Statins are an effective treatment for lowering high cholesterol and improving heart health, but they still do have risks.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have updated its information of statins to include memory loss, forgetfulness, and confusion as possible risks or side effects.
In a 2003 study, which was published in Reviews of Therapeutics, 60 statin users reported memory problems. Of these, 36 received simvastatin, 23 atorvastatin, and 1 pravastatin.
The study found that about 50% of the patients noted cognitive adverse effects within two months of therapy.
Fourteen (56%) of 25 patients noted improvement when the statin was discontinued.
Meanwhile, other studies have found no significant link between statins and memory problems.
In a 2013 review, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine looked at 41 different studies on statins to see if there was a link between taking the medication and memory loss.
Researchers followed 23,000 men and women with no history of memory problems for up to 25 years and found no evidence that using statins caused memory loss.
Despite becoming the bedrock of heart disease prevention, statin side effects, such as muscle pain and headaches, have remained a problem.
Though there is evidence that some people are intolerant to the drug, this portion of the population remains very small.
In fact, scientists believe that side effects are mainly attributed to the nocebo effect - where patients have a negative experience of a drug following a negative expectation.
President of the International Lipid Expert Panel, Professor Maciej Banach, of the Medical University of Lodz and the University of Zielona Góra, Poland, said in a recent study: “There is an enormous worldwide problem with diagnosing statin intolerance correctly.
“In addition, we know that most diagnosed statin side effects should not, in fact, be attributed to statin therapy.
“As much as 70% of symptoms may be due to the psychological phenomenon called the ‘nocebo’ or ‘drucebo’ effect.”
Other side effects from statins
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Muscle damage
- Liver damage
- Digestive issues
- Rash or flushing
- Increased blood sugar and risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The NHS says like all medicines, statins can cause side effects.
Nonetheless, it says most people tolerate them well and do not have any problems.
“You should discuss the benefits and risks of taking statins with your doctor before you start taking the medicine,” added the national health body.
For details of the side effects of a particular statin, check the information leaflet that comes with your medicine, or visit the NHS website.
