Statins causing strokes?

[Doey, BSN, RN]

"I was reading some other sites and the subject of medications and their side effects came up..a couple of people said they had heard that the statins were getting a reputation for causing strokes....but they did not back it up with anything....just ""heard about it"". You all heard anything? Any experience with this?"Thanks in advance. Carole

I tried but was unable to post this under your thread.

I was reading something not too long ago about just the opposite, statins reducing the risk of stroke. I couldn't remember where I read it at the time of your post but found it today.

check out http://www.theheart.org

Statins to prevent diabetes and stroke? Experts unearth some clues

Jan 22, 2001. New evidence suggests that people taking statins for their hearts may unwittingly be fending off diabetes and stroke. Clinicians should take notice, even if explanations are in short supply. (Freeman et al, Byington et al, Haffner, Plutzky & Ridker. Circulation 2001; 103: 357-62, 387-92, 346-7, 348-50.)

News

Type statins in the search box to the left and this is the 4th article. Scroll through them because I believe there are a few others that address this.

You can also check out National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and search for statins.

"In some cases, physicians may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication, and recent studies have shown that the newest types of these drugs, called reductase inhibitors or statin drugs, significantly reduce the risk for stroke in most patients with high cholesterol. Scientists believe that statins may work by reducing the amount of bad cholesterol the body produces and by reducing the body's inflammatory immune reaction to cholesterol plaque associated with atherosclerosis and stroke."

Have not heard or read anything to the contrary but if you do let us know!

[-jt]

HAVENT HEARD OF STATINS AND STROKES BUT THEY ARE CAUSING RHABDOMYALOSIS - WHICH RESULTS IN RENAL FAILURE AND CAN BE FATAL.

iF YOURE TAKING STATINS - MEDS TO REDUCE CHOLESTEROL - & EXPERINENCE MUSCLE WEAKNESS, CRAMPS, ACHES OR OTHER MUSCLE PAIN, NOTIFY YOUR MD IMMEDIATELY.

[minurse]

We had 7 BAYCOL induced rhabdo. cases since last summer, three resulted in death.

[donmurray]

Statins also appear to be preventative for alzheimers, should you live so long.