Statin drugs and MS.....?

[Siddy1]

I was reading up on trials of Lipitor combined with Copaxone in low doses for MS:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=60531


http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/527808


I could not really determine the results.  However on looking on the other side many people taking statin drugs complained of muscle weakness, dizziness, balance, memory and numbness and tingling problems.   It occurred to me, although I don't think anyone on this site is taking statin drugs, that those side effects sound a lot like the symptoms of MS.  

It's weird where your searches lea you.

Marcie

http://my.americanheart.org/jiveforum/thread.jspa?messageID=36057

scroll down a couple of posts.

[Siddy1]

Hey Kristin,

Thanks for asking. I'm doing okay, thanks. I would be very interested to hear how your visit to Tampa goes if you end up going.  I am assuming from your post that your visit to Tampa depends on what this local doc says about CMT.  If you do go  I know  you will like Dr. C and I hope he can answer some questions for you.

There was a 3 month wait for my appointment back in 2005. I wonder what it is now.  Did you have to wait long?

Re: Copaxone, I was dxed with SPMS and Rebif was the medication recommended.  I don't take anything (by choice).  I probably should go for a follow up after 2 years but I just keep putting it off.

Take care and HUGS right back to you
Marcie

[Heather3418]

My PCP just suggested that I take one tablet every other day, instead of every day.  She is NOT suggesting that I go off of it.  If I did go off of it, you do not have to taper the dose down.  You just stop taking it.

She said that the Zocor is protecting my heart....okay doc...

BIG HUGS,

Heather

[essdipity]

Gosh, your doctor was conservative. I know 200 is supposed to be the max, but people I know tell me that their doctors don't get agitated till it reaches 210 or 215. Mine spiked once (a lot), and my doc told me to watch fat intake and come back in 2 months, which I did. It had dropped 78 points, back to its usual 160s level, where it has stayed.

Personally I don't think I'd take a cholesterol med in your shoes. Is it really not possible for chol. to be too low? Do you plan to go off Zocor, and if so, does it have to be tapered?

ess

[Heather3418]

You bring up something I knew nothing about.  I am on Zocor for borderline high cholesterol.  My overal cholesterol level is only 106 now, down from 199.  My PCP said yesterday that ones cholesterol can't be "too low."  I totally disagree with her and told her so.  

My adoptive father had cholesterol levels in the high 300's, in spite of living on a diet of what he called "leaves and twigs."  I don't have much medical information on my birth parents so don't know if high cholesterol runs in the family.  My level of 199 was high, considering I had lost over 125 pounds over the past two and a half years, despite very healthy food choices and exercise.

It was the "bad" cholesterol that was too high in my readings, hence my doctor's choice to put me on Zocor.  I have heard that some doctor's believe that Statins, especially Zocor may help the symptoms of MS.   Don't know where they have come up with such an idea, but I sure haven't seen any improvement in the MS since being on a Statin.

But I did not know how these cholesterol lowering medications could affect the muscles.  Thank you for that bit of information.  I will do more research on it.  It may very well prove that some of my continual muscle aches could "partially" be caused by the medication itself.  

Thanks for the insight....as always!

HUGS,
Heather

[floridamom2]

Hey there!  

How are you doing?  

Just wanted to pop in and say thanks for the neuro referral!!  I have an appointment with your doc in 2 weeks.

I have had some recent xrays of my hip, foot and hand though and may now be leading in a direction of Charcot Marie Tooth disease.  I am seeing a local neuro (at te request of a friend of mine who works for him) next week to get his take on it and if I still end up with no clear answers will be heading over to Tampa to see your hottie neuro.

It is good to see you and I hope you are hanging in there.  Have you started Copaxone?

HUGS!
Kristin  

[Quixotic1]

In general I am very suspicious about the statin drugs and the growing medical opinion that every body will be healthier on them.  

The muscle pain and weakness is a DIRECT  EFFECT of the statins action physiologically.  They interrupt the body's natural synthesis of cholesterol in the liver.  Yes, the predominant (like 90%) form of cholesterol in our blood is what we make ourselves, NOT from what we eat.  The drug companies have been very disengenuous about this.

Cholesterol shares a pathway in its synthesis with a necessary element called Co-Q-10.  As we age our body makes less Co-Q-10, but if the levels fall significantly many tissues fail to fucntion correctly.  As you block the synthesis of cholesterol, you block the needed synthesis of Co-Q-10.  In extreme cases the levels fall so much as to cause major muscle breakdown, called rhabdomyolysis.  My mother suffered this and almost died from the first "statin" on the market called Baycol (since recalled for that very problem).  To an extent all statins can cause damage to the muscles.  So the warning in all the ads about reporting the "rare" side effect to your doctor is true.  In my experience, muscle pain, though is very common in the statin use and not "rare" at all.

But, ALL tissues require statins, so nerve damage could likely result, also.  There is a group of doctors and scientist our of Unive Calif San Diego who are collecting data about adverse effects of statins, so many others share my concerns about them being pushed on us from all sides.

If any of you are on statins or have friends or family on them then I recommend that all take a Co-Q-10 supplement daily.

Yes, this is one of my soapboxes, but one that I feel strongly about.  I almost lost my mom to a statin and she lost a huge amount of muscle to the breakdown.

I have been watching the Statins in MS use.  It's interesting.  If my doc wants me to try it, it will only be with a hefty daily Co-Q-10 supplement!!!

Quix