Statins and CMT

[Guest guest]

OK here is the Statins (for Cholesterol) article - from MDA's Quest

October 2002 and it gives the specific names of medications AND mentions

CMT. ~ Gretchen

Statins Can Cause Nerve and Muscle Problems

Medications used to lower blood cholesterol levels are associated with a

somewhat increased risk of damage to nerves and muscles, studies say.

The so-called statin drugs, with names like atorvastatin (Lipitor),

fluvastatin

(Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol) and simvastatin

(Zocor),

are taken by millions of middle-aged and elderly people and are

considered highly beneficial in protecting against cardiovascular

disease when dietary and other lifestyle measures fail.

However, several studies, including a large Danish study reported by

Gaist and colleagues in the May 14 issue of Neurology, suggest a

needed increase in awareness of potential side effects of these popular

drugs.

The Danish study found a slightly increased risk of nerve damage, while

other studies (such as one in the September 2001 issues of ls of

Pharmacotherapy and the journal Epidemiology) have concentrated on

muscle damage. All studies so far have been done in patients without any

underlying

neuromuscular disease.

It isn't clear that people with neuromuscular diseases are unusually

susceptible to the nerve- or muscle-damaging effects of statins.

However, a worsening neuromuscular disease in someone taking a statin

medication could be a warning. Unusual muscle pain or cola-colored urine

in someone on a statin may indicate acute muscle destruction and should

prompt an immediate call to a physician.

" Statins need to be added to the list of potentially contraindicated

medications in patients with any type of neuropathy [nerve problem] or

any type of muscle disorder, but especially in patients with

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, " noted , a specialist in nerve

and muscle diseases who heads the MDA clinic at Our Lady of Lourdes

Hospital in Lafayette, La.