Cholesterol medications, also known as statins, make the drug companies billions of dollars each year. Statins are widely prescribed by doctors who are uneducated, except by the pharmaceutical representative that brings in the samples. There are studies that prove, and statin lawsuits that follow, the findings that statins are not only a cholesterol killer, but memory thieves as well. Statin memory loss is documented as well as statin muscle pain.
Statins (high cholesterol medications) can cause rhabdomyolysis, a severe breakdown of the muscles that can sometimes be fatal. The statin drug, Baycol, was removed from the market because of this, but all the statins can cause this muscle loss and breakdown. Many studies on statins were done on middle-aged men, who showed some improvement. The most at-risk group for bad statin side effects are the elderly, most likely one of the groups that are prescribed statins too often, without anyone to help them decide if it is a good idea or whether their risk for statin memory loss and statin muscle pain would make their life worse.
There is a Geriatric Times report that says elderly folks over 85 have an increased benefit by having high cholesterol than by using a statin to lower it. Yet, they are being prescribed these cholesterol killing medication, which is robbing them of their muscles, their strength, their energy, their memory, and stealing their final years. There should be a black box warning on the statin memory loss, muscle pain, health robbing medications. The companies that make them, the makers of Zocor (generic is Simvistatin), Lipitor, and other cholesterol lowering medications should be sued.
There are currently some class action lawsuits against these statin makers and I hope they are punished, forced to pay out and publicize the statin memory loss, statin muscle pain, and other life altering side effects of statins. Other information in this report shows statins have bad side effects on older people that are not yet in their 80s, so don't think this doesn't affect you because of your age.
It is sickening to read the statin side effects. More sickening is the loss of life that is occurring without anyone noticing. If you have a family member who is on a statin, regardless of how high their cholesterol was before or what scare tactic the doctor gave to push the patient onto the statin, talk to them. Go to the doctor with them to see if they are having statin side effects. Statin muscle pain is a known side effect of these cholesterol reducing medicines, but if the person already had pain before stating a statin medication then their pain is worsened. This results in an inability to exercise, which reduced life span. Is it worth it?
If you take nothing else from this, please, talk to your family. Start a statin conversation. These statin side effects are happening in my family right now. The pain and memory loss, and potential worsening of a heart condition, it was perpetuated by Simvistatin, and the damage might now be permanent. Talk about statins and their side effects. Helping someone lower their cholesterol naturally is much better than watching them decline.