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I am convinced my PMR was triggered by a statin. I started a statin in November; very low dose because of a previous bout of non-tolerance on a brief trial of standard dose in May. One month after starting the statin in November, I woke up aching, stiff and painful. When my inflammatory markers showed elevation mid-January, I was diagnosed with PMR. Until now, I have been very healthy, active and pain free. I’m managing the pain with Aleve since I’m concerned about the side effects of prednisone. Still able to exercise, but at a more subdued level. I was relieved when my rheumatologist told me that PMR does not leave behind permanent damage, but very unhappy that I’m having to deal with this as a result of the statin. No longer taking the statin, so trying to modify my diet to improve my cholesterol.
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I also am convinced that the statin caused the PMR. I was given 10MG of Pravastatin and within a few months I had bad pains in my legs. I stopped the statin but the pains never ceased. I suffered for over 3 months before the doctors figured out what was wrong. I started out with 15
MG of prednisone and worked my way down to 5 and tried to get off of it. That just didn't work. I started back at 5MG and was doing okay until I dropped to 4MG. i must be having a flare up but it is in my shoulders this time. I had blood work yesterday and will see the Dr next week. t will be 2 years this summer that I have been dealing with this.
My husband started a statin months after his PMR diagnosis (diagnosed with PMR in May 2023).
He quickly developed a cold (side effect of taking Lipitor) and because he was on prednisone his doctor told him to stop taking it. He was on it about a week or two.
She also had him stop his supplements and Tylenol while they tried figuring out what was going on because around the same time as starting the Lipitor he was getting terrible headaches, jaw pain, temple pain, etc
Those new side effects began just before starting Lipitor.
Soon after that he was diagnosed with Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) (February 2024). We have not gone back to Lipitor because he's still on high-dose prednisone and Actemra. Developing another cold from Lipitor isn't a risk worth taking right now.
When I asked his doctor (his rheumatologist, who is also the Chief of Rheumatology) what caused his GCA she said most likely it was from an infection. He had developed a severe cold and cough late December 2023 and started feeling the symptoms of GCA not long after. I should have asked and have since wondered if she meant he got sick from that severe cold or if she meant from a prior infection (like a virus that stays in your system, like Herpes, etc.)
My understanding is that people who develop PMR
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My PMR started a few weeks after starting on a statin and it was before covid vaccines were available.