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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / February 2006

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Statins?

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Tumbleweed - 09 Feb 2006 22:55 GMT
Did anyone see the report this week that the regular taking of statins (to
lower cholesterol) may also mitigate against Az? As I've been told I may
need to take them, I plan to go for that for sure now once I have further
checked up.

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Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

Evelyn Ruut - 10 Feb 2006 00:45 GMT
> Did anyone see the report this week that the regular taking of statins (to
> lower cholesterol) may also mitigate against Az? As I've been told I may
> need to take them, I plan to go for that for sure now once I have further
> checked up.

Tumbleweed, Yes, I saw that report, but as far as I know it isn't a proven
thing.  Statins are not for everybody.   They do have some side effects,
like for instance legs aching, weakness, sore muscles.   In some people it
can become quite serious.   They have also been associated with some memory
problems.    But they really do lower ones blood cholesterol.
Signature


Best Regards,

Evelyn
(to reply to me personally, remove 'sox')

Anthony Shipley - 10 Feb 2006 01:51 GMT
>Tumbleweed, Yes, I saw that report, but as far as I know it isn't a proven
>thing.  Statins are not for everybody.   They do have some side effects,
>like for instance legs aching, weakness, sore muscles.   In some people it
>can become quite serious.   They have also been associated with some memory
>problems.    But they really do lower ones blood cholesterol.

I've been on statins for probably some 10 years due to very high cholesterol --
despite being vegetarian. As for side effects, I remember drowsiness mostly but
not nearly as invasive as the A.D. medications.

anthony shipley

Run away with me; I can make you unhappy.
Anthony Shipley - 26 Feb 2006 10:04 GMT
>> Did anyone see the report this week that the regular taking of statins (to
>> lower cholesterol) may also mitigate against Az? As I've been told I may
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>can become quite serious.   They have also been associated with some memory
>problems.    But they really do lower ones blood cholesterol.

Some _other_ reports about statins and A.D.
http://www.alz.org/Resources/TopicIndex/statins.asp
http://www.alzla.org/treatment/statins.html
http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/2130
http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/2113

That's just a few I dug out.

I don't have time to read them yet but my message is that I've identified
several sites contradictory your personal reports. Time for you to demonstrate
some reputable support to support what you and Sharon are saying without any
research to support it.

anthony shipley

Run away with me; I can make you unhappy.
Karen - 17 Feb 2006 02:47 GMT
My hubby's cardio doc wanted him to go on Lipitor for his cholesterol (385)
but was concerned about the side effects and told him to try Benecol first
(the butter substitute).  Hubby had to treat it like a dose and make sure he
got 1 tablespoon with each meal for the first 6 months and then 1 tablespoon
per day but it brought his cholesterol down to under 200 without any side
effects.

After some of the side effects I've seen people experience with statins, I'd
be very wary of them.  But that's my take on it.  YMMV

Karen

> Did anyone see the report this week that the regular taking of statins (to
> lower cholesterol) may also mitigate against Az? As I've been told I may
> need to take them, I plan to go for that for sure now once I have further
> checked up.
Sharon Hope - 20 Feb 2006 19:48 GMT
"May" is the operative word - not "does" or "is proven to",  just "may".
This report is marketing counter spin to obscure the facts that:

1)  Not one study has shown statins have a preventative effect on
Alzheimer's
2) Many published studies have shown statins can cause memory loss, amnesia,
and neurological damage.

AMNESIA, MEMORY LOSS & STATINS

Lipitor, Thief of Memory, by Duane Graveline M.D.
Dr. Graveline, retired family MD, USAF Flight Surgeon, researcher in space
medicine and US Astronaut, who suffered adverse effects from Lipitor,
maintains several websites and is working on a second book about statin
adverse effects, including statin-related memory loss and amnesia at:

www.spacedoc.net (you can start here and read about his life and his books)

http://www.spacedoc.net/lipitor_thief_of_memory.html

http://www.spacedoc.net/lipitor.htm

http://www.spacedoc.net/statin_dialogues.htm

Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Bulletin (Australia's equivalent to the
FDA)

Volume 17, Number 3, August 1998, section 3, page 3

Simvastatn is listed under "DRUGS THAT MAKE YOU FORGET"

Recognizing the 14 reports of Amnesia under that drug, .8% of the total
adverse effects for that drug.

www.health.gov.au/tga/docs/pdf/aadrbltn/aadr9808.pdf

Am J Med. 2004 Dec 1;117(11):823-9.

