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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 | Mar 5, 2018
In reply to @trpain "Same problem here. I have tried three different kinds of statins and had severe joint pain,..." + (show)
@trpain

Same problem here. I have tried three different kinds of statins and had severe joint pain, muscle spasms and now on Livalo I have had neuropathy in my fingers at night. Thought it was from arthritis at first. But got suspicious and stopped the Livalo and within days the neuropathy has gone as well as the extreme joint pain. I do have arthritis but it has never been as bad as it was on the statins. Statins make my arthritis much worse and the muscle spasms kept me up at night. The neuropathy was the last straw for me. Very scary. I never had symptoms like this before the statins. I am now off them, and I am back to normal. I was put on statins because my LDL was creeping up and was only slightly high. I won't take another statin again.

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@trpain -- welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your symptoms and treatments. Lots of information available on statin induced neuropathy and you are right, it is very scary. I'm glad you are back to normal. I had the same conversation with my doctor and told her I would use diet and exercise to bring the numbers back under control.

John

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Sue G | @suzeebee227 | Mar 6, 2018
In reply to @gman007 "This is not in reply to any specific question or individual, but I am wondering if..." + (show)
@gman007

This is not in reply to any specific question or individual, but I am wondering if anyone's doctor who prescribed statins recommended that you also take a supplement called CoQ10? My PCP suggested that to me when he handed me the prescription and I have not experienced the pain in my fingers and feet that I had when I was previously on a statin drug. My wife also uses it and she could not tolerate the pain that came with a statin prior to this supplement. Has anyone who is on a statin and experiencing pain tried this? It is one more cost added to your pharmacy bill, but if the statin keeps my blood flowing more smoothly and I avoid a major heart episode in my life, then it is worth what I pay for it.

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I have peripheral neuropathy in both feet, R foot is the worst and It's getting worse, especially when driving and at night. I have researched this, since the cause is unknown. I had taken statin drugs for over 20 twenty years and it seems there have been many studies done that show a relationship between statins and neuropathy. Can't get any answers from doctors and I'm staying off of most meds that have awful side effects like Gabapentin. All the doctors I've seen just brush it off and only try to give me meds for pain which I won't take because of side effects. About 5 years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes 2, just out of the blue. Nobody in my family ever had it & I had no symptoms. I read that statins can cause diabetes. I went off the statins and some months later doctor said I no longer have diabetes. Now, my cholesterol is fine, no diabetes but have peripheral neuropathy and a rare blood disorder. Now I am trying to find out if the blood disease is related to the neuropathy. The pain & numbness is getting worse. I'm feeling that one day I won't be able to drive, but even worse, walking might be difficult. I have read that statins are overprescribed, about 15 million Americans take them and new guidelines propose 13 million more patients may be prescribed statins as a preventative measure. This makes me wonder......................

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timmckinney | @timmckinney | Mar 6, 2018
In reply to @gman007 "This is not in reply to any specific question or individual, but I am wondering if..." + (show)
@gman007

This is not in reply to any specific question or individual, but I am wondering if anyone's doctor who prescribed statins recommended that you also take a supplement called CoQ10? My PCP suggested that to me when he handed me the prescription and I have not experienced the pain in my fingers and feet that I had when I was previously on a statin drug. My wife also uses it and she could not tolerate the pain that came with a statin prior to this supplement. Has anyone who is on a statin and experiencing pain tried this? It is one more cost added to your pharmacy bill, but if the statin keeps my blood flowing more smoothly and I avoid a major heart episode in my life, then it is worth what I pay for it.

Jump to this post

Had my GP overprescibe a statin that had my cholesterol well under control attempting to lower my triglycerides and a year later was in the same boat as you. Got off the statin but too late , have neuropathy in both feet that seems to be a life time issue. Have found nothing that works to ease the pain, good luck finding any help from the medical community. They just tell you it's permanent.

