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Email a friendComplications Arise From Cholesterol Drugs
Newspaper Columns, Editorial August 20, 2007
Millions of people swallow a little white oblong pill called Lipitor every day. Others take Zocor, Crestor or some other statin-type cholesterol-lowering drug.
These medications work extremely well to lower bad LDL cholesterol. They prevent heart attacks and strokes. For those who do not suffer side effects, such medicines are indeed lifesavers.
For others, though, adverse reactions can make life miserable. When physicians treat numbers instead of people, quality of life can suffer. One reader shared the following story:
“Three years ago my father (now 85) was placed on Lipitor as a treatment for elevated cholesterol. After hearing a report that higher doses could reverse arterial narrowing, his physician doubled his daily dose. Within a month, my father began experiencing progressive weakness in his legs along with bad balance. His condition worsened over the next six months but his physician discounted the problems as due to aging.
“Before taking Lipitor, my father had exceptional strength and stamina for a man of his age. Each day he played 18 holes of golf, walking the entire distance and wheeling his golf clubs behind him. His mind was clear and he had a vibrant sense of humor.
“After six months on Lipitor, my father was diagnosed with Primary Lateral Sclerosis. His doctor stopped the Lipitor but then prescribed a series of other statin drugs. He is currently taking Vytorin. His condition has continued to deteriorate over the past few years and his symptoms now include: severe loss of muscle mass in his legs, weakness, lack of balance with frequent falls, difficulty swallowing, memory loss, dementia, emotional swings, incontinence, depression and erectile dysfunction.
“He has been transformed from a man who embraced life to its fullest into a person who must use a cane to walk and who is now filled with despair and hopelessness. I am convinced that my father's abrupt change in health can be attributed to his use of statins. He has finally decided to discontinue his statin usage despite his doctor's denial of their possible link to his condition.”
Many physicians chalk up this kind of story to coincidence. With so many people on statins, they reason, some are bound to experience unrelated health problems. But we have also heard from many people who got better when they discontinued a statin-type medication.
“I started taking Zocor about six months ago. I gradually developed leg, hip and back pain. I also noticed increasing fatigue and loss of stamina. At the gym I had increasing difficulty doing the same exercises I had performed for more than a year. Going to the supermarket with my wife also became more difficult with increasing discomfort in standing and walking on a concrete floor.
“After discussing these symptoms with my doctor I stopped taking Zocor. The symptoms began to dissipate and have almost completely disappeared.”
When drug side effects interfere with a person’s ability to exercise or socialize, the balance of benefit to risk should be re-evaluated. To read more reports of serious side effects from statin cholesterol-lowering drugs or share your own experience, go to: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Their syndicated radio show can be heard on public radio. In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
© 2007 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Reader Comments
Last year my doctor prescribed Lipitor for me because of our family history. I'm a 56-year-old female with a father who died of a heart attack at 56, and a brother who had a heart attack at 45 and a triple bypass at 56. My cholesterol level was nearing 300.
I took the drug for one month. As the month wore on, I experienced pain in my leg joints and could barely stand on my feet by 3 p.m. each day. My heels were so tender. Each week the symptoms got worse. I thought it was part of aging. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I stopped taking the drug.
It took months for me to feel better, but with each passing month, I began to improve. I feel I would have been very sick at this point, one year later, if I had stayed on that drug.
I talked with one of my six brothers, who has successfully dealt with lowering his cholesterol levels without drugs. He recommended taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar each day, exercising, and watching the diet. He lowered his levels to below 200.
I followed his advice, and my good cholesterol levels have gone way up, and I've lowered the overall cholesterol levels significantly.
My other brother takes Lipitor and says his feet swell during the day. He tolerates the side effect. I needed a healthier alternative than drugs. Personally, I'll be taking what my doctor says with a grain of salt and will do tons of research myself before ever taking another drug. I feel Lipitor was killing me and I still think my body is dealing with a residual effect with balance issues even at this late date.... only after one month of taking the drug a year ago.
Posted by: cc | August 23, 2007 9:44 AM
I've been taking Lipitor 40 mg for more than a decade. Two months ago, I began taking 80 mg, and I also have been taking Zocor 50 mg.
Since taking these meds, my blood pressure has been significantly reduced (yesterday at the doctor's office 110/70, down from 140/92 15 years ago). My cholesterol has dropped from nearly 400 to 128. HDL 61 mg/dl, VLDL 35 mg/dl, LDL 32 mg/dl.
These results are positive proof that these drugs have worked well for me. I have no debilitating side effects.
Denis Szelc
Posted by: DSS | August 23, 2007 11:38 AM
I was on Pravachol for 2 years. My very arthritic knees got so bad, I was having trouble getting out of my car. Memory loss had me taking mental tests and having neuropathy. I assumed the trouble with balance was due to that. My legs got so bad, I went off the statin, and I'm slowly getting back to where I used to be. I'm 70 and I'll take the side effects of growing old--whatever the cholesterol #'s are!
Posted by: Jan Shelden | August 24, 2007 9:42 AM
I have been taking Lipitor 10 mg for 3 years. I exercise actively 5 days/week, and have no side effects from this prevention drug. I am 75 years old.
Posted by: Ginny | August 24, 2007 10:15 AM
I took 20 mg Lipitor for about 7-8 years and then began having severe leg cramps. The doctor suggested stopping it for a month and substituted Pravacol and Zetia. The second night without Lipitor, I had no leg cramps, nor have I had any since in 5 months.
Posted by: bettie Cooney | August 24, 2007 1:33 PM
After reading your column on statins I had to write in. Three years ago I was prescribed Lipitor, and within six weeks I started experiencing muscle pain and severe cramping. I reported this to my doctor and she told me it would lessen. But after six months the cramps were so severe I couldn't tolerate the pain any longer. I would wake up with cramps in my throat. I returned to my doctor and told her that it wasn't normal to wake up feeling as though someone had their hands around my throat choking me. She decided to run an enzyme test. The doctor called my home two days later and told me I should stop taking the Lipitor immediately and I should not take statins ever again!
Posted by: Charlotte | September 4, 2007 9:12 PM