Dear University of Otago,

Further to a previous request I would like to update the number of
adverse reactions to all brands of statins including fatalities in the
period February 2015- February 2016.

Yours faithfully,

Heather Barker

Dear Janelle Ashton,

Thank you for your prompt response to my request about statins. It was pleasing to note only an additional 22 adverse reactions were reported to CARM, although I feel this is not a true representation of what actually happens. I know of several people in the last year who had to stop statins because of severe effects and to my knowledge none of these incidents were submitted. One friend was told by their GP there was no need to submit to CARM as the 'side effects are well known' and therefore not unusual so didn't warrant the time to fill in a report.

This continues to be a concern to me - and of course, we have no real method to view the long term injury of people who had severe reactions. My husband continues to have extremely ill health due to muscle wasting, fatigue and peripheral neuropathy since his acute renal failure in 2002.

Yours sincerely,

Heather Barker