Dh and I went to see his PCP today to discuss his DX of AZ. Also, some labs that he just had. The PCP isn't convinced that DH has AZ and does think a 2nd opinion is in order. Yeah! Wouldn't that be wonderful if that DX is incorrect?? However, I digress...
Because DH's cholesterol is higher than the PCP likes (130, really, I think that's absurd for an 80 yo male) he thinks that DH should go on Statin drugs. We've had this discussion before and this doctor is really wedded to Statins and I do not trust them at all. In addition to the possibility of the drugs lowering dh's cholesterol, the PCP thinks that the Statins will also help his cognitive health. Really? One of our best friends took these drugs for a couple weeks and found himself wandering around the neighborhood not knowing who he was - totally confused. All cleared up upon discontinuing Statins. Have any of you had your doctors suggest this before? I'm not even remotely convinced that these drugs are helpful for heart disease, let alone helpful for dimensia. I'd really like to hear from any of you on this topic.
I am one that must take statins for the prevention of familial heart disease and I say you are absolutely right. I am guessing 130 is the LDL or bad cholestrol reading which is borderline high. But what is the sense of treating that in any person that is 80 years old with a probably diagnosis of dementia???
Memory loss is a real but rare side effect of statin drugs and I think you are wise not to put your DH on them.
My husband's total cholesterol was 228 with LDL around 150. His PCP thinks that his TOTAL Cholesterol should be around 130. I think that's ludicrous. And, I agree about treating an 80 year old with dimensia. However, his PCP doesn't buy that he has AZ. Hope he's right.
A couple of years ago I took my wife to a specialist in AD (her PCP wouldn't even discuss the disease). He immediately took her off the simvastatin she had been on for slightly high cholesterol and put her on Lipitor - MUCH more expensive. Also, he said I had to take her to her PCP for the diabetes and hypertension, even though he is a general internist. Not long after that I switched her to a different PCP who would take care of everything. We discussed the statins and decided that they were not doing any good for either the dementia or the cholesterol, so stopped Lipitor. Catherine is correct that memory loss is a rare side effect of the statins. Also, the evidence that statins do any good for AD is very questionable. As for the cholesterol reading of 130, that would be very low for total cholesterol, but probably represents the LDL fraction. In patients with proven heart disease we like to get this one below 100, but I'm not sure I would do that for an 80 year old with dementia. A heart attack is a better way to go than end-stage Alzheimer's.
Yep, I just checked - 229 Total with HDL 63. HDL/LDL ratios = 2.4. I, personally have never had cholesterol lower than 220, even in my 30's. However, my HDL's are off the charts high 90ish and tryglicerides also very low. The doctors have many times tried to convince me to take statins and I refuse. I just don't have a heart attack profile.
My husband has been taking statin drugs for years. I have also taken a low dose of them. We have both had heart attacks & heart bypass surgery. My husband developed alzheimers & I believe that stain drugs do nothing but boggle the mind. They also make the pharmasuticles very rich. I prefer to take Niaccin.
My DH was one that had problems with statins. Confusion, memory loss..this was years ago before he was diagnosed with PCA. He tried Lipitor, Mevacor and Crestor. If I'm not mistaken confusions was listed in the "Post Marketing" side effects with Crestor. Can't remember (LOL) about the others. His reaction was no more drugs of that type.
My DH was put on Lovastatin for high cholesterol (234 combined) around 1990. Last summer his cholesterol reading was (159 combined, with a perfect split for HDL,LDL< and Triglyseides). I asked both his Neuro-Psych and PCP Drs. whether he should still be on the statin. Both said my choice--neither would commit (can't know for sure it isn't helping). Found out that as Dementia progresses and falls become more threat, these meds can contribute to internal bleeding. Hospice came aboard and we stopped it. He's 67, in Stage 6 of Vascular Dementia. His progression marched on with the med on board. His Cholesterol is not going to elevate with any speed.
mothert - my husband was on a statin and in three days could not remember who he had spent the day with or what work he got done. 2% of the people have these severe reactions including one of the astronauts. If you are concerned give him garlic - that will lower it. Fish oil helps. I take Niacin for BP - didn't know it helps cholesterol. At 80, 229 is not high.. Mine runs near 220 and my tryclercerides are low so my naturopath has not problems - just keep taking garlic.
There was a study done to see if statins would help improve cognition in dementia patients and found it did not. Besides the brain needs some cholesterol to function so how will it if you take it all away?
Educate yourself and then Stand by what your 'gut' tells you and you will be fine.
Thanks to all of you for your comments. My gut tells me "NO STATINS". I'm not afraid to stand up to doctors - afterall, I'm paying for their time and that means they are working for me at that time. I do my homework and consider myself and the doctor to be partners. Some docs like that and some don't. We're going to see the Neurologist today and it will be interesting to see what he has to say. I'm going to ask him to explain AD to my dh so that he can make some informed decisions himself (even if he won't totally remember everything the doc tells him today).
mothert, Good luck if your DH remembers anything the neuro tells him. Our neuro told my DH about his hallucinations, that they weren't true and it was just in his head. Didn't make one bit of difference and he still went on and on about it. He has done better lately but now and then he still brings it up.
DH has been on Simvastatin for years, not because his cholesterol was particularly high but just because it is standard for Daibetes II patients. I'm going to suggest to the PCP that we stop it, and I think, also the Exelon. It sure doesn't seem to be doing anything.
John is STILL on statins...as well as aricept, namenda, metropolol and about ten other meds that seem unnecessary for a person on 'comfort care' only. Should I open yet another argument with the NH?
IMO - let it go, except right now they assume you will pay the bill. Realistically, with your recent surgery I would just let it go. You don't need the stress. But then again maybe it would be a good stress reliever arguing with them!!