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.

@intlguyct

I took atorvastatin for years. Also, over the past ten years developed PN. I never put the two together until reading a post in Mayo Clinic.

Last Summer I asked my GP about it ad he switched me to a non-statin med Extimbe (sp?) that is supposed to be as effective controlling cholesterol as the statins. I didn’t realize there was this alternative but if statins do contribute to PN, this is definitely worth it. Hope this helps.

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Has your PN improved since getting off statins and on Extimbe? Please let us know.

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Yes, I have been taking rosuvastatin for approximately 3 to 4 years under a cardiologist’s care. I started feeling numbness and tingling in my feet two years ago with temporary foot drop on the left side. 18 months ago it went into my fingers and hands making them difficult to use, a motor neuropathy. My B6 was also high when tested, three times the amount, that also causes neuropathy so I was taken off of B6 and all vitamins as well a year ago, which helped with a particular symptom of freezing feet. However, now symptoms include digestive issues and some possible autonomic issues as well. I’m still taking Rosuvastatin 20 mg, however the medical papers I’ve been reading recently make me feel as if I should stop. I have contacted my doctor about it. Thanks for your post, I really appreciate it.

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I honestly don't know where the science is on statins and neuropathy, but my idiopathic neuropathy is already bad enough that I declined to take them when suggested by either a cardiologist or my primary care physician. The cardiologist tried so hard to scare me. You frankly cannot scare me with a potential heart attack at the pain levels I endure. I won't risk adding fuel to an already raging fire. Their noise at least quieted down when I passed my PET stress test with zero blood flow restrictions.

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@aaroncush

I honestly don't know where the science is on statins and neuropathy, but my idiopathic neuropathy is already bad enough that I declined to take them when suggested by either a cardiologist or my primary care physician. The cardiologist tried so hard to scare me. You frankly cannot scare me with a potential heart attack at the pain levels I endure. I won't risk adding fuel to an already raging fire. Their noise at least quieted down when I passed my PET stress test with zero blood flow restrictions.

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My neuropathy symptoms are not as bad as yours @aaroncush but I had that same discussion with several of my PCPs (get a new one every 2 or 3 years at my local Mayo family clinic). Most have been satisfied with my efforts on lowering my cholesterol numbers with diet and exercise.
The science is over my head but there is enough smoke on the topic to know there is a fire in there somewhere - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,24&qsp=1&q=statin+induced+neuropathy+myth+or+reality&qst=bh

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@johnbishop

My neuropathy symptoms are not as bad as yours @aaroncush but I had that same discussion with several of my PCPs (get a new one every 2 or 3 years at my local Mayo family clinic). Most have been satisfied with my efforts on lowering my cholesterol numbers with diet and exercise.
The science is over my head but there is enough smoke on the topic to know there is a fire in there somewhere - https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,24&qsp=1&q=statin+induced+neuropathy+myth+or+reality&qst=bh

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I read the abstract of the article you posted. The message I got is that there is indeed smoke, but not enough evidence yet to know that there is a fire in there.
I faced the same dilemma, and discussed it with my PCP. I, like the poster above, argued that I'd rather face a heart attack than make my PN worse. She countered with what about a disabling stroke? Good point, and a lot worse than dying of a fatal heart attack, but I still decided to discontinue the statin

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@aaroncush

I honestly don't know where the science is on statins and neuropathy, but my idiopathic neuropathy is already bad enough that I declined to take them when suggested by either a cardiologist or my primary care physician. The cardiologist tried so hard to scare me. You frankly cannot scare me with a potential heart attack at the pain levels I endure. I won't risk adding fuel to an already raging fire. Their noise at least quieted down when I passed my PET stress test with zero blood flow restrictions.

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There is a study showing that niacin taken with statins prevents or diminishes statin- induced PN

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@proteusx

There is a study showing that niacin taken with statins prevents or diminishes statin- induced PN

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A link would be useful. Who authored the study? Who sponsored the study?

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@aaroncush

A link would be useful. Who authored the study? Who sponsored the study?

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Here's the referenced article
--- Statins combined with niacin reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7737454/

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@johnbishop

Here's the referenced article
--- Statins combined with niacin reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7737454/

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Thanks. A really weak paper written by a radiation oncologist - what does his profession have to do with statins? And by someone working for Severn Health Solutions of which there is zero information on other than a physical address.

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@aaroncush

A link would be useful. Who authored the study? Who sponsored the study?

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look for at on pubmed.

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