Lipitor and Memory Loss: Are Reports Really Just Anecdotal?

A Writer's Struggle Against a Loss of Words

If one may believe the February 13^th report by ABC News' Lauren Cahoon, patient and physician reports linking the use of Lipitor and memory loss are considered anecdotal - a fancy term that classifies them as sketchy, untrustworthy, and by and large little more than subjective opinion with little grounding in reality.

Truth be told, when consulting the physician's desk reference entry for Lipitor, many a side effect are noted; among them are changes in heart rate, the potential for allergic reactions, dizziness, headaches, rashes, and also muscle pain. There is no mentioning of a relationship between Lipitor and memory loss. Granted, it only talks about commonly experienced side effects, but if memory loss really was anticipated, there would be at least a mention of it.

On the other side of the equation is Dr. Orli Etingtin, who as vice chairman of medicine at the prestigious New York Presbyterian Hospital did not make many friends in the medical community when he bluntly asserted that Lipitor and memory loss are not only connected, but that the drug is actually making his female patients dumb. Strong words from a physician who did not get to where he is today by failing to wear the company face and toeing the line dictated by drug companies.

Yet what is startling is the proof Dr. Etingtin cites: according to him, a middle aged patient suffered from failure to concentrate and remember words but when she discontinued Lipitor, these problems disappeared. Does this make it an anecdotal or bona fide side effect of the popular cholesterol lowering drug?

With all due respect to the ABC News' medical editor - Dr. Timothy Johnson - who is quoted in L. Cahoon's piece as discounting any worry because of an alleged link between Lipitor and memory loss since it does not appear to be a common or even serious side effect, in my opinion Dr. Johnson fails to have first hand knowledge with which to form such an opinion. While to him memory loss does not appear to be serious, to one who experiences it there is a lot more weight attached to the condition.