Is my statin causing peripheral neuropathy?

Posted by natejr @natejr, Dec 22, 2023

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

@jan64

I do not have link. It was in the NIH: "Peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving long-term
statin therapy". The study considers log-term use greater than one year!!

Jump to this post

Potential side effect
Statins, including rosuvastatin, can increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy, especially with long-term use. In one study, 66% of patients taking rosuvastatin or atorvastatin for hypercholesterolemia developed peripheral neuropathy. The risk of neuropathy increased with the duration of treatment.
Talk to your doctor
If you develop neuropathy symptoms while taking statins, you should talk to your doctor. They may reconsider your use of statins.

REPLY

i don't trust statins. . .i was on them 2 years. i am on a walker and told that i have severe arthritis of the hip. an orthopedic doctor recommends cortisone shots as a conservative way to treat my hip. the dr says he hopes i will get 3 mos of benefit being painless? i am finding drs to be very short spanned like 15 minute appts. i just tossed my gabapentin as i am getting very dizzy and it is not helping with pain i find over the counter aspirins to help where the prescription drugs do not.

REPLY
@jan64

I 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.

Jump to this post

Doc’s only read their bible and even if a 1000 people complain they’ll never accept the info.

REPLY
@mrsr1234

WHAT!!!!! Do you have the link to the article please??

Jump to this post

Few years ago consumer reports doc’s said that taking Crestor increases your chances of getting Diabetis a good % :

REPLY

I've taken statins for 25 years and being diabetic have had neuropathy for more years, many neuropathy symptoms are synonymous with aging but I started getting severe cramps in major muscle groups and dropped my statins and started taking Repatha to control lipids, both my cardiologist and neurologist said statins can be cause of neuropathy type symptoms.

REPLY
@mrsr1234

WHAT!!!!! Do you have the link to the article please??

Jump to this post

Yes, I think that having this link would be helpful to many.

TIA

REPLY
@bimshire

Yes, I think that having this link would be helpful to many.

TIA

Jump to this post

I copied/pasted it already. Maybe I can go find it again, or read the thread.

REPLY
@bimshire

Yes, I think that having this link would be helpful to many.

TIA

Jump to this post

Here you go. Copy/pasted

“Potential side effect
Statins, including rosuvastatin, can increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy, especially with long-term use. In one study, 66% of patients taking rosuvastatin or atorvastatin for hypercholesterolemia developed peripheral neuropathy. The risk of neuropathy increased with the duration of treatment.
Talk to your doctor
If you develop neuropathy symptoms while taking statins, you should talk to your doctor. They may reconsider your use of statins.”

REPLY
@janieel

Here you go. Copy/pasted

“Potential side effect
Statins, including rosuvastatin, can increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy, especially with long-term use. In one study, 66% of patients taking rosuvastatin or atorvastatin for hypercholesterolemia developed peripheral neuropathy. The risk of neuropathy increased with the duration of treatment.
Talk to your doctor
If you develop neuropathy symptoms while taking statins, you should talk to your doctor. They may reconsider your use of statins.”

Jump to this post

Thank you.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.