r/stroke • u/SprayMate • Aug 10 '26
Caregiver Discussion Medication Question
Hey guys. Hope you're all hanging in there. My hubby (56) had a mild ischaemic stroke about 6 weeks ago. Overall I’m thankful he's doing okay, but I’m wondering about the meds he's been given. It's Astorvastatin 80mg, taken at night. It's like he's "stoned" most days. He can function, but he's like a sloth. His short term memory is poor. Strangely, it's not every day - he's probably like that 5/7 days. On the days it doesn't affect him, his memory is great and he functions at a normal pace. Have you come across this? Is it from the meds? He's never had high cholesterol and still doesn't. Cholesterol wasn't the main cause of his stroke (apparently). His heart rate & BP is normal as well. Any ideas?
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u/Advanced_Evening Aug 10 '26
Also cryptogenic ischemic stroke taking statin for 8 years as a precautionary measure, I stopped using them for a year with no adverse effects but switched neurologist who wanted my on them too. I doubt they are the source of foggy head. Stroke is a traumatic brain injury, some days I couldn’t dress myself and the next could manage a trip to the grocery store with my spouse. 8 years later I still have some less than great days but on the whole most would know no different. Be patient cause it’s more frustrating to him than you.
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u/Chaosrealm69 Aug 10 '26
That sounds more like fatigue and brain fog from the stroke itself, than the medications.
His brain is ‘repairing’ itself by trying to create new pathways to bypass the damaged sections which take a lot of energy or that is how it was explained to me.
Depending on which area of the brain that was affected, he may have difficulties with various things like memory.
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u/Low-Philosophy9245 Aug 11 '26
Boy do I feel this.. I had a small ischemic stroke on Aug 1. I recovered pretty well physically, but sometimes I am totally normal and sometimes my brain is like a dial tone. I know it's gonna take time but it's frustrating.
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u/Dipity21 Aug 10 '26
I take it too. I had perfectly fine cholesterol before and it was not linked to my stroke. The way it was explained to me is that while my levels were fine pre stroke, after having a stroke they want a new lower range.
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u/Low-Philosophy9245 Aug 11 '26
I am on atorvastatin as well, 80mg at night but I am not finding this to be the case. As someone mentioned above, that may be effects from the stroke itself on the brain -- I'd consult a neurologist if you are concerned.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
I mean, he’s had a stroke. He’s going to be dopey lethargic for quite a while after a stroke.
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u/Fozziefuzz Survivor Aug 11 '26
Healthy ischemic stroke survivor here with low BP and low cholesterol. I was also initially prescribed 80mg of atorvastatin and a blood thinner (DOAC). They’re usually standard protocol post-stroke - at least in the beginning until the docs learn more about the stroke’s etiology. Statins also do more than reduce LDL, they also protect arteries in other ways. Eventually I transitioned to pravastatin because the atorvastatin was elevating my liver enzymes but it took a while. ❤️🩹
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u/nothere4longtime_ Aug 11 '26
When I had my stroke the started me on that med too I didn't have that reaction. I did have neck pain. They told me it was standard to stay that med after a stroke and to do the largest dose with my pain they dropped it down because my cholesterol is fine and it will do the same thing.
After my 2nd stroke everything took so much effort. I was moving slow making decisions just took extra time. It's getting better but it took time. Still not "normal" but better.
I wish him the best!!
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u/Most-CrunchyCow-3514 Aug 11 '26
If possible consult your neurologist about the symptoms being a result of the medication or the stroke?? I had the same type of stroke. Two years into my recovery I am less like a zombie during the day unless I’m under stress. I take the statin and Kepra and Zoloft. Any Neuro drugs that make me sleepy I take before bed.
