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Is my statin causing peripheral neuropathy?
In June 2023, my physician prescribed Rosuvastatin Calcium 40 MG to lower my LDL below 70. In September 2023, I started to experience numbness and tingling in my fingertips so I was referred to a neurologist who ordered an EMG for carpal tunnel. The test results indicated that there was no Electrodiagnostic evidence of neuropathy in either upper extremity or of right cervical radiculopathy.
Based on that diagnosis, I was left with the conclusion that I did not have neuropathy and started to pursue other reasons this could be happening.
In the meantime, I noticed that when I took Doxepin 10 MG; a medication I had been prescribed for insomnia, the pain when away. So, I started taking 1 capsule of Doxepin each night and the pain subsided for the entire day so I continued taking them on a daily basis. Over time, the numbness and tingling in my fingertips stopped and that’s when I started experiencing what felt like I was being stabbed all over my body throughout the day. At this point, I was taking 1 Doxepin capsule twice a day and it helped manage the nerve pain.
In November 2023, I received the lipid panel results of being on Rosuvastatin. My LDL was reduced from 78 to 55.6; which achieved the desired results. On a positive note, my HbA1C remained at 5.4 but my Creatine Kinase increased to 300 (Normal Range: 60 – 270). Also, for the first time, I had protein in my urine with a value of 30 mg/dl; which is the highest level of normal. At this point, I stopped taking Rosuvastatin and started taking Atorvastatin Calcium 80 MG. In addition to this, I started taking Gabapentin 300 MG; one capsule three times a day. I have an appointment to see a neurologist to hopefully diagnosis what’s happening with me but that’s not until May 2024. In an attempt to better understand neuropathy and taking a statin I learned that the National Institutes of Health indicated that neuropathy was observed in a neurological examination performed within the first year in 50% of the Rosuvastatin users and 18% of those taking Atorvastatin. The severity of the polyneuropathy increased with the duration of the treatment in the Atorvastatin group (p=0.030).
Meanwhile, I continue taking the Gabapentin every eight hours but there are times when the pain is almost unbearable. My current schedule is: 7am – 3pm, 3pm – 11pm, and 11pm – 7am. The time frame that’s the most difficult for pain is 3pm – 11pm and for whatever reason, the medication’s effectiveness during this time frame only provides relief for and average of four hours versus eight hours during the other two periods.
Has anyone had any experience taking either of these statins and have been diagnosed with neuropathy? If so, are you aware of a statin that effectively lowers your LDL without causing neuropathy?
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Could you please tell me what muscle relaxer you were prescribed?
Another update. It’s been about 8 weeks since stopping Rosuvastatin, which was causing my small fiber neuropathy. My symptoms are about 70% gone! I’m very excited! It’s wonderful to be able to be active again! Yesterday I was able to walk over 14,000 steps! So relieved that I found my problem (the static)!
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2 ReactionsWhy did no doctor ever mention that rosuvastatin can cause neuropathy?? Why did no doctor tell me to go off when I began having symptoms? I took myself off after reading some articles. Today, I found one published in the NIH pub saying that neuropathy was observed in 50% of the rosuvastatin users an 18 % of those taking atorvastatin after just one year!
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4 ReactionsI just read your post. I realize it was written last year, but I just posted my question about rosuvastatin. I have been on it for 3 years or more? I had symptoms so severe in July that I went to the emergency room. Not one doctor of the many I have seen told me to try going off the statin drug. I read about it in August, and took myself off of it at the end of that month. I am still having symptoms though gabapentin and amitripytilene are helping me to function. Have you had improvement in your neuropathy? If so, how long did it take to notice changes? I was on 20 mg because of slightly elevated cholesterol and family history.
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1 ReactionYou sound like me! I was on Rosuvastatin for 6 months. I was the one that decided it had to be the problem, as that was my only lifestyle change. I googled it, and there it was…..yes, neuropathy as a side effect. After lots of testing, some very unpleasant, the neurologist concur with me! I have been off Rosuvastatin (and all statins) for 5 months now. It finally went away. The neurologist assured me that the damage to my nerve endings (small fiber neuropathy) would go away, that the nerves would heal themselves.
I hope you find the relief you need. I know it’s excruciating, not pain, but numbness, pins/needles, intolerances of hot and cold.
If you just stopped at the end of August, I’d give it to January. Your symptoms WILL lessen over time it’s a slow process, but I bet my the end November you will feel lots better.
By the way, I also was taking 20 mg for elevated cholesterol and family history. After taking no statin for the past 5 months and just having my blood work, my cholesterol was horrible! I tried so hard to eat healthy….no red meat, fried foods, lots of veggies and fruit, etc, but because of fami,y history…my total was 359 and my LDL was 240!
My primary called me right away and put me back on my previous statin, Simvastatin, which had given me NO issues. Wish she had never switched me over to Rosuvastatin!
Best of luck. Answer me back if you want.
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8 ReactionsHi,
I make it a rule to research any medication prescribed to me before taking it. I won't rely on Doctors as they commonly mitigate your health without discussing it with you. Then you can make an informed decision to take or not.
Cheers
I sympathize with you. I've had so many drugs prescribed to me that I had negative side effects, looked up reactions and then went off and told my doctor. There are so many I am not able to take. Bless you
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2 ReactionsI've been on rosuvastatin for over 3 years? I'm trying to find out the dates in my portal. I went vegan 7 years ago, so no meat, also I don't eat many processed foods. I had been on simvastatin previously, but stopped when I changed my diet. Then for some reason it went up to 200 and doctor suggested rosuvastatin given family history. My ratio of HDL to LDL was good with low triglycerides, so I should have done more research. I hope you are right and it begins to get better. Thank you for your response.
I’ve always had a great HDL, usually somewhere between 90-120. It’s my LDL that’s the problem. When mine went to 137 is when my PCP switched me to the “more powerful “ one, Rosuvastatin! My body just couldn’t handle it. I was told all along not to worry about my total cholesterol being 200 or more, and it’s the LDL to watch for.
Best of luck. I forgot you were on it 3 years. Maybe it’ll take a bit longer than it took me for the symptoms to subside, but I truly hope you find relief! Are you on any statin now? Did your doc put you back on Simvastatin?
WHAT!!!!! Do you have the link to the article please??
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