Duane Graveline MD MPH
Former NASA Astronaut, Former USAF Flight Surgeon
and Retired Family Doctor

Visit the Duane Graveline Books Page

The fact that statin drugs are two-edged swords is known to few. It is no wonder doctors are confused about this class of drugs. 

When a statin reduces cholesterol, it is, at the same time, reducing synthesis of CoQ10, dolichols, selenoproteins, Rho, glutathione and normal phosphorylation by a similar amount. This, I believe, is the cause of the thousands of side effect reports largely unknown to the medical community.
 

Study after study has shown the benefit of statin drugs in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Almost buried in this barrage of positive results, however, is the growing research evidence that this reduction of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality from statin use has occurred independently of cholesterol lowering effect.

Adding to cholesterol's innocence is its vital role in our bodies - mediator of synaptic transmissions, precursor of vital hormones and the most abundant biochemical in our brains.

From the titles of the articles and books I have written, I can understand the concern that I may be anti-statin. Nothing could be further from the truth. Statins' anti-inflammatory action is the most effective treatment there is for atherosclerosis and lowering of cardiovascular risk in high risk individuals.

I am increasingly though a proponent of low, anti-inflammatory dosing of statins not the current cholesterol lowering dosing now that cholesterol no longer appears to be the villain.

However, it must be noted that my personal side effects from statins came from doses that would today be considered low.
 

My own experience with the statin drug Lipitor is covered in detail in my book and summarized in the article Lipitor Thief of Memory.

My personal introduction to the incredible world of transient global amnesia (TGA) occurred six weeks after Lipitor was started during my annual astronaut physical at Johnson Space Center. My cholesterol had been trending upwards for several years.

All was well until six weeks later, when my wife found me walking aimlessly about the yard after I returned from my usual walk in the woods. I "awoke" six hours later in the office of the examining Neurologist with a diagnosis of transient global amnesia, cause unknown. 

My Statin Story March 2009 update has some very positive news on my condition.
March 2nd 2009 was my 78th birthday and my vision of an imminent wheelchair existence has been replaced by hope of active life yet.

Duane Graveline MD MPH


 

From US Air Force Flight Surgeon to NASA flight controller for the Mercury and Gemini program and on to selection as one of NASA's six Scientist Astronauts in 1965.

23 years as a Physician in Family Practice followed and then M.D. locum tenens in Virginia until retirement from medical practice in 1994 at the age of 63.

Returned to NASA from 2003 to 2005 as a consultant specializing in the effects of cosmic radiation.

Now retired and studying and writing on the effects of statin drugs.

Duane Graveline MD MPH Biography

 

Dr. Kilmer McCully has contributed a series of articles, the first is on Cholesterol:
Cholesterol - Part 1
Cholesterol - Part 2

The second is on Homocysteine.
Homocysteine - Part 1
Homocysteine - Part 2

Kilmer S. McCully, M.D.
Dr. Kilmer McCully spent 40 years, the major part of his professional career, pursuing the connection between homocysteine, cancer, arteriosclerosis, and diseases of aging.
 

Dr. Malcolm Kendrick has written two articles for the site.

The first is:
"The Great Cholesterol Con"
which is also the title of his book.

The second is:
Dr. Kendrick looks at Cholesterol.

Dr. Malcolm Kendrick (MbChB MRCGP) M.D.
Dr. Kendrick has worked in family practice for almost twenty years.
 

Three statins are currently available in generic form in the U.S.:

1) Lovastatin ( Mevacor, Altocor, Altoprev ) Lovastatin has been available as a generic statin drug since 2001.
2) Pravastatin ( Pravachol, Lipostat, Selektine ) Pravastatin has been available as a generic drug since 2006.
3) Simvastatin ( Zocor, Lipex, Simcard, Simlup ) Simvastatin has been available as a generic since 2006. 
 
In my opinion any doctor can practice effective medicine with currently available generic statins. Pravastatin can be considered to be somewhat weaker than lovastatin and lovastatin is somewhat weaker than simvastatin, so a doctor has the full range of effectiveness.

Generic Statin Drugs
 
Duane Graveline MD MPH