Patients who are diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease and have been taking
cholesterol-lowering statin drugs (Lipitor, Crestor, Zocor, Pravachol, etc.)
should insist that their doctors rule out statin adverse effects as the
cause of the memory loss.

The UCSD Statin Study has some information, they are running the NIH-funded
study on statins and their non-cardiac endpoints.  Dr. Beatrice Golomb (MD
and PhD) leads the study.
http://medicine.ucsd.edu/ses/
http://medicine.ucsd.edu/ses/contact.htm has the contact information.

Interviews with her are available on-line, such as:
http://www.geriatrictimes.com/g040618.html
http://www.statinalert.org/Golomb_interview.html

There are 3 excellent books on the topic:

Statin Drugs Side Effects and the Misguided War on Cholesterol, by Duane
Graveline M.D.
Lipitor, Thief of Memory, by Duane Graveline M.D.
What you must Know about Statin Drugs and their Natural Alternatives, by Jay
Cohen M.D.

Both Dr. Graveline http://www.spacedoc.net (scroll down, there are an
extensive set of links)
see
http://www.spacedoc.net/forgetfullness_disorientation_confusion_statins.htm
and
Dr. Cohen http://www.medicationsense.com/index.html have websites.

The People's Pharmacy has run several columns on statin dementia/memory loss
over the years.
http://pharmacy.king-online.com/Pharmacy_20060208/index.php
http://www.peoplespharmacy.org/archives/editorial/are_cholesterol_drugs_linked_t
o_memory_loss.asp

Yahoo Groups posts a Statin Adverse Effects Frequently Asked Questions that
is almost entirely references to published Medical Journal studies and
reports, suitable for taking to your physician.  It is over 80 pages long,
and covers a wide array of statin adverse effects with a table of contents.
(I will post it in a new thread)

The dementia caused by statins is just as disabling as Alzheimer's, but
because the cause - if diagnosed property - can be halted, the dementia is
not fatal.  Patients who are taking statins and diagnosed with Alzheimer's
need to have statin adverse effects ruled out as a cause of the memory loss.

My own husband's story was featured in a Smart Money Magazine article by
Eleanor Laise (investors also need to know the harm these drugs can do).  A
reprint is available at this link:
http://www.n3inc.com/SmartMoneyReprint_103003Web.pdf

His story was also mentioned in a Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine article,
a reprint at:
http://www.medicationsense.com/la_times_on_cohen.html

Another man's story:
http://www.tahoe-world.com/article/20040129/NEWS/401290101/0/FRONTPAGE

Published studies and articles on the topic from Medical Journals:

MEMORY LOSS & STATINS
Frequently Asked Question: What medical research studies have been done on
Statins and Memory Loss, or other mental problems that I can bring to my
doctor's attention?

(Statins: Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor, Lescol, and Baycol, aka
atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and
simvastatin; Nerve Damage: Neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy,
polyneuropathy; See separate FAQ for memory loss, cognitive damage, amnesia
and aphasia, i.e., central nervous system (CNS) damage)

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.

AMNESIA & STATINS
Frequently Asked Question: Amnesia is one of the Lipitor side effects
reported by Pfizer on the Physician's Information, where can I find out more
about people who have had amnesia episodes while taking the drug?

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

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

What are the names of the Statin drugs?

The Cholesterol-lowering Statin Drug Names: Lipitor, Crestor, Mevacor,
Pravachol, Zocor, Lescol, and Baycol, aka atorvastatin, rosuvastatin,
cerivastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin; This
class of drugs is also known as HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, short for
3-Hydroxy-3-Methyl-Glutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase.  There are also newer
combination drugs that include other drugs with a statin.

http://www.bms.com/cgi-bin/anybin.pl?sql=select%20PPI%0A%09%09%09%09%20%20%20fro
m%20TB_PRODUCT_PPI%20%0A%09%09%09%09%20%20%20where%20PPI_SEQ%20=%2056&key=PPI

http://www.ca.pharma.novartis.com/downloads/e/lescol_scrip_e.pdf

http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mevacor/mevacor_pi.pdf

http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/z/zocor/zocor_pi.pdf

Where can I look to find information on research studies of statin drugs?

The National Institutes of Health has a website,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/ that offers a search engine that is
useful in finding the latest studies that have been published in medical
journals (over 11,000,000 biomedical journal citations) and other major
repositories of medical research. Each study usually comes with an Abstract,
or summary of the findings. In most cases, should you want to see the full
text of the study, the full article can be purchased online for
approximately $25 to $40, depending on the journal, which is much cheaper
than a subscription.

Note that journals publish new studies every month, so revisit the site
often. Also, if you find a study that is pertinent to what you are looking
for, check the links to the right that will take you to similar studies on
the same topic. Finally, if you don't get a 'hit' on what you are looking
for, try medical terminology synonyms. Search results are different when
using different search terms. So, for example: "statin" or "atorvastatin" or
"lipitor" or "reductase inhibitor" or "HMG-CoA". Similarly, "cholesterol"
will return different results from "Dyslipidemia."

REPORTING ADVERSE EFFECTS FROM STATINS
Where should I report adverse effects from statins?
Report to the FDA
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm

Report to the Statin Study
Also, it is important to report side-effects to the Statin Study, funded by
the National Institutes of Health and conducted at the University of
California, San Diego.

Statin Study website: http://medicine.ucsd.edu/statin/

with contact info at:

http://medicine.ucsd.edu/statin/contactinfo.html

UCSD STATIN STUDY E-MAIL ADDRESS: statinstudy@ucsd.edu

MAILING ADDRESS: UCSD Statin Study 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093-0995

PHONE NUMBER: (858 558-4950

Dr. Golomb, the principal investigator of the Statin Study, is an incredibly
intelligent and active woman. Take a look at her Curriculum Vitae at:
http://www.medicine.ucsd.edu/faculty/golomb/

OK, what should I take to my doctor?
The citations below are grouped by different categories of damage.  You can
take the entire list, but it may be better to select those areas that
describe the adverse effects you are concerned with.  You would do well,
however, to look at all of them, as people frequently have other concerns
they thought were unrelated until viewing the list of adverse effects.

If adverse effects are detected, the patient should request that the doctor
report them to the FDA and the NIH-funded Statin Study.  This request to the
doctor can be made in writing, similar to the example below:

To my physician,

I believe that my symptoms may be due to the adverse effects associated with
cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.  I need your help to understand the cause
of my symptoms, treatment options, and the prognosis for my recovery.

Please review the references below, published medical studies that show
similar problems associated with statin drugs.  These are made available via
the National Institutes of Health (NIH, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Entrez/)
library of biomedical journal citations and other major repositories of
medical research.

Also, I am respectfully requesting that you file an adverse effects report
with the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/how.htm), and that you please send
a copy of the report to the to the NIH-funded Statin Study, attention: Dr.
Beatrice Golomb, Principal Investigator.
Statin Study website: http://medicine.ucsd.edu/statin/
Statin Study contact info: http://medicine.ucsd.edu/statin/contactinfo.html
UCSD STATIN STUDY E-MAIL ADDRESS: statinstudy@ucsd.edu
MAILING ADDRESS: UCSD Statin Study 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093-0995
PHONE NUMBER: (858) 558-4950

In Canada:
Health Canada:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpfb-dgpsa/tpd-dpt/index_adverse_report_e.html
PharmaWatch:
http://www.pharmawatch.net/

Thank you