Randomized trial of the effects of simvastatin on cognitive functioning in
hypercholesterolemic adults.

Muldoon MF, Ryan CM, Sereika SM, Flory JD, Manuck SB.

Center for Clinical Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15260, USA. mfm10@pitt.edu

"This study provides partial support for minor decrements in cognitive
functioning with statins. Whether such effects have any long-term sequelae
or occur with other cholesterol-lowering interventions is not known." This
is the second of two studies by Muldoon, both showing measurable cognitive
decline in statin groups after only 6 months, using Neuropsych testing.
Further, the cognitive deficits appear consistently in specific areas.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15589485


Golomb BA, Yang E, Denenberg J, Criqui M (2003),

Statin-associated adverse events. P95. Presented at the 43rd Annual
Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention. Miami;
March 5-8.

Muldoon MF, Ryan CM, Flory JD, Manuck SB (2002),

Effects of simvastatin on cognitive functioning.

Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific

Sessions. Chicago; Nov. 17-20.

Muldoon MF, Barger SD, Ryan CM, Flory JD, Lehoczky JP, Matthews KA, Manuck
SB.

Effects of lovastatin on cognitive function and psychological well-being.

After 6 months, 100% of the patients on placeboes showed a measurable
increase in cognitive function, and 100% of the statin patients showed a
measurable decrease in cognitive function.

Am J Med. 2000 May;108(7):538-46.

PMID: 10806282 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1
0806282&dopt=Abstract


Cognitive impairment associated with atorvastatin and simvastatin.

King DS, Wilburn AJ, Wofford MR, Harrell TK, Lindley BJ, Jones DW.

Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson,
Mississippi 39216, USA. dking@pharmacy.umsmed.edu

Pharmacotherapy. 2003 Dec;23(12):1663-7.

"we report two women who experienced significant cognitive impairment
temporally related to statin therapy. One woman took atorvastatin, and the
other first took atorvastatin, then was rechallenged with simvastatin.
Clinicians should be aware of cognitive impairment and dementia as potential
adverse effects associated with statin therapy."  PMID: 14695047

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=14695047


Cognitive impairment associated with atorvastatin.

King DS, Jones DW, Wofford MR et al. (2001), Presented at the American
College of Clinical Pharmacy Spring Practice and Research Forum. Salt Lake
City; April 22-25.

Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Bulletin (Australia's equivalent to the
FDA)

Volume 17, Number 3, August 1998, section 3, page 3

Simvastatn is listed under "DRUGS THAT MAKE YOU FORGET"

Recognizing the 14 reports of Amnesia under that drug, .8% of the total
adverse effects for that drug.

www.health.gov.au/tga/docs/pdf/aadrbltn/aadr9808.pdf

Statin-associated memory loss: analysis of 60 case reports and review of the
literature.

Wagstaff LR, Mitton MW, Arvik BM, Doraiswamy PM.

Drug Information Service, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North
Carolina 27710, USA.  Pharmacotherapy. 2003 Jul;23(7):871-80.

This study searched the MedWatch drug surveillance system of the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) from November 1997-February 2002 for reports of
statin-associated memory loss. They also reviewed the published literature.
References from the study are good for follow-up research.

Abstract:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1
2885101&dopt=Abstract


Full Study Text free on Medscape:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/458867

The Role of Lipid-Lowering Drugs in Cognitive Function: A Meta-Analysis of
Observational Studies

from Pharmacotherapy

Posted 06/30/2003

Mahyar Etminan, Pharm.D., Sudeep Gill, M.D., FRCPC, Ali Samii, M.D., FRCPC

Although this study does bring the cognitive issues to light, it is a very
poor study.  The authors left out the pivotal study by Dr. Muldoon, that
showed nearly 100% of statin users had a  measurable loss of cognitive
ability after 6 months, while 100% of the placebo group improved their
scores.

