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Many people have found that statins have side effects that are difficult to endure. Although patients may complain of nerve pain or numbness in fingers and toes, doctors sometimes don’t make the connection with a statin. However, this neuropathy is a documented adverse reaction to statins.
Q. I have a family history of high cholesterol and my internist prescribed Lipitor many years ago. It was a miracle drug that kept my cholesterol at a normal level.
Numbness in Fingers and Toes:
After taking the medicine for eight years, I developed peripheral neuropathy in my fingers and toes. The loss of feeling got progressively worse over the next six months, until I couldn’t determine if a tomato was hard or soft, and I had no feeling when holding a pencil or opening a bobby pin. The internist and neurologist diligently investigated all obvious and obscure possibilities for my condition, to no avail. I was told I would have to live with it.
Then I read a brief reference linking statins with peripheral neuropathy. With the internist’s permission, I discontinued Lipitor to see if it would have any effect. After two weeks I had dramatic improvement in both fingers and toes; within a few months I had regained about 90 percent of my lost sensory perception.
Others who have lost feeling in their fingers or toes should ask their doctors to consider whether a statin may be responsible.
A. When statins were first introduced, doctors were told that they had few if any side effects. Research since then has demonstrated that statins can cause peripheral neuropathy, among other problems.
Readers’ Stories:
LD reports a personal experience as well as a friend’s:
“I took statins for three months and have since suffered from sensory peripheral neuropathy. When I first saw a neurologist for my condition that seemingly came out of nowhere, he told me to immediately stop taking statins.
“Alas, the neuropathy remains.
“A friend of mine took statins for eight years, and his muscles deteriorated to the degree that he had to use a walker. He has slowly and painfully improved, but likely some pain will always remain.”
PM is struggling to weigh the benefits and risks of statins:
“I was prescribed Lipitor at 45, when it first came out (in the mid-80s) and thought I had no side effects until I started getting high ALT levels (37) and borderline diabetic glucose levels in my regular blood tests. I didn’t feel those effects.
“The big problem is that I’ve been fighting very painful peripheral neuropathy in my feet that started shortly after I started Lipitor. At that time, that was not listed as an official side-effect, so I never made the connection until recently. It has kept me squirming awake at night with burning pain and numbness in my feet all these years. If I had known that painful possibility, I might not have started any statin.
“I have to say the decision of whether or not to discontinue Lipitor has been the hardest one I’ve ever made, and I still can’t make that calculation.”
SD ended up with crippling nerve pain:
“I started Lipitor in Oct 2012. By March, 2013, I had begun to experience peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, muscle cramps, shooting pains, hot flashes and memory loss. The symptoms would get worse at night, till exhaustion just knocked me on my butt. I was 46 and got real old very quick. My doctor said my cholesterol was around 250 because of my hypothyroidism and put me on Lipitor.
“I was already feeling crappy before Lipitor and the doctor just blew me off and after the Lipitor side effects he did the same as before. I asked for a referral to an endocrinologist. He said to stop taking Lipitor; then he referred me to a neurologist; then referred to a podiatrist.
“They could not find a problem with my feet. I would be on my feet most of the day and I could barely walk up the stairs at work. It got so bad that driving home, when I put my feet on the pedals, it felt like being stabbed with a knife.
“I went on medical leave and still have nerve damage in my feet. My quality of life has gone down due to Lipitor.”
Learn More:
You can learn more about common side effects of statins here. You might also want to listen to our recent interview with Dr. Steve Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Robert DuBroff on controversies in cardiology. Those who need to lower their cholesterol and cardiac risk but prefer to avoid statins will find many suggestions in our Guide to Cholesterol Control and Heart Health.
Jess
NY
I have been on many different statins , all causing extreme fatigue and weak achy legs. I am now taking Pravachol 3 days a week and have noticed tingling and a burning sensation in my feet. It annoys me especially at night.
I am going to discontinue taking it for two weeks and see if I improve. I will then discuss the possibility of taking Repatha, with my cardiologist.
I am very sensitive to many drugs beside statins.
Christine
California
I have been on statins, one brand or another, for over 30 years. As I have heart disease in my family, and my mother had a severe heart attack and CABG in her 60’s, I was put on statins in my late 30’s.
For years, I have suffered with muscle pain and peripheral neuropathy symptoms. The pains and numbness would wax and wane over the years, but now, at age 69, the neuropathy in my hands and feet is almost unbearable! I can no longer feel the floor under me, and consequently have difficulty balancing.
On a daily basis, I experience numbness, tingling, and sharp shooting nerve pain in my feet and hands. If I stop the drug, I get marginal relief, but basically , the damage seems irreversible. My cardiologist has few answers, except to refer me to a neurologist. I only hope my condition does not worsen in the future. Beware of statin side effects!
Deloris
I took 10 mg simvastatin for 20 months and quit when the muscle and joint pain became too much. Without any relief, I saw a neurologist in 2012. She did nerve tests and a muscle biopsy that showed I had polyneuropathy and denervation atrophy. She recommended exercise and dismissed me. At the time, I only had a slight neuropathy sensation in the sole of my right foot. In the following years, the neuropathy progressed affecting both of my feet. Then I had shingles and started having noticeable weakness in my right leg. Last year, I had back surgery hoping to fix the weakness, but that seemed to have triggered chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), and all my symptoms became much worse with the pain, tingling, and numbness working its way up my legs. Now (April 2018) I’m waiting for treatment for this rare, complicated disease. The treatment options in my area are very scarce. Before I took that statin, I was relatively healthy. Now I’m a mess of autoimmune disorders. I can’t drive or walk without a cane or walker and I have pain that just won’t quit.
Shirley
Research already filed class action lawsuits.
Michael M
Is there a class action suit going on now?
