1. < Neuropathy

Is there any connection with statin use and neuropathy?

Posted by sjpphil @sjpphil, Apr 27, 2016

Is there any connection with statin use and neuropathy? I have had numbness and tingling in my hands and fingers, along with severe cramping at night. One NP thought this was carpel tunnel, but my doc does not think so. Any thoughts?

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Dec 24, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here at Mayo Clinic. She writes:

"Neuropathy is not a side effect that typically comes to mind when someone is taking a statin, but there have been case reports suggesting there may be an association. At this point, a causal relationship has not been proven (we can’t say for sure that statins are the reason these patients developed neuropathy), but it is possible, and something that is being studied. It seems that the longer a person is taking a statin, the greater the risk of neuropathy. (Statins and risk of polyneuropathy: a case-control study. Published in Neurology. 2002;58(9):1333. Authored by Gaist, et al.)

Of course, neuropathy may be caused by other things as well, so it’s good that your health care team has ordered tests to get to the bottom of it."

I look forward to hearing the results of your testing @sjpphil.

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@ssandy has your doctor discussed diet changes that can help lower your cholesterol? Mayo Clinic has some good information on the type of changes that can help you lower your numbers:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/reduce-cholesterol/art-20045935
John

REPLY
lila25 | @lila25 | Dec 24, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here at Mayo Clinic. She writes:

"Neuropathy is not a side effect that typically comes to mind when someone is taking a statin, but there have been case reports suggesting there may be an association. At this point, a causal relationship has not been proven (we can’t say for sure that statins are the reason these patients developed neuropathy), but it is possible, and something that is being studied. It seems that the longer a person is taking a statin, the greater the risk of neuropathy. (Statins and risk of polyneuropathy: a case-control study. Published in Neurology. 2002;58(9):1333. Authored by Gaist, et al.)

Of course, neuropathy may be caused by other things as well, so it’s good that your health care team has ordered tests to get to the bottom of it."

I look forward to hearing the results of your testing @sjpphil.

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Hi,Sandy For me,my statin ha no effect at all,like you I stopped taking it for 2 months,no change whatsoever,so I resume.August was 2 years,I’m not diabetic it’s much worse now,but I also have Raynaud’s and scleroderma added to my mix,nothing has helped me yet,I stay with the Lyrica.Always checking for alternative medicine tight now CBD oil no change yet.The rest of me is healthy,so we’re all different.Good luck and Merry Christmas.

REPLY
ssandy | @ssandy | Dec 26, 2017
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here at Mayo Clinic. She writes:

"Neuropathy is not a side effect that typically comes to mind when someone is taking a statin, but there have been case reports suggesting there may be an association. At this point, a causal relationship has not been proven (we can’t say for sure that statins are the reason these patients developed neuropathy), but it is possible, and something that is being studied. It seems that the longer a person is taking a statin, the greater the risk of neuropathy. (Statins and risk of polyneuropathy: a case-control study. Published in Neurology. 2002;58(9):1333. Authored by Gaist, et al.)

Of course, neuropathy may be caused by other things as well, so it’s good that your health care team has ordered tests to get to the bottom of it."

I look forward to hearing the results of your testing @sjpphil.

Jump to this post

Thanks and a merry Christmas to you

REPLY
navilenn65 | @navilenn65 | Jan 22, 2018
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here at Mayo Clinic. She writes:

"Neuropathy is not a side effect that typically comes to mind when someone is taking a statin, but there have been case reports suggesting there may be an association. At this point, a causal relationship has not been proven (we can’t say for sure that statins are the reason these patients developed neuropathy), but it is possible, and something that is being studied. It seems that the longer a person is taking a statin, the greater the risk of neuropathy. (Statins and risk of polyneuropathy: a case-control study. Published in Neurology. 2002;58(9):1333. Authored by Gaist, et al.)

Of course, neuropathy may be caused by other things as well, so it’s good that your health care team has ordered tests to get to the bottom of it."

I look forward to hearing the results of your testing @sjpphil.

Jump to this post

Thank you for your observations/citations - your concerns echo mine although I take RYR in lieu of RX. Although efficacious I have stopped due to concerns re liver/kidney damage (if taking alcohol, grapefruit juice), wt. gain, muscle cramping inter alia.

