Lipitor and memory loss?

 Category: Lipitor

Questions and Answers

Can Lipitor cause memory loss? - read on please....?

My 73 yr. old Mother takes Lipitor and is having memory loss; now Doc's think she has Alzhermiers Disease. but last yr. at different Doc's - they tested her & said they did not think she had it! She was having memory loss Then, also. any help, comments.

I personally thinkk Lipitor is a horrible drug. My husband was on it and he had such muscle aches and pains, he had to quit. It took about 6 to 8 weeks for the symptoms to disappear. Google the drug then go to a website and get the rare side effects. If you think it could be, get her off of it.

If you have been taken off Lipitor can a loss of memory occur?

cbs news covered a story where some statin (lipitor??) had caused memory loss, which was recovered upon discontiuation of the statin.

Since the brain has a high cholesterol content, one should not be surprised that drugs that interfer with cholesterol production can affect the brain.

But memory loss from lipitor withdrawal? I do not know.

has anyone had any memory loss due to lipitor?

Yes. I was more forgetful, and it sometimes took along time to remember something. I switched to Vytorin and improved.

"short term memory loss" as a side effect of "lipitor"?

If you haven't found your answer at spacedoc.com you can try webmd.com ------Very helpful information there. If you are still uncertain,ask your doctor or pharmacist.

does lipitor ever effect memory?

i have read that use of lipitor can result in loss of memory. is this true

Actually, yes it is. Drugs.com lists:
"Nervous system side effects:
Nervous system side effects of headache and weakness have occurred with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. In addition, at least one case of polyneuropathy attributed to atorvastatin use has also been reported. Other nervous system side effects reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have included dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, cranial nerve dysfunction, tremor, vertigo, *memory loss*, decline in cognitive function, paresthesias, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral nerve palsy."
( * added by me to point out memory loss)

The main reason is because it prevents cholesterol from being produced. While that's nice on paper, parts of your body actually NEED that cholesterol that's produced and your brain is one of the big ones. The cholesterol in the brain is needed for many of the connections in your brain as well as the mylon sheathes that surround and protect some of the vessels in your brain. Without that cholesterol, some of those break down and can't operate right.

One of the biggest advocates I've read about with this issue (that most doctors ignore or belittle) was a former doctor (I don't recall his name off the top of my head) that one day woke up standing in his driveway with no memory of how he got there. He stopped taking the drug because he didn't need it anymore, but he took it again several months later because his cholesterol was back up. The second time, the memory impacts were worse... at one point, he didn't even know who he was, but after he stopped, the memory problems stopped as well. Since then, he's done research and became an advocate about pointing out memory problems.
Unfortunately, too many doctors write off this known side effect as symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease or other mental ailments and leave the people on the drug causing the problem.

Can Statin drugs cause Memory Loss?

My Mom is 74 & did not seem to have memory loss til after she was prescribed Lipitor. Now I'm on generic Zocor. If you take a Statin Drug, how high was your cholestrol when your Doc prescribed it? Thanks for any answers!!! also, how long does it usually take for statin drugs to help lower cholestrol? & what effect can I expect---if I should suddently stop taking the statin drugs; would I need to gradually taper off them? If I came off suddently -can it cause my cholestrol level to increase?

No, Statin drugs such as simvastatin or Zocor used to lower cholesterol do not cause memory loss. Studies have discovered that actually they are beneficial in treating Alzheimer's. where the memory is greatly impaired among other symptoms.


Total cholesterol level
Less than 200 is best.
Between 200 to 239 is borderline high.
240 or more means you're at increased risk for heart disease.


HDL cholesterol levels ( Good cholesterol)
Less than 40 means you're at higher risk for heart disease.


LDL cholesterol levels( bad cholesterol
Less than 130 is best.
Between 130 to 159 is borderline high.
160 or more means you're at higher risk for heart disease.



Some physicians and cholesterol technicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol in place of the total blood cholesterol. The ratio is obtained by dividing the HDL cholesterol level into the total cholesterol. For example, if a person has a total cholesterol of 200 mg/dL and an HDL cholesterol level of 50 mg/dL, the ratio would be 4:1. The goal is to keep the ratio below 5:1; the optimum ratio is 3.5:1.


Lowering your high cholesterol can help you prevent a heart attack or stroke or CAD ( Coronary artery disease) esp if you at high risk such as obesity,smoking, sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise.; Diabetes, or have a family hx of heart disease.; high blood pressure of 140/90;.


Take simvastatin exactly as directed by your doctor.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.

For the greatest effect, simvastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with simvastatin and every six months after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with simvastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects from simvastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
It is important to take simvastatin regularly to get the most benefit.


DO NOT STOP taking simvastatin without first talking to your doctor. Simvastatin may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol. Thus, NO, you don't taper the drug on your own.


Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with simvastatin to monitor progress and side effects.


Alcohol and Simvastatin can both be damaging to the liver.


Store simvastatin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.


Zocor or simvastatin helps to lower your cholesterol. it does not caure your condition. Therefore, you must continue to take it as directed by your doctor; if you expect to lower your cholesterol. and keep it down. You may have to take cholesterol -loweringdrugs for the rest of your life. If you stop taking zocor, your cholesterol may rise again.

Has anyone taken cymbalta then switched to Pristq? Have either one affected your memory?

Or in combination with generic Wellbutrin,Cartia (BP),and or Lipitor(Cholest.)? Do any of these cause memory loss?

It is hard to say since everyone has different reaction to certain drugs and even more so with multiple drugs. Memory problems are common with psychotropic drugs.....