Abstract:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1
2820814&dopt=Abstract


Full Study Text free on Medscape:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/456866

Simvastatin-Associated Memory Loss

Amanda Orsi, Pharm.D., Olga Sherman, Pharm.D., and Zegga Woldeselassie,
Pharm.D.,

Abstract: The statins are widely used to treat dyslipidemias. They are
generally associated with mild adverse effects, but rarely, more serious
reactions may occur. A 51-year-old man experienced delayed-onset,
progressive memory loss while receiving simvastatin for
hypercholesterolemia. His therapy was switched to pravastatin, and memory
loss resolved gradually over the next month, with no recurrence of the
adverse effect.

from Pharmacotherapy

Posted 06/01/2001

Page 1 of 3:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/409738?WebLogicSession=PXke2H8h99pyNVSCajAh5
clptzOAHJSZuNBobSwWmi9veWjdJ2A3%7C-1468812056489609316/184161392/6/7001/7001/700
2/7002/7001/-1


full printable version: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/409738_print

ADR of the Month

September 2001 Vol. 6 No. 9

EDITORS

Michelle W. McCarthy, Pharm.D.

Anne E. Hendrick, Pharm.D.

University of Virginia Health System

Department of Pharmacy Services

Drug Information Center

PO Box 800674

Charlottesville, VA 22908-0674

http://hsc.virginia.edu/pharmacy-services/Newsletters/ADR%20of%20the%20Month/ADR
Month%209-01htm.html


The Tablet, a general member benefit published by the British Columbia
Pharmacy Association, September 2001, Volume 10 no 8.

Excerpt:

Do HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors impair memory? After taking simvastatin for
a year, a 51-year-old patient developed short term memory loss, to the
extent of being unable to complete his sentences because he would forget
what he was going to say. The drug was discontinued, replaced by
pravastatin, and within one month his memory returned.14 In a separate case,
a 67-year-old woman developed impaired short-term memory, altered mood,
social impairment, cognitive impairment and dementia after one year of
atorvastatin therapy. When atorvastatin was discontinued, her memory, mood
and cognition improved completely.15 Memory impairment in a patient
receiving atorvastatin has been reported to the BC Regional ADR Centre.

REFERENCES:

14. Orsi A, Sherman O, Woldeselassie Z. Simvastatin-associated memory loss.

15. King DS, Jones DW, Wofford MR et al. First report of cognitive
impairment in an elderly patient: case report. Pharmacotherapy 2001 Mar; 21:
371.

http://www.bcpharmacy.ca/publications/thetablet/pdf_version/BCPhA_Tablet-Sep2001.pdf

See page 11 of 16:

See also:

Statins and risk of polyneuropathy, A case-control study

D. Gaist, MD, PhD; U. Jeppesen, MD, PhD; M. Andersen, MD, PhD; L.A. García
Rodríguez, MD, MSc;

J. Hallas, MD, PhD; and S.H. Sindrup, MD, PhD

http://213.4.18.135/87.pdf full text

Preclinical safety evaluation of cerivastatin, a novel HMG-CoA reductase
inhibitor.

von Keutz E, Schluter G.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9
737641&dopt=Abstract


Institute of Toxicology, PH-Product Development, Bayer AG, Wuppertal,
Germany

Am J Cardiol. 1998 Aug 27;82(4B):11J-17J.

PMID: 9737641

"In dogs, the species most sensitive to statins, cerivastatin caused
erosions and hemorrhages in the gastrointestinal tract, bleeding in the
brain stem with fibroid degeneration of vessel walls in the choroid plexus,
and lens opacity."

Subchronic toxicity of atorvastatin, a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A
reductase inhibitor, in beagle dogs.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8
864188&dopt=Abstract


Walsh KM, Albassam MA, Clarke DE.

Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research, Division of Warner-Lambert Company, Ann
Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA.

"The toxicity of atorvastatin (AT), an inhibitor of
hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG), was evaluated in beagle
dogs. hemorrhage in gallbladder and brain, demyelination of optic nerve, and
skeletal muscle necrosis"

Finally, on memory loss and statins: Sworn testimony from the Baycol trial
in Corpus Christi, Texas. From the transcript of the AM Session on 03-05-03,
in the case Hollis Haltom Vs. Bayer Corporation. Testifying under oath,., in
response to the plaintiff's attorney's question, "What is your current
position at Bayer?", LAWRENCE POSNER, M.D of BAYER stated: "I'm the --
currently I'm the head of worldwide regulatory affairs for our prescription
drug business, which means I have responsibility in somewhere between 60 and
100 countries where we sell products for registrations, compliance, things
of that nature." Excerpts from the trial transcript follow, with the Q
indicating counsel's Question, and the A indicating Dr. Posner's Answer:

Q. So there are some concerns addressed here back in 1995 about testing up
to .8. And do you know what the nature of the concern was?

A. Yes. It was related to a side effect that occurred in the brain.

Q. Of what kind of animal?

A. It occurred in the brain of dogs.

Q. Okay. So there was a side effect that occurred in dogs, and then there
was a concern about whether you wanted to go forward and test at this higher
dose level in human beings, given what you had learned about the dogs,
right?

A. That's correct.

Q. Okay. Now, did you just say, well, let's forget about these concerns and
we'll go ahead and put .8 on the market anyway, or did you do some further
analysis that was not mentioned the other day?

A. Yes. The authors of this had -- they had two concerns. One concern was
the toxicity that they found in the brain of dogs. But the other was that
they had no way to identify this and who might be at risk before it
happened. So there was no way to detect that someone was at risk for this
side effect.

[skip some testimony on other topics]

Q. Do you remember in one kind of animal there had been some studies done
that there could be a particular kind of problem with one kind of animal?

A. Oh, yeah. Yes, from the -- that's correct, from the toxicology studies.

Q. Okay. And were you able to demonstrate to your own satisfaction, to
SmithKline's satisfaction, to the FDA's satisfaction, that that particular
problem that showed up with that kind of animal is not something that
happens in human beings?

A. Yes. We did it -- we did it by explaining the toxicology data. We also
explained it on the basis of kinetic data. That actually at the higher
levels of drug, what happens is a certain amount of drug is bound to
proteins in the body that circulate; and therefore, is not -- cannot cause
side effects. And actually, a much smaller proportion of the drug is free.
And that what you corrected for that, you actually found out that the
margins of safety were in fact greater than you would predict just from the
animal data.

Q. And as you move forward then and got approval and sold Baycol from 1997
through 2001, did that problem that had shown up with that one kind of
animal ever become a problem with human beings?

A. It was actually shown with other statins as well. It wasn't unique to
cerivastatin. It was a problem -- it was identified early on with lovastatin
and some of the others. In fact, for none of the statins did it ever predict
for any clinical problem or toxicity.

Q. So these animals would have that same problem regardless of which
statin -- or at least with other statins?

A. Certainly with lovastatin it was true.

Q. But when it came time to human beings, that just wasn't something that
happened to human beings?

A. And I think today no one pays much attention to it.

NERVE DAMAGE & STATINS
Frequently Asked Question: What medical research studies have been done on
Statins and Nerve Damage that I can bring to my doctor's attention?

Golomb BA, Yang E, Denenberg J, Criqui M (2003),

Statin-associated adverse events. P95. Presented at the 43rd Annual
Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention. Miami;
March 5-8.

Chong PH, Boskovich A, Stevkovic N, Bartt RE.

Statin-associated peripheral neuropathy: review of the literature.

Pharmacotherapy. 2004 Sep;24(9):1194-203. Review.