REPLY
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jan 23, 2018
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @sjpphil and @rabbit10, we took the question about statins and neuropathy to a pharmacist here at Mayo Clinic. She writes:

"Neuropathy is not a side effect that typically comes to mind when someone is taking a statin, but there have been case reports suggesting there may be an association. At this point, a causal relationship has not been proven (we can’t say for sure that statins are the reason these patients developed neuropathy), but it is possible, and something that is being studied. It seems that the longer a person is taking a statin, the greater the risk of neuropathy. (Statins and risk of polyneuropathy: a case-control study. Published in Neurology. 2002;58(9):1333. Authored by Gaist, et al.)

Of course, neuropathy may be caused by other things as well, so it’s good that your health care team has ordered tests to get to the bottom of it."

I look forward to hearing the results of your testing @sjpphil.

Jump to this post

Hello @navilenn65 -- welcome to Mayo Connect. Thank you for sharing your experience/concerns. May I ask what RYR is? Do you also have neuropathy?

I'm glad you found us. Connect is a great place to ask questions, share your health concerns and learn what other members are doing for treatments.

John

REPLY
chipper | @chipper | Feb 26, 2018

Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy,according to a study published in the May 14 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. People taking statins were14 times more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy than people who were not taking statins, according to the Danish study. They went on to say that there were positive benefits of statins and the overall risk of developing neuropathy is rare. This article had the heading EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, MAY 13 2002. I'm not quite sure of the meaning of this? Also I don't know if I trust their conclusion as to it being "rare".

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 26, 2018
In reply to @chipper "Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy,according to a study published in the..." + (show)
@chipper

Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy,according to a study published in the May 14 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. People taking statins were14 times more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy than people who were not taking statins, according to the Danish study. They went on to say that there were positive benefits of statins and the overall risk of developing neuropathy is rare. This article had the heading EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, MAY 13 2002. I'm not quite sure of the meaning of this? Also I don't know if I trust their conclusion as to it being "rare".

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Hello @chipper, not a doubt in my mind that statin drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy and I don't think it falls in the rare category. Here are some of the research that I've found.

The implications of statin induced peripheral neuropathy
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3103035/

Statin Neuropathy Masquerading as Diabetic Autoimmune Polyneuropathy
-- http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/8/2082.1

Medication Induced Neuropathy
-- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-003-0043-8

John

REPLY
garydoys | @garydoys | Feb 26, 2018
In reply to @chipper "Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy,according to a study published in the..." + (show)
@chipper

Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy,according to a study published in the May 14 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. People taking statins were14 times more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy than people who were not taking statins, according to the Danish study. They went on to say that there were positive benefits of statins and the overall risk of developing neuropathy is rare. This article had the heading EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, MAY 13 2002. I'm not quite sure of the meaning of this? Also I don't know if I trust their conclusion as to it being "rare".

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Wow I bet this is what caused my nerve pain, I am going to read your articles and thank you. I had ischemic stroke in November and about three week or so after I came down with this awful pain in both my feet and right hand .

REPLY
CalcinosisBaby | @kgoodwin9 | Feb 26, 2018
In reply to @chipper "Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy,according to a study published in the..." + (show)
@chipper

Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy,according to a study published in the May 14 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. People taking statins were14 times more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy than people who were not taking statins, according to the Danish study. They went on to say that there were positive benefits of statins and the overall risk of developing neuropathy is rare. This article had the heading EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, MAY 13 2002. I'm not quite sure of the meaning of this? Also I don't know if I trust their conclusion as to it being "rare".

Jump to this post

Very interesting on statins. I was taking bactrin 3 times a week for over a year and I started having problems with my feet and hands but no relation was diagnosed. I finally figured out I was allergic to it as my skin in certain areas turned brown and around my hips (mostly) was hive like and blistering. Once I stopped taking it the hives cleared up. When you have an autoimmune it is easy to blame everything on that problem when it could be various issues related to medication. I was formally diagnosed by Mayo Clinic as Peripheral neuropathy so I know that is what I had. I also have severe calcinosis. Has that been tied to anything? So far nobody has helped me with this issue??? If anyone has this or knows of any experts in this area I would love to get that info.

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andilynn | @andilynn | Feb 27, 2018

I believe that taking statins caused my peripheral neuropathy. I’m on Lyrica now and quit the statins. I have improved, but every time I try to restart statins I get excruciating leg cramps. So, I won’t be taking them anymore.

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