Do statins make memory loss worse?

[BeckHux]

Hi, I'm hoping that someone can give me some advice as the medical profession all seem to have the same stance on this issue.
My Dad has Vascular Dementia, however he is physically fit, cycles 40 miles three times a week, does not have high blood pressure and only minutely raised cholesterol levels. Even so, his doctor has prescribed Simvastatin to keep cholesterol in check, to help prevent further strokes.
I have read numerous articles and research which state that memory loss and confusion are potentially a major side effect of this drug, he has deteriorated lately and I do not wish to risk using this medication if it makes his situation worse. It is almost impossible to tell whether it is the drugs which have made him worse of natural progression of his illness.
Has anyone else got experience of this please??
Thanks.

 

[Robin21]

Don't know/Baclofen

Hi,

Sorry but I don't know. My Mother has been on simvastatin since
August/Sept last year when a blood test showed raised cholesterol. I can'tsay her memory loss and confusion has got worse, though she is getting worse generally. She has got worse in other ways - not sleeping at night, leg and arm stiffness. I can't say this is downn to the statin.

I expect it's a difficult area. I wonder if a cocktail of drugs doesn't make things worse ? Mum (aka Catwoman, sorry if that's inappropriate), is on cipralex, asprin, simvastatin, omeprazole and from today Baclofen.

I would like to know if anyone knows anything about Baclofen. Unfortunatley Catwoman seems worse today, sleeping all day, almost in a coma ! Whether its down to the drug/drugs or not I don't know. It's dificult to know what to do for the best isn't it ? The doctor wanted to try it so I'm trying it.

Regards

Batman

 

[BeckyJan]

Hello:

In now way can I advise on this one!! My husband was on statins but with massive pain problems I agreed he should come off them. His pain is slightly relieved (patches still needed).#

My husband is in late stages of Alz. so all I want is pain control and some degree of contentment. If statins get in the way then they are a 'no go' for us/me!!.. I have accepted that high cholesterol with no treatment may be a disadvantage - but I WANT QUALITY OF LIFE!!!

Each case is so so different - I hope you have a good GP with whom you can discuss this.

 

[DozyDoris]

Horizon

How weird, I've been watching Horizon tonight about effects of common pills and one of them was statins. My Dad takes the same as yours and they were saying about the pain and the memory loss, it's the first I've heard of it so I am slightly concerned too, I say slightly as often this kind of thing comes out and is hyped up by the press, I will be asking my GP though what he thinks. Don't know if you can listen again to Horizon, it was the last part of the programme.
Jane

 

[jenniferpa]

I don't know. I got my mother taken off statins (and she had had stroke) because of the arm pain she experienced. I'm surprised that those of you reporting such pain haven't been given the option - that seemed to be a major red flag.

 

[Trying my best]

This is worrying! My mum takes statins and has pains in her legs, although this ws the case before she was prescribed them too... She has regular blood tests to check for kidney/liver function which I understand can also be affected but I did not know about the posisble link with increased memory loss/confusion. Will definitely ask her GP about this!

 

[lesmisralbles]

I shall say this only once

If you do not need the pills, do not take them.

Several days before Ron died, his doctor told me to stop giving him the statins WHY ????

Does it bloody matter now.
Barb X

 

[vdg]

I take statins but it took experimenting with several types before I found one that didn't cause me a lot of pain in my limbs.I have ended up on Pravastatin, all the others made me feel really bad.I am told this is an expensive one so the doctors like to try people on cheaper ones first.It is worth talking to the gp and asking to try other types of statin if it is essential that they are prescribed as no-one should have to suffer unneccessarily. I hate taking them but without them I'd be at very high risk of a stroke as my cholesterol is so high in spite of trying to be careful with what foods I eat.

 

[DozyDoris]

Asked our GP today

I had to go see our GP today so I asked about Dad on Simvastatin and the reports about memory loss and pain. He has said to take Dad off them for 6 weeks (which won't do any harm) and see what happens. If he seems any different/better he can look at something different to try.

 

[imac.girll1]

Statins

Hi Becks,

My mother has Vascular dementia, and was prescribed by her specialist to go onto Simvastatin, with in 2 weeks the pains in her joints had gone up 10 fold and her memory was even worse considering what she had been the weeks before.

I spoke to her GP about this and we agreed to take her off them for 6 weeks, within a week the pains had near enough subsided, back to what I would call normal, considering her history, and the memory within 2 weeks had improved slightly, certainly confusion on where she was had improved.

We then decided to try her back on them and again within the 2 weeks again all the same effects had happened.

I called the drs surgery and left word with the doctor that I was taking her off them as I saw no improvement in her life to be on them. The doctor called me later on that day and agreed that with all points taken in consideration that she should not be on them.