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garydoys | @garydoys | Mar 7, 2018
In reply to @trpain "Same problem here. I have tried three different kinds of statins and had severe joint pain,..." + (show)
@trpain

Same problem here. I have tried three different kinds of statins and had severe joint pain, muscle spasms and now on Livalo I have had neuropathy in my fingers at night. Thought it was from arthritis at first. But got suspicious and stopped the Livalo and within days the neuropathy has gone as well as the extreme joint pain. I do have arthritis but it has never been as bad as it was on the statins. Statins make my arthritis much worse and the muscle spasms kept me up at night. The neuropathy was the last straw for me. Very scary. I never had symptoms like this before the statins. I am now off them, and I am back to normal. I was put on statins because my LDL was creeping up and was only slightly high. I won't take another statin again.

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I had a stroke 4 months ago and after they started statins I had this pain in my feet and now right hand. Is this going to get worse I try to find something for relief.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 7, 2018
In reply to @trpain "Same problem here. I have tried three different kinds of statins and had severe joint pain,..." + (show)
@trpain

Same problem here. I have tried three different kinds of statins and had severe joint pain, muscle spasms and now on Livalo I have had neuropathy in my fingers at night. Thought it was from arthritis at first. But got suspicious and stopped the Livalo and within days the neuropathy has gone as well as the extreme joint pain. I do have arthritis but it has never been as bad as it was on the statins. Statins make my arthritis much worse and the muscle spasms kept me up at night. The neuropathy was the last straw for me. Very scary. I never had symptoms like this before the statins. I am now off them, and I am back to normal. I was put on statins because my LDL was creeping up and was only slightly high. I won't take another statin again.

Jump to this post

Hello @garydoys -- welcome to Connect. I read in your early posts that you had a stroke and the doctors started you on statins. Have you talked with your doctors about the side effects you are feeling in your feet and your right hand?'

John

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venki | @venki | Mar 8, 2018

I am an Ulnar Neuropathy patient with brain atrophy & CSVD. Last week I went out for an official outing for just 20 kms through a scooter and after return my whole body was painful as if some 10 persons attacked me. I couldn't lift my body nor wake up. Is it progressive? Can't we cure neurological problem? Severe Headache continues.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 8, 2018

Hello @venki, I'm sorry to hear you are suffering from severe headaches. Have you discussed the headaches with your doctor? With my neuropathy I know that I have to be careful not to over do it when I'm exercising or just out having fun doing activities. Exercise is important but it's just as important not to over do it. I was not familiar with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD) but did some searching and found an informative article that may better explain what's going on.

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: What to Know & What to Do
-- https://betterhealthwhileaging.net/cerebral-small-vessel-disease/

Mayo Clinic has some good information on CSVD here:
-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/small-vessel-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352123

John

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garydoys | @garydoys | Mar 14, 2018

I have mention it but no real help yet I have a apt with primary phy. on the 20th of March

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wrogers | @wrogers | Jun 26, 2018

There is most definitely a connection between Satins and Neuropathy. However most Doctors won’t tell you this because of speculation due to not enough proof through research. This is a recent research article I found that may shed some light on the subject of Neuropathy and Satins .. hope it helps in your quest for information! Just google “ The Journal of Family Practice “.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jun 26, 2018
In reply to @wrogers "There is most definitely a connection between Satins and Neuropathy. However most Doctors won’t tell you..." + (show)
@wrogers

There is most definitely a connection between Satins and Neuropathy. However most Doctors won’t tell you this because of speculation due to not enough proof through research. This is a recent research article I found that may shed some light on the subject of Neuropathy and Satins .. hope it helps in your quest for information! Just google “ The Journal of Family Practice “.

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Hello @wrogers -- welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing. You raise a good reason why a person needs to be their own advocate and do their own research. It's good to know all the facts and side effects before starting a medication. There is actually quite a bit of research on statin induced neuropathy available. I shared some of it with my doctor when she wanted me to take Simvastatin to help reduce my cholesterol numbers. I explained that I already have peripheral neuropathy and one of the side effects of statins are that it can make PN worse so I declined and said I would work on lowering my numbers with lifestyle changes.

@wrogers are you able to share what made you research statins?

Here are some of the links 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

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