Post by rick232 on Feb 2, 2004 18:55:39 GMT -5
Just ran across this one. Duane Graveline, MD has written a book on the subject - he experienced this effect personally. I think anyone taking Lipitor or the other statin drugs should be cognizant of this potential. Sure am happy I got off of those things.
Lipitor: Thief of Memory, Statin Drugs and the Misguided War on Cholesterol
Years ago, when I was a medical student, transient global amnesia was very rare, almost a medical curiosity, and deserving of only a very limited description in most neurology textbooks…Now, in the past several years,…emergency room doctors have hauled out their sometimes dusty medical books and looked with wonder from book to patient as they realize they are seeing what, for many, is their first case of transient global amnesia. These confused patients, asking over and over again, “What has happened to me?” or some similar question, are completely unable to remember the doctor’s explanation offered only moments before…<br>
All of these cases are associated with the use of the stronger statin drugs such as Lipitor,® Mevacor,® and Zocor,®. Sometimes symptoms begin within weeks of starting medication. In other cases, several years might pass before the onset of symptoms. Frequently they have been associated with muscle pain and tenderness, the much more common statin drug side effects. Although the overwhelming majority of our physicians are very aware of the association of muscle pain with statin drug use, few are aware of the possible effects of statin drugs on cognitive functions.
This url contains an abstract of the book:
www.buybooksontheweb.com/peek.asp?ISBN=0-7414-1881-9
Rick
Lipitor: Thief of Memory, Statin Drugs and the Misguided War on Cholesterol
Years ago, when I was a medical student, transient global amnesia was very rare, almost a medical curiosity, and deserving of only a very limited description in most neurology textbooks…Now, in the past several years,…emergency room doctors have hauled out their sometimes dusty medical books and looked with wonder from book to patient as they realize they are seeing what, for many, is their first case of transient global amnesia. These confused patients, asking over and over again, “What has happened to me?” or some similar question, are completely unable to remember the doctor’s explanation offered only moments before…<br>
All of these cases are associated with the use of the stronger statin drugs such as Lipitor,® Mevacor,® and Zocor,®. Sometimes symptoms begin within weeks of starting medication. In other cases, several years might pass before the onset of symptoms. Frequently they have been associated with muscle pain and tenderness, the much more common statin drug side effects. Although the overwhelming majority of our physicians are very aware of the association of muscle pain with statin drug use, few are aware of the possible effects of statin drugs on cognitive functions.
This url contains an abstract of the book:
www.buybooksontheweb.com/peek.asp?ISBN=0-7414-1881-9
Rick