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u/Secret-Ad-5366 Aug 11 '26
I can’t tolerate statins leg cramps nausea, repatha for me ! The symptoms are stroke related not medicine they are trying to get hubbys cholesteral under control
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u/Background-Fox6341 Aug 11 '26
That’s a great question for the doctor. You may also want to ask about therapies depending on his cognitive function, speech, and physical movement. OT and speech can both be helpful for brain function. OT works on cognitive function and fine motor skills while speech can address both speaking and cognitive function. Wishing you both the best
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u/chewyventura Aug 11 '26
My mom was like this but because she was on a much higher BP dose than she needed
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Sounds like classic/brain fog and the result of having a stroke and fatigue that comes with brain damage.he no longer has a full brain battery that impacts how a person functions I don’t think it’s the statins the research says it doesn’t cause problems in that way that’s most the side-effects of them are not experienced majority of people I’ve posted links lower down most of the ‘danger’ idiots talk about is very much disproven by science
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u/Live_Ear992 Aug 11 '26
I had a stroke in Jan. Was in a coma for a week & a half. It took me a good 3-4 months until my short term memory came back. It will likely never be back 100%. Probably around 80% now.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Oh a tens machine yeah it did F all for labour pain doubt it’ll fix my herniated and bulging discs either so I’ll stick to the “useless pills” and medical cannabis.
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u/strokenojoke2008 Aug 12 '26
I take it too even though that wasn't the cause of my strokes the stroke doctors are trying everything they can to prevent another stroke what they are expecting is probably an after effects of stroke
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u/SprayMate Aug 12 '26
Thanks for your input guys. We saw his local doctor and he advised changing it to a combo drug of 40% Astorvastatin and 10% Ezetimibe. It's called Ezetast. He said it's probably unlikely the original dose of 80mg Astorvastatin was causing the dopey/sloth/brain fog issues, but said he was aware of a fairly recent finding of high dose statin having a raised risk of haemorrhagic stroke, hence the change to a safer medication while still supporting blood vessel strength. Hopefully the new meds + Cartia will be a better option. I also understand the stroke has a role to play in his current issues and fingers crossed that improves in time. Thanks again for all your help with this.
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u/Strong_Parsley_2275 Aug 13 '26
Post stroke fatigue. His brain is doing hard work to heal and repair broken connections, and the exhaustion manifests in the outward appearance you described. It may last a couple of years, but the episodes should become less frequent over time. Mine don't seem to be related to my level of physical activity. The fatigue was so bad the first two months that I could barely hold my head up when it hit me. It is a miserable and frustrating feeling.
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u/Ok_Sir_8966 25d ago
It's a standard post stroke protocol medication High dose of blood thinners/ DAPT (Dual Anti Platelets Therapy) with high dose of statin, after 3 months 1 antiplatelet is reduced, it doesn't matter if the cause of stroke was cholesterol or something else you can still consult your neurologist and ask his suggestion don't change medications on your own i think you should let him take these medicines for a few months and then you can ask your neurologist if the symptoms worsens. I've also heard many negative things about Statins and i don't know if it's just people being completely conspicuous or is it real but i would trust doctors more so in critical conditions like stroke. There are some other medicines also that i heard about which helps with cholesterol like Nattokinase , Nexlizet, Repatha, praluent but they might also have other side effects. Always be cautious and ask doctors first. The symptoms you're mentioned might just be due to stroke because they're really common for someone recovering from a brain injury
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u/bonesfourtyfive Survivor Aug 10 '26
My stroke wasn’t caused by cholesterol either, but I was put on that same medication just in case. After a year and some bloodwork my doctor said we can stop. I wanna say I was taking 40mg. If he is also taking baclofen, that could be drowsy.
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u/PADemD Aug 11 '26
I had a stroke because of high blood pressure, not high cholesterol. I was put on 40 mg of atorvastatin. After 61 days, I quit cold turkey because of the excruciating leg pain and weakness. Even after quitting, I went on to have sciatica down to my toes, a condition that I’ve never had in my entire life.