PMID: 15460180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15460180


"Based on epidemiologic studies as well as case reports, a risk of
peripheral neuropathy associated with statin use may exist; however, the
risk appears to be minimal. On the other hand, the benefits of statins are
firmly established. These findings should alert prescribers to a potential
risk of peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving any of the statins; that
is, statins should be considered the cause of peripheral neuropathy when
other etiologies have been excluded."

Rajabally YA, Varakantam V, Abbott RJ.

Disorder resembling Guillain-Barre syndrome on initiation of statin
therapy.

Muscle Nerve. 2004 Nov;30(5):663-6.

PMID: 15389662 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15389662


"We report a disorder resembling Guillain-Barre syndrome, occurring on
initiation of simvastatin, in a 58-year-old man, who had experienced a
similar but milder episode after starting pravastatin 6 months earlier. This
case suggests that acute polyradiculoneuropathy may represent a rare but
serious side-effect of statin treatment. It also raises the issue of the
pathophysiology of acute neuropathy on statin exposure, with a
hypersensitivity reaction resulting in an immune-mediated process being
possible instead of the hypothesized mitochondrial dysfunction in chronic
cases."

Scola RH, Trentin AP, Germiniani FM, Piovesan EJ, Werneck LC.

Simvastatin-induced mononeuropathy multiplex: case report.

Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2004 Jun;62(2B):540-2. Epub 2004 Jul 20.

PMID: 15273860 [PubMed - in process]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15273860


"The association between the use of statins and neuromuscular disease is
currently being intensely discussed. We relate a 63 years old man with
possible case of statin-induced neuropathy in a patient with dislipidemia in
use of simvastatina at high doses. The electrophysiologic studies disclosed
findings compatible with mononeuropathy multiplex, suggested by clinical
prescutation of asymmetrical numbness and weakness. More common causes of
mononeuropathy multiplex were excluded and the patient improved after the
discontinuation of the drug."

Statins and risk of polyneuropathy, A case-control study

D. Gaist, MD, PhD; U. Jeppesen, MD, PhD; M. Andersen, MD, PhD; L.A. García
Rodríguez, MD, MSc;

J. Hallas, MD, PhD; and S.H. Sindrup, MD, PhD

http://213.4.18.135/87.pdf full text

From the abstract: "The authors verified a diagnosis of idiopathic
polyneuropathy in 166 cases. The cases were classified as definite (35),
probable (54), or possible (77). The odds ratio linking idiopathic
polyneuropathy with statin use was 3.7 (95% CI 1.8 to 7.6) for all cases and
14.2 (5.3 to 38.0) for definite cases. The corresponding odds ratios in
current users were 4.6 (2.1 to 10.0) for all cases and 16.1 (5.7 to 45.4)
for definite cases. For patients treated with statins for 2 or more years
the odds ratio of definite idiopathic polyneuropathy was 26.4 (7.8 to 45.4).
CONCLUSIONS: Long-term exposure to statins may substantially increase the
risk of polyneuropathy."

Are users of lipid-lowering drugs at increased risk of peripheral
neuropathy?

David Gaist, Luis Alberto García Rodríguez . Consuelo Huerta . Jesper
Hallas . Søren H. Sindrup

http://213.4.18.135/75.pdf full text

http://213.4.18.135/76.2.pdf full text

http://213.4.18.135/87.pdf full text text

Pharmacodynamics: Statins and peripheral neuropathy

U. Jeppesen (2), D. Gaist (1)(2), T. Smith (1), S. H. Sindrup (1)(2)

(1) Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C,
Denmark Tel.: +45-6541-2474, Fax: +45-6541-3389

(2) Department of Clinical Pharmacology Odense University, Odense, Denmark

Received: 6 July 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 1 October 1998

Abstract Volume 54 Issue 11 (1999) pp 835-838

http://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00228/bibs/9054011/90540835.htm

Association of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors with neuropathy.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1
2549960&dopt=Abstract


Ann Pharmacother. 2003 Feb;37(2):274-8.

Backes JM, Howard PA.

