Re: Another side effect

September 28, 2006

> How many members of this group have noticed that their hair

> became thinner or are balding since the use of a statin?

Not me. I'd love to stop shaving my legs, but that's not happening

with my use of statins.

September 29, 2006

Hi Ed & Group,

Info from Dr Graveline's website ~ statins & hair loss.

Fran

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Statins and Hair Loss

I am unable to propose a mechanism by which statin drugs contribute to

hair loss but the numbers of people reporting this effect convinces me

that a relationship exists.

I also suspect it may be grossly under-reported since very few people

would expect this common condition to be related to intake of statin

drugs.

My best approach to sharing this information is simply to list some of

the case reports I have received. In most of these cases the hair loss

has been associated with a variety of other symptoms and signs.

These are some of the personal experiences sent to me that include

hair loss as a possible side effect of taking statins.

1) I have experienced significant hair loss and weight gain since I

started taking statins a couple of years ago. Have you heard of such

a thing, I haven't been able to find anything in my research.

2) I am so glad to see your web page and all of the information you

have posted. Now if I can just get my husband to read it and believe

that this is not " him " but the Lipitor. He is 50 and has been on the

Lipitor for

18 mos. I noticed the erection and the sex drive issue some time ago,

but I thought it was age. Now memory loss, hair loss and a feeling he

is " lost " . He can't put his finger on what is wrong. The doctors, the

pharmacist all say it is not the Lipitor but I can't help but think it

is.

3) My Dad was started on Mevacor some time prior to 1994. At the time

of his participation on the Statin Study he had been on statins for

about 10 years. He experienced the following: His whole body was

aching, leg cramps at night. Muscle weakness and fatigue. Headache. GI

problems (reflux). Attention/concentration problems. Memory problems.

Changes in sleep patterns. Fatigue and lack of energy. Dizziness. Loss

of Libido – function. Gained and lost 20 #. Shortness of breath when

climbing steps or on exertion. Eyes crusting at night. Hair loss.

Infrequent mouth ulcers. Tremors -especially when carrying something.

Coordination problems - stumbling, falling, losing balance. Sweats.

Peripheral neuropathy both feet. Also he was complaining of constant

chest pain, for which nothing was detected in ER visits. In the 10

years his overall health rating and physical activity dropped in half.

His thoughts seemed stuck and he couldn't get them out. He would say,

" My memory " . This has improved since stopping the prescription drugs.

He also seems happier and more present. He went to his doctor and

told him he was sick of taking so many pills. He told the doctor that

his daughter, who was a nurse, thought that the statins could be

causing his muscle pain and weakness. The Dr. said, " Who are you

going to listen to? Your daughter or your doctor? " He threatened to

cancel my Dad's insurance (which was a violation of patient's rights

to do) if he did not take the drug.

4) Two-years ago, my brother took Lipitor . Unbeknownst to me. His

symptoms were low-key at first. I noticed he was looking so much older

so quickly. Hair loss. Dull skin. Eyes bothering him. Shoulder aches.

Ringing in his ears. He began to show loss of memory. Could not make

decisions. Obsessed over the smallest occurrence. Paranoia was

increasing over job, parents and friends. Speech was difficult. He

would try to talk, but his thoughts were not connected. He would

ponder over a word for minutes at a time struggling to talk. He could

not recall how to do the smallest task, something he would know,

became something he would not recognize. He finally was taken to a

psychiatrist, who said he was suffering from Anxiety/panic disorder.

Lipitor was mentioned, at my request, and was quickly dismissed. He

was put on Valium with no success. An antidepressant was also given

with no success. He decompensated to the point of Catatonia. Therefore

was admitted to a Crisis Mental Health Unit, They then gave him a

barrage of medications. Ativan, Wellbutrin, Klonopin, Ambien, Desyrel

and a new anti-psychotic. Can't remember name - 30mg. (highest dose).

He is still in the crisis unit. Going on two weeks. The MD (his home

psychiatrist) said he was a very tough case. This is a man with

absolutely no personal or family history of mental illness. I am

convinced it is the statin drugs. There is just so much that makes me

conclude there is no other explanation.

5) I have been taking statin drugs for about 11 years. I had a

cholesterol blood level of 313 and was considered to be at high risk

for an MI. My father died of heart failure at age 70 years while my

mother who had a cholesterol level well over 400, died at 87 years of

congestive heart failure. I am approaching 69 years, in relatively

good health, but have noted some memory loss as well as leg cramping

over the last two to three years. In addition, I have suffered a

relatively rapid loss of hair -- not male pattern baldness -- as well

as noting the same type hair loss in two blood-relatives (mother and

first-cousin), who were both on Lipitor. The hair loss was not noted

until each of us took Lipitor. Perhaps this is a very rare side

affect, but it may be noteworthy to have it in three related patients,

all taking Lipitor.

Source: http://www.spacedoc.net/statins_hair_loss.html

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Ed wrote:

I was just watching a segment on CNN regarding baldness.

In the segment it stated that besides diet and other issues,

that one of the causes of baldness in adults is the increaing

use of cholesterol lowering drugs. Hmmmm... could that be

such things as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor?

How many members of this group have noticed that their hair

became thinner or are balding since the use of a statin?

Ed

Moderator

September 29, 2006