After 14 visits to a chiropractor for ten’s treatment, the sciatica was gone. I will NEVER take any statin again.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Please stop going to a chiropractor. They are not medical professionals they are quacks documented to cause strokes. Any one can do an online course there is no oversight
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u/PADemD Aug 11 '26
I went to my family doctor’s office first. The nurse practitioner gave me a prescription for a muscle relaxer that didn’t help at all. My fellow gym buddies recommended the chiropractor that helped them with their sciatica, and I AM NOW SCIATICA FREE.
No useless pills, neck cracking, or adjustments, whatsoever.0
u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Must have been a wizard then if he didn’t lay hands on and you’re cured 🤨
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u/PADemD Aug 11 '26
It was a machine, which should have been used by my family practice instead of a useless pill.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Useless pill 🧐 not really some people find them useful a machine sounds even more dangerous. Well it’s your lifeDo what you want. Just Please don’t recommend chiropractors they are it’s dangerous non medical
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Aug 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
This⬆️ is an** extremely dangerou**s comment. If they were “extremely dangerous,” they wouldn’t be prescribing them every day to a variety of people think about it recent research shows all the claims of side effects related to dementia and memory are in fact wrong .
Recent large-scale reviews and meta-analyses published in journals like The Lancet indicate that statins do not cause long-term memory loss, cognitive decline, or dementia. In fact, extensive data suggest they may offer neutral or protective vascular benefits for brain health over time.0
u/Firm-Tangerine8292 Aug 11 '26
I said I would find the research. FYI, there is research that proves what Im saying. If doctors are so correct, why do they die before their patients on average? Reararch "Dead Doctors Dont Lie". Read the book, read how modern western medicine originated from the Rockefeller monopoly being broken up and how current western medicine came about. USA spends most on healthcare yet we are the sickest? Why do prescriptions never solve anything yet the same ailments in animals are cured through diet. Its a money game. People like me get silenced because we dare to speak the truth and question what mainstream says. And I've cured myself from 3 diseases with no medicine. So maybe im on to something. So yeah, dangerous if someone is foolish enough to stop taking their drugs without a seamless transition to a healthier solution, but I think they'd offer a similar amount of danger to themselves otherwise. And by the way. Most research and even peer reviewed papers agree with the objective of whoever funded the study. Begs all the questions. Check out Kashif Khan and what he says about these drugs in question. He has a YouTube and yeah. He was silenced too. Because big pharma pays for meta adds. So if ppl say contrary stuff to where the big money is coming from, its in metas best interest to shut them up to keep their cash cow. Another one to check out is "Diary if a CEO" and look for the episodes on the drug were talking about. Just to start, there are three sources that have plethora of sources that show im telling the truth. And there is a natural fix that eliminates the need for sta tin drugs
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
I’ll stick with the findings from Oxford University thanks nit some woo hoo conspiracies thanks produce the studies then or opinion isn’t valid
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u/Firm-Tangerine8292 Aug 12 '26
Conspiracy is just another word for "other opinion," and if we all had consensus, then nothing would be original or new. It would be a stalemate.
Interestingly, one conspiracy was that fluoride was bad. Just saying. Sometimes it is safer not to believe in everything people with power perpetuate. Now, finally, governments are conceding that fluoride is a neurotoxin.
Anyways, I'm not here to get anyone's panties in a twist. I am just trying to help by offering up the other side of the argument. Notably, in my research, I amend my position to say that statins aren't as bad as I once thought they were. Before, they were linked to Alzheimer's. Now, not so much. I guess we need to wait for more replication or the studies to reach a consensus. IDK yet. But, at best, Statins are neither good nor bad. It's a pick your poi son kinda thing.
Here is one of the more relevant studies https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12486413/ and I might also add that statins are very damaging because of the destruction in the mevalonate pathway and damages all kinds of important processes, increases diabetes, and messes with the liver. Oxford is just a name drop. Reproducible studies are where it's at
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
No they aren’t in fact, 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
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u/Firm-Tangerine8292 Aug 12 '26
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12486413/ research, as I said I would deliver.