Department of Pharmacy Practice and Lipid, Atherosclerosis, Metabolic and
LDL-Apheresis Clinic, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
66160-7231, USA. jbackes@kumc.edu

"Epidemiologic studies and case reports suggest an increased risk of
peripheral neuropathy with statin drugs. The majority of cases were at least
partially reversible with drug cessation." (emphasis added)

Moosmann B, Behl C.

Selenoprotein synthesis and side-effects of statins.

Lancet. 2004 Mar 13;363(9412):892-4. Review.

PMID: 15031036 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstra
ct&list_uids=15031036


"We noted that the pattern of side-effects associated with statins resembles
the pathology of selenium deficiency, and postulated that the mechanism lay
in a well established, but often overlooked, biochemical pathway--the
isopentenylation of selenocysteine-tRNA([Ser]Sec). A negative effect of
statins on selenoprotein synthesis does seem to explain many of the
enigmatic effects and side-effects of statins, in particular, statin-induced
myopathy."

Statin therapy and small fibre neuropathy: a serial electrophysiological
study.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1
2639733&dopt=Abstract


Lo YL, Leoh TH, Loh LM, Tan CE.

J Neurol Sci. 2003 Apr 15;208(1-2):105-8.

Department of Neurology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, Singapore.
gnrlyl@sgh.com.sg

Describes 3 patients who developed neuropathy after ONE MONTH of statin
therapy. "One patient redeveloped small and large fibre neuropathy when the
similar drug was readministered."

Peripheral Neuropathy and Lipid-Lowering Therapy

Paul E. Ziajka, MD, PhD, and Tammy Wehmeier, RN, Orlando, Fla.

Abstract: We report a case of peripheral neuropathy induced and excerbated
by several commonly used HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors including lovastatin,
simvastatin, pravastatin, and atorvastatin, and the vitamin niacin. A review
of the literature shows similar cases with individual lipid-lowering drugs,
but this case shows the cross-reactivity of the neuropathic process to
different HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, and is the first reported case of a
peripheral neuropathy exacerbated by the use of niacin.

http://www.sma.org/smj1998/julysmj98/ziajka.pdf

Phan T, McLeod JG, Pollard JD, Peiris O, Rohan A, Halpern JP.

Peripheral neuropathy associated with simvastatin.

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1995 May;58(5):625-8.

PMID: 7745415 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7
745415&dopt=Abstract


Ahmad S.

Lovastatin and peripheral neuropathy.

Am Heart J. 1995 Dec;130(6):1321. No abstract available.

PMID: 7484806 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7
484806&dopt=Abstract


Jacobs MB.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor therapy and peripheral neuropathy.

Ann Intern Med. 1994 Jun 1;120(11):970. No abstract available.

PMID: 8172444 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8
172444&dopt=Abstract


Medication-induced peripheral neuropathy.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1
2507417&dopt=Abstract


Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2003 Jan;3(1):86-92. Review.

Weimer LH.

Neurological Institute of New York, 710 West 168th Street, Unit 55, New
York, NY 10032, USA. Lhw1@columbia.edu

PMID: 12507417 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

"Although most cases demonstrate acute or subacute onset after exposure,
recent experiences with statin drugs raise the possibility of occult toxic
causes of chronic idiopathic neuropathy."

Le Quesne PM. Neuropathy due to drugs. In: Dyck PJ, Thomas PK, Griffin JW,
et al, eds. Peripheral neuropathy. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders,
1993:1571-1581.

(Book, no link)

Of interest:

MacDonald BK, Cockerell OC, Sander WAS, Shorvon SD (2000) The incidence and
lifetime prevalence of neurological disorders in a prospective
community-based study in the UK. Brain

123:665-676

General background medical Info from

Related, but also will appear in other FAQs:

Neuromuscular Disease Center

Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

Home: http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/index.html

Under Disorders & Syndromes:

Select:

Myopathy: http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/maltbrain.html

Neuropathy: http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/naltbrain.html

Neuromuscular: http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/syaltbrain.html

CNS (Central Nervous System):
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/syaltbrain.html#cns

Specifics,

MYOGLOBINURIA - RHABDOMYOLYSIS
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/msys/myoglob.html

