Statins may have link to Lou Gehrig’s disease

Q. My mother was on Lipitor for less than two years when she developed muscle weakness and started having trouble speaking. She was initially diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis and told to continue on her Lipitor.

Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she ended up confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak. She passed away in July at the age of 57 from ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease.

I truly believe this was brought on by Lipitor and was fascinated to read of a connection in your column. She was in vibrant, good health until she started the Lipitor, and it was the only drug she ever took.

A. We are indeed sorry to learn of your mother’s death. Scientists have not yet determined whether cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor, Crestor or Zocor can actually trigger motor neuron diseases like primary lateral sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

In a previous column, we reported that the World Health Organization drug-monitoring center had found an unexpected association between statins and ALS-like syndrome (Drug Safety, June 2007). Since that time, we have received dozens of heartbreaking stories similar to yours. Many people were diagnosed with PLS after developing severe muscle weakness or cramping on cholesterol-lowering drugs. This condition is not considered fatal, but it can be incapacitating.

Others report symptoms such as stumbling, falling, slurring speech or having difficulty swallowing after taking the statin-type cholesterol-lowering medicines. In many instances, the condition was diagnosed as ALS. There is no cure for this disease that causes degeneration of muscles and nerves.

Such reactions may be reported at www.peoplespharmacy.com, where more details are available. We will forward case reports to researchers and the Food and Drug Administration for further review.

Q. I find many prescription-drug commercials to be totally inappropriate. My kids and I are watching TV when suddenly we see a commercial for Cialis for erectile dysfunction.

I am also fed up with all these initials! ED? RLS? Who on earth ever heard of restless leg syndrome? Are they for real? What’s next – AIW for age-induced wrinkles?

A. People have been complaining about restless legs for decades, but “RLS” didn’t become a familiar abbreviation until a drug was developed to treat it. We agree with you that prescription-drug commercials are annoying. Only one other industrialized nation (New Zealand) permits prescription-drug advertising directly to consumers.

Q. Is there any home remedy or over-the-counter product that will permanently eliminate the strong odor of my husband’s smelly feet? Bathing them daily does not help.

A. Smelly feet may not be a sign of poor hygiene. Instead, the odor may be a result from sweating and bacteria or fungi that thrive in moist conditions.

One approach is to soak feet in a warm Epsom-salt solution every night for a week. Another is to soak them in a baking-soda foot bath.

We are sending you our Guide to Solutions for Smelly Feet, which offers details and many other remedies. Anyone who would like a free copy may send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. F-2, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It can also be downloaded from our Web site: www.peoplespharmacy.com.