I first became aware of the dangers of statins when in Dec 08 my brother sent me a copy of an article from the Nov 03 issue of Smart Money magaziine, entitled "The Lipitor Dilemma." The article, by Eleanor Laise,
chronicles the suffering of an unfortunate victim of Lipitor, Mike Hope, a formerly functional, successful businessman who succumbed to the horrible side effects of this monster drug. . My husband had been on it for about 6 six years, and I had been frustrated about his many maladies, which I just chalked up to growing older (he's 68). It started out after he took Vioxx, then had coronary artery stents twice. He had generalized aches, severe pain in his right flank, gout, a peculiar rash, neuropathy of his lower legs, cubital tunnel symdrome, amongst other symptoms. We repeatedly asked our trusted doctors for help, but they didn't have a clue. His liver enzymes always checked out ok, so none of us every suspected a drug reaction. I should know better--I have been an RN for 25 years, and have seen many drugs (including Vioxx) produce horrific side effects, then be taken off the market suddenly, never to be heard from again. The poor silent victims just fade away. Anyway, last summer (09) while we were on vacation out of state, my husband suffered TGA. When I got back to the hotel from the ER I went to the computer in the hotel lobby and typed in TGA, and went right to spacedoc.net. Thank God, he recovered, and when we got home, he was evaluated by a neurologist, his internest, and his cardiologist--all clueless. I told them I was taking him off statiins--they all told me I was as much as killing him. He has continued the slow process of recovery, but I fear will never be the same.
I and my brothers took Lipitor, then Zocor for a few weeks prior to this and suffered aches and pains. My other brother suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while on Lipitor for 2 years after an MI and bypass surgery. My 90 year old dad was losing his memory, had pain and weakness, , and was increasingly angry and
aggressive. I have a friend who started on Crestor and couldn't get out of bed for a week; another friend's mother took it for 1 day and couldn't get herself off the toilet. All the doctors and many of my friends think I'm nuts, but I will be forever grateful to the courageous Dr. Graveline for informing me about statins. My brothers, my dad and my husband are all doing better, and it would not be so if it were not for my hero, Dr. Graveline.