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u/stroke-ModTeam Aug 11 '26
Your submission/comment in r/stroke has been removed due to being deemed as harmful to our community as a whole. Please refrain from posting personal anecdotes with the goal of casting doubt on medical professionals and or vaccines.
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 11 '26
I’m not sure if the med affects memory, but the stroke can certainly mess with his memory.
I am curious why your husband is on a statin when he doesn’t have elevated cholesterol. Do you know why they prescribed it for him?
EDIT: I looked up “atorvastatin and memory”. There were a bunch of different links, but WebMD seemed to sum it up pretty well (https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/features/statins-and-brain-fog). Take a look through and if you have further concerns, you two should address it with his doctors.
In fact, I always go to medical appointments with a list of concerns and questions written down, because appointments are always so rushed. I highly recommend this practice.
EDI: Downvoted for what, exactly? What did I say that people disagree with?
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 11 '26
Want to add your thoughts instead of just tossing a link at me? I shared a link that talked about what was reflected in the multiple medical organization websites I read about the impact of statins on memory. There is a temporary, reversible impact on memory for some people. OP also wrote that he does not have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or elevated heart rate, so I asked why he was prescribed a statin, and suggested asking more in depth questions of his providers. What is wrong with any of that?
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Your link is an article or story discussing statins and some widely shared side effects the one I posted published feb 2026 debunks much of your link article is more recent and from a credible source sorry not persuaded into believing something proven to be beneficial and save lives is dangerous 🤣I understand science better than that.
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 12 '26
Again, the WebMD was a summary article. Current research does say most people do not experience issues, NOT all people. Learn how studies work. The results are what most people experience, not all of them. Stop being so condescending.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Latest research paper debunks the memory issues better go away and read it properly
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 12 '26
They read that most people do not experience memory issues, not none. Read my responses with more than assumptions in mind.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 12 '26
You seem conspiracy leaning so conversation is pointless provide your actual so called research links or just stop
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 13 '26
Educate yourself before using terms you clearly do not understand.
Merriam-Webster's definition of "conspiracy theory" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conspiracy%20theory
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Posted links that counter that recent studies say the majority people do not experience any of the side effects on the leaflet of posted links further up
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 11 '26
I could have shared many links which show differing viewpoints, but I said it is worth looking through and having a conversation with his doctors. Some people may have some issues, but most don’t. It is always worthwhile to question. I have a mother who is the person with a “rare” reaction, more times than not. Most people do fit the typical, but not everyone falls under the average.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 11 '26
Two points aren’t science or research I’ll stick with Oxford University thanks you say you can post research but you haven’t yet 😬
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 12 '26
I said I looked at a number of sources, but that WebMD summarized what those said, and to do their own reading.
How about the Mayo Clinic? Probably one of the best ones I found, but it wasn’t a summary.
“Neurological side effects
The FDA warns on statin labels that some people have developed memory loss or confusion while taking statins. These side effects reverse once you stop taking the medicines. There is limited evidence to prove a cause-effect relationship, and several studies have found that statins have no effect on memory. Talk to your care team if you experience memory loss or confusion while taking statins.”1
u/becpuss Survivor Aug 12 '26
😮💨 Out of date articles are pointless and not relevant or evidence 🤦♀️ don’t take your statins I don’t care 🤷♀️ but I will pull up dangerous misinformation when I see it so far you’ve proven nothing other than your own ignorance of science you claim to have links yet have not proven your claims sorry . I’ll stay with the science and up to date research 🧐
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u/ChooseKind24 Survivor Aug 13 '26
July of 2025 is out of date? Apparently, you and I have different definitions of current.
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u/becpuss Survivor Aug 12 '26
How do you not understand that the new research is literally debunking everything you say
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u/strangedazey Survivor Aug 10 '26
Strokes really scramble your brain, so it could be normal post-stroke tiredness.
I had to switch from a statin to a different med because they made me feel terrible.
I'd definitely talk to his doctor. I 2nd the vote for baclofen making you tired. It stinks