Is there any connection with statin use and neuropathy?

California Zebra; I
have been on Ataravastatin for 3 years and I do not know if I have a problem or not. About 3 years ago, my doctor put me on it and shortly thereafter, I started breaking out in small red spots that were very itchy especially on my scalp. I told my Internal medicine doctor about it and she simply looked at my scalp and said , “oh, my, your scalp is very dry.” So I did nothing about it , But a few weeks ago, I read that one of the side effects of Prolia (which I am getting shots for) could also cause a rash so I called my endocrinologist and tried to make an appt. And he said he would look into it. I have an appt. with him in July to get another Prolia injection but as of today he has not gotten back to me. Extreme itching is almost as bad as severe pain. I really am at the point where just giving up and saying “Oh, well” may be the only answer. However, there is a Prolia hot line that I can call and ask them about the itching. As to the Ataravastatin, I don’t think the doctors that I go to will have the answer and I will have to research the side effects on line. If I find out anything of interest, I will let you know. God help us….one and all!
Yvie

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Hi @yvie -- Thanks for your response. Sorry to hear about your itchy red spots! Have you seen a dermatologist? I've found PCPs are not good at determining what skin issues are. I broke out in a very itchy, tear my skin open, wake me up, rash on my face, neck and arms for a month or two after being in first morning sun for 30 minutes a couple years ago. The dermatologist told me it was from one of my cancer meds that was causing a toxic sun reaction. I couldn't be in the sun for two minutes for months, but that issue seems to have faded away luckily. I asked what she would have thought the rash was if I hadn't told her my medical background. She said I would have asked what meds you're taking because it's clearly a medication rash. Hopefully, a dermatologist could she some light for you. Call right away because there is often a long wait if you are a new patient.

And if your scalp is very dry, that may also be something the dermatologist can help with.

I agree with you about itching vs. pain. I really over-react to mosquito bites and itch so bad with a 5" round welt, I scratch them till they bleed and then the pain is better than the itching.

The dermatologist could also tell you if the spots are something non-related and just coincidental. Maybe they will also suggest a medication that will help them. Dermatologists have been very helpful to me throughout my life treating painful keloid scars, psoriasis (I'm the rare 1/1000 case where the sun is the cause instead of the cure - pediatrician didn't know about that exception and kept telling me more sun -- I'd say but Mom, I feel burning in the sun -- it's making it worse), etc. after other doctors failed. Keep us posted. Blessings to you. I hope you find the cause and cure! 🙂

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I have been having foot and leg pain, "pins and needles" and numbness in the lower legs. I have been using atorvastatin for two years. I never had these things before taking it. Is it possible that it is causing all these leg and foot problems?
Thank you

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I have been having foot and leg pain, "pins and needles" and numbness in the lower legs. I have been using atorvastatin for two years. I never had these things before taking it. Is it possible that it is causing all these leg and foot problems?
Thank you

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I have been reading some research that suggests that with Zocor, there might be a connection over time. Then this morning I listened to a Dallas NPR station where a doc was minimizing this affect. His thinking was that if these symptoms occurred 4-6 months after starting a statin, then perhaps there would be more of a connection to the neuropathy. The jury is still out on this one. Thanks to @colleenyoung for your references,

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I was diagnosed with a PN in December. It is affecting my back primarily due to an injury there, I also have tingling in my legs and arms, and sometimes pain radiating. I have dizziness and instability. After doing a little research of my own, I have come to the conclusion that the statins I’ve been taking for the last 30 years are responsible. I quit taking them on March 23, doctors and pharmacists will not admit that statins are the cause. Over 20 million people have this illness and no one can come up with a cause? One thing my doctor did say is “this has been coming on for a long
time.“,sorry but that doesn’t help me feel any better. He’s right, I’ve spent the last eight years trying to get a diagnosis and all they could do is send me to somebody else or recommend more physical therapy, which wasn’t working. I’m exasperated. No one is willing to take on Big Pharma to get to the bottom of this. People are suffering.

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agree...Not even a year on this junk and I've already stopped Rosuvastatin which has given me massive neuropathy/tingling/cramping/numbness and pain impacting my mobility and as an athlete they seem to just shrug, like, "well, you're 63, and you've gotta be on something as it's genetic, so let's try a diff one..." So they want to try me on Atorvastatin next...Grrrrrrr...I did find a ton of data on the web about statins and causal links to PN, and they seem to think it could be 'reversible' but I'm seeing ZERO evidence of same so far...and have been off it a couple weeks entirely awaiting a re-eval 6/6...I'll take my chances in the interim as the docs have pharma as their 'go to' by default and it's infuriating...Here's the write up from NIH on both drugs showing 50% and almost 20%...with NP...NOT insignificant numbers for such severe side effects! https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31582682/#:~:text=Neuropathy%20was%20observed%20in%20a,group%20(p%3D0.030).

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