Pravastatin and Memory Loss: What Users Say

• Bab...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 23, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Pravastatin has caused me to get severe cramping in my legs. It has caused some memory loss. I have been getting the most severe pain in my big toe at night when I sleep. I wasn't sure it was from the med but it seems to have gone away since I stopped it. Also, I have developed a horrible rash under my breasts which I never had before. Now that I stopped the pravastatin, it seems to be going away. I don't know what to do because I think that I need a statin because of clogged arteries and high cholesterol but the side effects were too much to handle. I am considering going on a vegan diet, which is not the kind of food I usually eat. But I have to do something. My doctor yells at me when I go in for a checkup. If anyone has any suggestions, please write. I am a 70-year-old woman. Thank you for reading this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2020

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Was prescribed Pravastatin 80mg for genetically high cholesterol and had to cut it back myself to 40 mg after 4.25 months because getting side effects of non-diabetic neuropathy, odd cramps in hands and legs, overall weakness, could not think straight, could not put simple words together, could not remember complete sentences, hair falling out, muscle pain especially in right bicep, shakiness especially in arms and hands, and more. Finally, since my doctor would not allow me a visit (COVID), I quit Pravastatin altogether on 8/18/20. It is now 9/12/20 and I still feel horrible, but my memory is coming back. How can it be legal to sell this 'medicine'? How cruel to do this to people! How many, I wonder, get misdiagnosed with dementia, when really it is the statins. I am crying right now for others on this drug. Also, Pravastatin depleted and somehow continues to deplete my potassium, even after I quit taking Pravastatin. That is possibly why I continue to feel very weak? Shame on all involved!"

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2016

For High Cholesterol "This caused severe dizziness, memory problems, erection problems. Be sure to read the side effects before taking. Chances are you will have most of them. After I stopped taking it, it took about a week before I noticed the dizziness going away. After three weeks, things were back to normal. Just be very aware of this drug. It was bad news for me. The only way that I realized it was this drug that was causing my problems were the reviews by other people taking this. Read the reviews and believe what you read. They are true."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Where to start! My whole body hurt. I'm 37 years old, feeling like I was trapped in a 90-year-old body. Bad headaches, lack of sleep, stinky urine, weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, crazy thoughts, tired every 30 minutes, breasts were very sore, and irritable to everything and everyone, but my loved ones forgave me once I stopped taking the medicine, lol. On the 4th day of not taking it, I broke out in a very bad sweat, and then I felt wonderful! Never again!"

• Jes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Do not, do not, do not take this or any statins. You will not have a life. After 2 weeks got off, I felt like a junkie. Forgetfulness, brain numbness, pain all over body, dizziness. If your doctor refuses to take you off, get another doctor. You can even see an endocrinologist. There are powder oral drinks you can take instead - Pravachol or Welchol. There are others. Suggest them to your doctor, they are for people who cannot tolerate statins."

• Why...
• January 8, 2017

For High Cholesterol "Been scripted for various statins over the years, having to change from one to another due to side effects: muscle pain, increased glucose, blurred vision with aching eyes, fatigue, cognitive impairment, headaches, etc. Not sure of the time of onset of each symptom. Am being treated for seasonal affective disorder but am now thinking this is due to statins. Am now off statins and other than mild blurred vision, all symptoms have stopped."

• Ano...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 16, 2022

For High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous "Pravastatin, Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, NONE LOWERED MY CHOLESTEROL BUT all caused heavy brain fog, severe muscle pain, poor kidney values, blurry vision, poor hearing, skin sharp itchy flat plaques, bruising under my eyes, terrible tingling feet, weakness to the point of collapsing at times, hair loss, odd forgetfulness like doing tasks inside out-like going to the dealer to get winter tires swapped out to summer and an oil change as I have done for years, but 6 months ago I did not even realize I never put the winter tires in the truck for the dealer to swap out and only found out a few weeks ago that my summer tires were on all winter and I put the winter tires in the truck to get swapped out a few weeks ago with my oil change, but the dealer told me I already had my summer tires on, and it was hard to comprehend. Also had terrible trouble finding things, forgot I was looking for anything, etc. Somebody needs to find out if people are misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's but on Statins!!!"