clears up. I have a whole family on liptor and they have no problems.

I have asked if the gall bladder removal has anything to do with this, told no. I am looking for something that will work. We have heart trouble big time on in my family. Do I need to go to a heart Dr. for help? I will ask about the plant sterol and niacin, with my doctor. Anyone have suggestions?
thank you