I personally dont see any health improvement in many people at all who suffer AD/VAD or any other dementia area.

THIS IS ONLY MY THOUGHTS AND I HAVE NO MEDICAL TRAINING.

Hope this helps for you to take any decision into consideration.

x

 

[Winnie Kjaer]

Hi there, my husband has been on simvastatin since December 2003 and as far as I know not experienced any side effects.

Barb.

Several days before Ron died, his doctor told me to stop giving him the statins WHY ????

I expect because by then Ron was on palliative care which usually means that only pain relieving medicine is prescribed.

 

[Cherub]

Help with statins

When I first started taking statins I read an article somewhere, can't remember where (i am agreeing that they cause memory problems), but this aryticle said that Co-Enzyme capsules taken at the same time as the statins, reduce the joint and muscle pains. So I've been taking them ever since, and I haven't experienced any joint or muscle pains since. It does seem to upset my digestive system though. If I've had a day without eating any high fat foods, I don't take my Simvastatin at night because I don't think I need it so much.

Hope this helps. Good luck.
Joan

 

[Margaret W]

That's all very enlightening to me. I take Simvastatin, following a slight stroke, and my cholesterol level is only slightly raised, but I have recently experienced leg pains. Thought for the day. Thanks. Hope you all get it sorted.

Margaret

 

[Sanddancer]

This is my very first posting but I have been reading TP for around 2 months now and found a lot of help and comfort from the topics here. My mother is suffering from some form of Dementia.

My mother went to see the Consultant in Elderly Medicine a few weeks ago, who has since referred her to his colleague in the Memory Clinic, with a view to having her assessed for Dementia. He has taken her off her Simvastatin as he said, this is usually given with a view to protecting the patient for the next 10 years and felt that since my mother is now 90 it was a bit of a waste. He did mention that this can cause low sodium (not sure if I understood him correctly) and that can cause confusion. I've definitely seen an improvement since that day, more alert, much happier in herself and back to her jokey self.

Thanks again to everyone who posts on here, the experiences have made me both laugh and cry and realise how far we still have to go.

 

[Mary11]

Hi All,

Some of you may find your answer to statin side effects if you google (UKStatinSideEffectSufferers). You have to be invited to join the group and I'm sure if you google same there will be someway you can secure an invitation. There is a wealth of information on the side effects of statins and a lot of well educated people to answer your questions.

Apparently 25% of cholesterol is used/found in the brain so it's common sense that if this is depleted there has got to be some adverse effect. Also in Canada (I think) they prescribe CoQ10 alongside statins as not only do the statins lower cholesterol production but other things such as CoQ10. A lot of the symptoms some of you have described ie. muscle/joint pain, sleeplessness are the same as the symptoms members of the above group have described as a result of being prescribed statins.

My mum was also prescribed Simvistatin (post AD). She has read about the side effects herself and decided she didn't want to take them anymore (which was great for me as it saved me having to look like the paranoid daughter/carer to the GP). Maybe it's just wishful thinking but I do believe that she is more 'with us' for not taking them (she had been complaining of feeling fuzzy in her head). Also I believe Simvistatin is one of the worst in it's group for memory loss and for some strange reason it affects women more than men.

Best wishes
Mary

 

[pixiemorris]

statins and memory problems

Hi
I have been researching this issue as my father-in-law has suffered memory problems since taking statins (following a heart attack and stent implant). He noticed the issue himself but his business and relationships are now suffering due to mood and behaviour changes (which I think are caused by the frustration associated with memory problems, not directly by the statins).
The messages posted here have been great (thank you). On this forum and in the research I have done on the web everyone is in agreement that coming off the statins stops the muscle and memory problems.
http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/whitakerstatins.html
http://www.saga.co.uk/health/healthyliving/medicinesandsupplements/statins-case-against.asp
These sites are stating that not only is there no research to show any benefit for women, that statins will not significantly increase your life expectancy (you gain 9 months if you take the statins for 30 years!) and will not reduce your risk of heart attack unless you are middle-aged with risk factors! The side effects outweigh the benefits for older people, younger people, and all women! It really is about quality of life when the statins are not assisting with prevention of heart attack and stroke.
We all have to make individual choices of course, and these side effects are not experienced by everybody. I agree to seeing your GP. The evidence is that GPs can be in the dark as much as we are so it is important for us not to doubt the effects we are seeing, when visiting the GP. We will be encouraging my partner's dad to see his GP, ask to come off the statins, and see if the side effects reduce.
Thank you very much for all your contributions. I feel that we can actually do something now that will improve my father-in-laws health and wellbeing.