1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Did statin cause PMR?

Posted by vfaye @vfaye, Nov 29, 2019

I’ve recently been diagnosed with PMR. Initially primary care doc suggested my pain might be from statins and recommended I stop them to see if there is improvement. After stopping the statin there was some improvement, but not enough to keep the rheumatologist from diagnosing it as PMR.

I’m not convinced. I have found some research that suggests a link between statins & PMR. In the meantime, I’ve refused to take Prednisone (other medical issues complicates using it) and am trying alternate treatment for the pain.

Did you take statins prior to PMR?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

queenie2030 | @queenie2030 | Nov 5, 2021
In reply to @pitbull "I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the..." + (show)
@pitbull

I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the pain. I was started on 35mg of Prednizone, down to 20 mg after 1 month, down to 15mg after 6 weeks. Sayed at 15mg for another 18 months, then tapered off over the next 6 months. The pain never totally left. I used a CBD/THC balanced oil, both orally and topically till Mid October this year. When I got my second Pfizer shot, I went into remission. NO PAIN. October 20 I had pains on/in my back and some in my left arm. Went to emergency, was treated as if it was a heart attack, it was not. Now the cardiologist has prescribed a water pill, Amlodipine and Atorvastatin. I am OK with the Blood pressure and water pill but the warnings on the Statin worry me. My cholesterol is not extremely high, and I can usually control it with diet. Has anybody dealt with this

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I too had PMR
Pain for a few years before it increased to the point I could hardly walk. Then I got the diagnosis. Twenty mg of prednisone and slow tapering. After 9 months of tapering and down to 15 mg. I was put on MTX. I am now down to 10/11 mg on alternating days. I am a 75 year old female in the US. I have been on a statin Med for 25 years. If I had not been I doubt I would have been cleared for MTX to help me get off prednisone. The Dr took me off statin for a few weeks at the beginning and there was no change in pain. Statin has been good for me. It is the least scary drug to me compared to prednisone and methotrexate. Best of luck on your treatment. I have had three full doses of Modena COVID vaccine and saw no impact on PMR. Just had regular flu shot and saw no change.

REPLY
pitbull | @pitbull | Nov 5, 2021
In reply to @aspine "I am new to this group. Diagnosed with PMR about 6 weeks ago. I don't know..." + (show)
@aspine

I am new to this group. Diagnosed with PMR about 6 weeks ago. I don't know if statins contribute to this disease, but I can tell you I've been on statin drugs for the last 20 years or so. To my knowledge, they have never caused me any problems. Removing the statin drug was the first thing my doctor did for 2 weeks, to see if there was any improvement in the pain. No change. So, the next thing was blood work. And three tests were all elevated for inflamation. So, no, I don't think the statin was the culprit in my situation. I tend to believe it has something to do with the Covid vaccine.

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My sister was diagnosed with PMR after her second Covid19 shot.

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maryannhaller | @maryannhaller | Nov 6, 2021

Hi Faye,
I was diagnosed with PMR spring of 2018. Before the diagnoses I was on statins for about year. My care giver kept increasing the dose. I fought taking statins for years because of all the bad effects I had read but gave in to my care givers persistent pushing. As soon as I started feeling pain in my leg I stopped the statins thinking it was causing my leg pain. As soon as I stopped them all the bad side effect stopped as well. Weight gain, depression and a weird pain in my kidneys but the leg pain got worse in fact 6 weeks later I could not function without massive doses of ibuprofen. At that time I was finally diagnosed with PMR. Three and half years later I'm still battling PMR and am convinced it was triggered by the statins! There are studies ongoing to this belief.
Yes, Statins can trigger PMR.
I am 69 yrs old, in shape at 5'2" 105lbs. very active and eat well. I cut gluten, dairy and sugar. I'm doing what I can to beat.PMR.
MaryAnn

REPLY
maryannhaller | @maryannhaller | Nov 6, 2021
In reply to @pitbull "I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the..." + (show)
@pitbull

I had PMR for a couple years (maybe more) before I could no longer stand the pain. I was started on 35mg of Prednizone, down to 20 mg after 1 month, down to 15mg after 6 weeks. Sayed at 15mg for another 18 months, then tapered off over the next 6 months. The pain never totally left. I used a CBD/THC balanced oil, both orally and topically till Mid October this year. When I got my second Pfizer shot, I went into remission. NO PAIN. October 20 I had pains on/in my back and some in my left arm. Went to emergency, was treated as if it was a heart attack, it was not. Now the cardiologist has prescribed a water pill, Amlodipine and Atorvastatin. I am OK with the Blood pressure and water pill but the warnings on the Statin worry me. My cholesterol is not extremely high, and I can usually control it with diet. Has anybody dealt with this

Jump to this post

I am convinced statins triggered my PMR!

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kathleenkapes | @kathleenkapes | Nov 26, 2021

Haven’t heard of this!

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bknysz | @bknysz | Nov 4, 2023

Yes - And I strongly believe the statins caused my PMR. None of the medical community would agree with me.

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