Connect
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?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.
Connect
Hello,
So sorry about your condition and I can understand the cholesterol issue. I was on cholesterol medication for many years as a candidate for a heart attack. My family doctor told me this past February to completely stop all medications including supplements and the cholesterol medication. There are currently many studies going on showing that statins can definitely contribute to and aggravate neuropathy to a big extent. I am by no means telling you to stop your cholesterol medication. I am just making you aware of the new medical findings out there. You can dig deep into the online medical research and find out more.
Try writing the following in Google search and see what you can find out:
"effects of statins on peripheral neuropathy"
Best wishes.
Take care and have a serene weekend,
gus
I’ve been read in the book “A Statin-Free Life” by Dr Aseem Malhotra which challenges the over-prescription of statins and proposes that high LDL isn’t necessarily bad, especially for older folks - actually better. Quote from the book: “In people over 60 there is no association between LDL cholesterol and heart disease and those with higher LDL live longer.”
I have been on 40mg of Atorvastatin for many years and have idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy. I will see my cardiologist this week who will probably put me on a stronger statin prescription after a high coronary calcium score. My typical cholesterol numbers are in the green though and I am physically fit and eating healthy.
Not sure yet how to make my case against statins for my cardiologist visit.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYes, statins cause muscle pain in some people. I am one and was taken off after six weeks. My father was on for 25 years and he never had a problem. As far as I am concerned, your LDL can be reduced by a change of diet and an increase of exercise. For 10 years, I couldn’t lower my numbers and then all I had to do was change my diet and my number is dropped precipitously. The one last stubborn thing was my triglyceride level and again I changed my diet to avoiding simple carbohydrates and a lot of processed food and I dropped my triglycerides from 165 to 90 in two months. At the same time, I’m writing my stationary bike and walking twice a day. The walking a mile twice a day never affected my numbers, but when I added in the stationary bike almost every day for an hour, all of my lipids have been reduced, and I went to the eye doctor This week and my stubborn glaucoma pressure also was down to normal with medication! Exercise can’t be underestimated here!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am on leqvio. It is not a statin. I took one shot three months later another shot and not every six months. It is working for me.
Thanks Gus!
Does anyone use crystal therapy for neuropathy? Which crystals do you use and what is your routine. Many thanks in advance. B
Welcome @papajim, I haven't seen anyone post research on crystal therapy for neuropathy and I don't believe there is any medical evidence that it helps neuropathy. I did find an article on the topic though.
-- Healing Crystals: What They Can and Can’t Do - https://www.healthline.com/health/healing-crystals-what-they-can-do-and-what-they-cant
If you are looking for complementary or alternative therapies for neuropathy, the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has a good list here - https://www.foundationforpn.org/therapies/.
What type of neuropathy do you have? Have your doctors started any treatments?