I recently received this e-mail: “Last Friday, at a dinner party, one of the guests who recently underwent bypass surgery was talking about his medical history leading up to this. He told us he had been put on Lipitor to control his cholesterol and one of the side effects he noted was that he was suffering short term memory loss. He spoke with his doctor, who told him to stop taking the Lipitor. As soon as he did this, he noted that his short term memory improved and it is now totally restored. This man is in his 50’s. My question to you is: Have you heard of such a reaction to using Lipitor? I was not aware of such a problem. I have looked up the drug and do not see any mention of such a side effect.”

The brief answer is that statin drugs like Lipitor do cause memory loss in some who take them. Statin medications (generic names) include Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Mevacor (lovastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), and Vytorin (ezetimibe/ simvastatin). It is estimated that 25 million people worldwide take statin drugs to lower cholesterol in the hope of reducing risk for heart attack, stroke, and dementia. The most common side effects of statin drugs are muscle pain and weakness. The second most common side effect is cognitive problems and memory loss despite the failure to include this side effect in the Physician’s Desk Reference.

The cognitive effects are complex. Some taking statin medications report an inability to concentrate (one of my clients reported having to think of what to do with their feet while climbing stairs when on statin medications) and “feel they are developing Alzheimer’s disease” while taking the drugs. A recent study indicated that older people with cholesterol under 200 perform more poorly on tests of mental functions than those with cholesterol over 240. Some have reported extreme amnesia lasting for 6-12 hours. Others report mood swings (very low cholesterol has been associated with suicide and violent behavior).

Cholesterol is essential to normal brain function. Indeed, there are cells in the brain that synthesize cholesterol. It is unclear why some who use the drugs develop cognitive problems and some do not. There are thousands who report these side effects but millions who use statins. On balance, most physicians see little concern as they feel that the benefits outweigh the risks. But even here, there is controversy as there is little evidence that statins benefit women or that these medications extend life for those over 70.

Most cases of memory problems from statin drugs appear to occur within 60 days of starting to take them. Fortunately, most return to normal memory function once they stop taking the medication. The longer you have taken the medication the slower the recovery. The best course of action is to talk with your physician if you are concerned. That way you can make an informed decision based on your medical risks and benefits.