Then see Lipid Lowering Agent Myopathies
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/msys/myoglob.html#lipid

Note that this connects to CARDIAC + MYOPATHY
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/msys/cardiac.html

And to TOXIC NEUROPATHIES:
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/nother/toxic.htm#statin

OR Locally supplied Search on "Statin" leads to:

TOXIC MYOPATHIES http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/mother/myotox.htm

Note also tht under Mitochondrial Disorders, the list of problems associated
with Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency
http://www.neuro.wustl.edu/neuromuscular/msys/myoglob.html#coq10

MITOCHONDRIAL MYOPATHIES

Facts About Mitochondrial Myopathies from the Muscular Dystrophy Association

http://www.mdausa.org/publications/mitochondrial_myopathies.html#whatcauses

> Did anyone see the report this week that the regular taking of statins (to
> lower cholesterol) may also mitigate against Az? As I've been told I may
> need to take them, I plan to go for that for sure now once I have further
> checked up.
Anthony Shipley - 21 Feb 2006 04:49 GMT
>Simvastatn is listed under "DRUGS THAT MAKE YOU FORGET"
>
>Recognizing the 14 reports of Amnesia under that drug, .8% of the total
>adverse effects for that drug.
>
>www.health.gov.au/tga/docs/pdf/aadrbltn/aadr9808.pdf

I don't have the time to wade through which of that barrage of links don't work
- such as the one above.

Too much noise; not enough signal.

anthony shipley

Run away with me; I can make you unhappy.
Sharon Hope - 22 Feb 2006 04:40 GMT
Consider my research into statin adverse effects a gift.  It took many
months to identify the articles, with full citations, and also provide the
link where I found it.  I don't have control over what webmasters choose to
do with data, nor do I have the time to maintain currency checks for 85
pages of research on statin adverse effects (that was a subset).   I do
welcome reports with the new correct link, however.

You asked for citations and you got them.  You did not specify the format.

If you find a stale link but you are interested in the topic, try searching
on the exact title provided, or the author provided in Google.   (The
example you gave is a publication of the Australian government, certainly a
bit of searching on their site will bring it up.)

Or, search
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
for the title or title and author.

In the specific example you gave:
Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Bulletin (Australia's equivalent to the
FDA)
Volume 17, Number 3, August 1998, section 3, page 3
Simvastatn is listed under "DRUGS THAT MAKE YOU FORGET"
Recognizing the 14 reports of Amnesia under that drug, .8% of the total
adverse effects for that drug.
www.health.gov.au/tga/docs/pdf/aadrbltn/aadr9808.pdf

Go to the basic page: www.health.gov.au A search (use their search) on the
name of the bulletin "Adverse Drug Reactions Bulletin " gets you to a list
of their bulletins:

http://www.tga.gov.au/adr/aadrb.htm

Simple to scroll down to Volume 17, Number 3, August 1998, click to go to
http://www.tga.gov.au/docs/html/aadrbltn/aadr9808.htm

Scroll down to "Drugs that Make you Forget"

You will find:

Drugs that make you forget
An elderly man taking allopurinol, diclofenac and gemfibrozil was prescribed
simvastatin to help control his hypercholesterolaemia. After a couple of
weeks he noticed a loss of memory for recent events. This problem resolved
within two weeks of stopping simvastatin and recurred within a week of
restarting the drug. In another report, a middle aged woman took an
indomethacin capsule for back pain and developed amnesia for the 3 hour
period prior to the ingestion of the capsule and for two hours afterwards.
She then recalled that she had experienced a similar effect (which she did
not associate with the drug at the time) two years previously after she had
taken an indomethacin capsule.

Amnesia or memory impairment in association with drug therapy is a rare
occurrence and of the 73,000 reports received by ADRAC over the past ten
years, this adverse reaction is documented in only 219. There are some drugs
such as the benzodiazepines which are established as a cause of amnesia
which would not normally be the subject of a report to ADRAC because of the
well-known association. Table 2 lists those drugs most commonly reported to
ADRAC in association with this effect over the past 10 years. The table also
lists the reports of amnesia as a percentage of the total number of reports
for each drug. Since amnesia occurs in about 0.25% of the reports in the
database, the reaction might be important for those drugs in which it occurs
at a considerably higher percentage than 0.25%.

