Transient global amnesia: a side effect of "statin" treatment

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, August-Sept, 2004 by Duane Graveline

Try to imagine the complete inability to formulate new memory. This condition is known as transient global amnesia, now known to be associated with "statin" drug use for lowering cholesterol. My first encounter occurred six weeks after my annual astronaut physical at Johnson Space Center. Despite regular exercise, weight maintenance and proper diet, my total serum cholesterol had risen to 250 mg and the recommendation of the flight surgeons there was to start Lipitor, 10 mg daily. My wife noticed me walking aimlessly about the yard after my return from my usual walk. I did not know who she was and would not enter our house. Our family doctor referred me immediately to a neurologist and finally, in the office of the neurologist, my senses returned to normal. Following a negative MRI the following day, the diagnosis of transient global amnesia was made. I discontinued Lipitor because I suspected it was the cause.

At my next NASA physical I was assured that statin drugs do not do this. Reluctantly I started again with 5 mg, daily, one-half my previous dose. Six weeks later I descended again into the black pit of amnesia, this time for an extraordinary 12 hours. In addition to the mainly antegrade amnesia which characterized my first attack, this time I had a retrograde element all the way back to my high school days. Gone was my medical school training, USAF flight surgeon career, my marriage and four children and even my selection as scientist astronaut. Again the same doctors made the same diagnosis, transient global amnesia. Again I stopped Lipitor on my own knowing it was the cause but I was the only one convinced.

Several months later I got in contact with the statin drug study at UCSD's College of Medicine. There, Dr. Beatrice Golomb reported she had several cases just like mine. A few days later, thanks to the Graedons of the radio program People's Pharmacy, thousands of case reports of memory dysfunction started flooding in from patients across the country, all with the same common thread--association with statin drug use. And the amnesia is just the tip of the iceberg of the true incidence of memory impairment associated with Lipitor, Mevacor and Zocor. For every case of amnesia, thousands of cases of extreme forgetfulness, incapacitating confusion and profound disorientation have been and are being reported. Neither patients nor doctors are aware of this side effect.

The Statin Dialogues (Side Effects of Lipitor and similar statins) Cast of Characters

Almighty: The powerful makers, promoters and distributors of the stronger statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor and Mevacor).

Candide: Innocent and skeptical doctors and their patients.

Watchover: FDA's medwatch program.

Shield: Pharmaceutical companies adverse drug event reporting program.

PDR: Physician Desk reference of drug use and effects.

Almighty: "Our wise counselors tell us the time has come to promote the use of our wonderful statin drugs to an even wider audience. Perhaps all blood relatives and even children now should be included in our primary prevention efforts. It is for the common good that we seek this."

Candide: "We admire your promotional efforts but what of the side effect issue? Certainly this deserves some consideration."

Almighty: "The side effects are but a nuisance--a minor and almost negligible factor with this fine product. Think of the thousands of lives we are saving. Is there any real doubt as to the common good of our efforts?"

Candide: Over 50 deaths occurred among users of your fine statin drug, Baycol, only recently removed from the market. I do not consider this minor or negligible nor do you, I am sure. I am very concerned about these deaths. Why did there have to be in excess of 50 tragic events before action was taken? Would not ten have been sufficient, or even one? What say you to this?"

Almighty: "This was a failure of your government's Watchover program, not ours. We have been scrupulous in our adherance to governmental guidelines. Deficiencies such as you describe are attributable solely to guideline inadequacies. Certainly our vigilant Shield program gave us no warning.

Candide: "May I say that your Shield program in its present form may be more protective for you than the public? In its present form your so-called drug hotline is nothing more than a barrier, prohibiting, rather than encouraging, communication with those among you serving as medical advisors. Manned by robots only superficially resembling life forms their response to an earnest request to talk with someone with authority is considerably less than satisfying."

Almighty: "Your critical statement is completely unjust. Think of the good we are doing from the extensive use of our statin products and the lives we are saving. Millions of people now are taking our products. Most assuredly our sentiments are for the health of the public."

Candide: "I appreciate the saving of lives but at what cost? On the subject of cost may I state as an aside that the astronomical financial rewards you have derived thus far from your drugs already have vastly exceeded your developmental costs yet we still must pay the same exorbitant price we paid years ago. I sense greed here but the costs I was referring to are the costs of pain and suffering as well as deaths in some users of your wonder drugs. Is this really necessary?"