[Table 2 won't reproduce well here]

Of the 219 reports of drug-induced amnesia analysed, there was a single drug
suspected in the majority (84%) of the reports. Ages of the patients ranged
from 5 to 98 (median: 48) years and the onset of the reaction varied from
the day drug therapy was commenced to many years afterwards with most
occurring during the first week of therapy. Over a quarter occurred on the
day the drug was started. The reaction occurred on rechallenge in 16 of the
reports and most of the patients had recovered at the time the report was
submitted. A number of these cases were reminiscent of transient global
amnesia suggesting that a drug cause should be considered in such instances.

[Table 2 approximation below, but see it correctly in the article: ]

     Table 2 - Reports of Drug-Induced Amnesia*

     Drug
    Reports of Amnesia
    Percentage of Total Reports for the Drug

     Sertraline
    19
    0.9

     Simvastatin
    14
    0.8

     Paroxetine
    8
    0.8

     Midazolam
    5
    2.1

     Dothiepin
    5
    1.6

     Moclobemide
    5
    1.0

     Fluoxetine
    5
    0.5

     Ranitidine
    5
    0.4

     * The drug with the highest proportion of reports (7: 3.4%),
dexfenfluramine, has recently been withdrawn.

>>Simvastatn is listed under "DRUGS THAT MAKE YOU FORGET"
>>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Run away with me; I can make you unhappy.
Anthony Shipley - 22 Feb 2006 08:41 GMT
>Consider my research into statin adverse effects a gift.  It took many
>months to identify the articles, with full citations, and also provide the
>link where I found it.  I don't have control over what webmasters choose to
>do with data, nor do I have the time to maintain currency checks for 85
>pages of research on statin adverse effects (that was a subset).   I do
>welcome reports with the new correct link, however.
Thanks for your efforts Sharon. Please don't be offended by my saying that if
you have so much data why you have not had it published by a reputable source.
>You asked for citations and you got them.  You did not specify the format.
You did make me think hard about what tack to take and I did eventually choose
to continue the statins --- I've had very high cholesterol for years not. Maybe
I'll have to, eventually, choose how to die.

It's very hard for somebody in my situation, without specific domain knowledge
to make such judgements
>If you find a stale link but you are interested in the topic, try searching
>on the exact title provided, or the author provided in Google.   (The
[quoted text clipped - 122 lines]
>>
>> Run away with me; I can make you unhappy.

anthony shipley

Run away with me; I can make you unhappy.
Sharon Hope - 25 Feb 2006 18:29 GMT
> You did make me think hard about what tack to take and I did eventually
> choose
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> knowledge
> to make such judgements

Anthony, you are a very brave person.

Your doctor has, or should have domain knowledge.  You might want to ask
specifically about statin cognitive adverse effects, and take the list of
citations with you.

No one wants you to change medications due to a ng chat.  But you have taken
the concern seriously enough to look into it.  Let your doctor do that, too,
for you.

If there is one chance in a million that your condition is due to statins
rather than AD, you deserve to know that possibility has been completely
investigated.
Lee - 26 Feb 2006 06:45 GMT
and heck, THAT would be worth throwing a party about!

definitely worth investigating, I would think! Everything is, though, really
.... my friend's husband lost SOOOOO much function to Alzheimers... except
it wasn't and he COULD have been treated a whole lot sooner and more
effectively if he hadn't had to get lung cancer before someone did an MRI
and discovered a tumor in his brain. Did him no favours... they cured his
cancer and removed the tumor - stopped the progression, but dead brain cells
are dead brain cells...   ask me, at this point he'd be better off with
Alzheimers... or cancer....  no quality of life left, but hey, let's prolong
it *sigh*

>> You did make me think hard about what tack to take and I did eventually
>> choose
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> rather than AD, you deserve to know that possibility has been completely
> investigated.
 
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