Jan F
Starting in the 1990s my doctor put me on Lipitor. I took for a short time and then started have problems, aches and pains in my legs and hands, memory problems, etc. The only thing we could attribute to was the Lipitor. I quit taking it and the doctor prescribed another statin. This went on for months. Every time a new statin came out the doctor would put me on it.
I had heard about Red Yeast Rice and discussed that with the doctor, he said it was worth a try. Have been on RYR ever since. It does work for me even though it contains the statin. I still have problems with my legs that I contribute to Lipitor and all the other statins I took before the RYR.
Michael M
China
I have been on lipitor for 7 months. Two months ago I started to get tingling in my right arm. Now it has spread to my feet and legs!!
Jeanni W
I am seventy three years old and have been told that my numbers are high and my doctor suggested a statin. I do not want to take any drugs so I suggested taking Niacin 500 mg. twice a day, red yeast rice 600 mg. twice a day and flaxseed oil 1000 mg. twice a day in capsule form.
I was surprised when he said lets to try that first for four months. Even if this does not work I will not take a statin. I don’t take any prescription drugs and will not, there are just to many side effects to deal with. To me it is your body trying to tell you that they don’t belong in your body.
Kenneth
Overland, MO
I have a friend who was taking prescription medicine for upper GI digestive problems (severe heartburn). He had switched drugs several times. At one point, he felt some numbness in his feet. Somehow, he came across the idea of taking magnesium, which turned out to relieve the numbness in his feet.
David
A good article on Statin drugs, more people die from low LDL levels than high LDL levels….I am 74 and have never taken a Statin drug, I have never had my cholesterol checked….I eat very healthy and take no prescription drugs, have never had a sickness….Get off of them, yesterday…lol…
https://www.nutriliving.com/blog/are-cholesterol-lowering-statin-medications-a-scam
Rita
Cornwall england
I would get of statins ,they finished my life for me 10years ago I was put into hospital really poorly and was told after sometime that it was the result of taking statins I had nothing else but pain and now suffer with over active heart Polymyalga. Fibermyalga. Kidney failure. And tummy probloms That is my opinion of statins Rita
Kathy
My lips or Tangly what could cause this Staten drugs maybe
Good Staten drugs cause my lips to be tingly
Lou
Looks like Lipitor can do some real damage. I was on it for 20 years, had cramps and muscle pain all along but kept taking the drug, then started getting fatigue, dizzy spells, weak, painful muscles along with polyneuropathy.
I asked my cardiologist if Lipitor could be the cause of the problem, he refused to respond. Now I know the answer after much research. The question is can this problem be cured or resolve once you stop the drug. I have been off the drug for 2 months and showing only minor improvement. It also seems like the more active I am the worse I feel. I now have learned that statins can cause exercise intolerance as well as muscle damage.
FDA has let us all down big time.
leo
Maine
I been taking Lipitor for a long time and have tingling in hands and feet. Now, I read this pill causes this. I am stopping for a week and see how I feel!
Lou
How are you? I have the same problem.
Rhonda
I am 52 been on statin a year suffer migraines and numbness like a stroke. Had a MRI and awaiting results. I have swollen kidneys and foot pain I believe this drug will kill me if I remain on it.
Alan
Bath
I have been diagnosed in the last month with Diabetes 2 although both fasting readings were around the threshold – I was given Lipitor by Doctor to reduce cholesterol numbers and have been on it for around 10 days – in last couple of days or so I have developed peripheral neuropathy in my toes (I know its a symptom of diabetes as well ) but never having had this previously, I wondered if there was a connection with the Lipitor after such a short time?
R Ferguson
Fermanagh
Wonder if anyone has experienced seizure-like symptoms from taking statins, apart from numbness in the fingers a tingling or shivering sensation in the arms and legs, esp at night. If so, how long may this last after stopping Lipitor? To me it’s a very scary experiende. Thank you.
Larry
Maine
Been Taking Atorvastatin 40MG for heart disease to reduce LDL. At 68 I have noticed reduction in energy and now my toes have nerve damage with tingling and numbness. I have simply decided to stop the Statin drug entirely and after much research have decided to take just one pill for now. That is the all natural coenzyme X10 200MG with strong vitamin D and all the B vitamins and much more in one pill. I purchased in 600 units and got the cost down to 42 cents a day. I have to COQ 10 back in my system as the Statin drug might have reduced that most important nutrient in my body. As I get older my body is making less of it and my ambition has been reduced a lot lately after taking 40MG statin a day for over 8 years. I will be watching and feeling everything going on in my body and I will get a blood test in about 4 months to see how my cholesterol level is doing on the LDL side. My Hhart is doing great, but, quality of life is down so I will go with natural products. I have had a stint put in and quadruple bypass. Any input from anyone on my situation please write in.
Terrye
VA
Has anyone ever cured their neuropathy off their feet and onset diabetes from taking statin drugs?
Shelley
Colchester
I am only 52, but I began to feel ill and not sure what it was. My father ided of a hear attack at 60. I went on Simvastation and it seemed to work my choloestrol dropped form 7.8 to 4.2 but once again I have had a bad attack on my body, my skin is burning and itching my brain mushy.. It almost feels like my body is reacting and destroying muscle. I am hot and to be honest fele that I am dying. I have decided to stop taking my statins , I know I must find another solution to my body making cholestrol but I no longer feel Statin is the right cure for me. Thank you for everyone who has written a reveiw has it has helped me make up my decision. If anyoen one has a better solution to helping lower cholesterol than statins please put it out there. I want o have quality of life with my children… I want to feel alive not numb.
EgHon
Ipswich
I started taking medication for cholesterol my kidneys have swollen my blood sugar has risen. I suffer from stroke like symptoms needing a MRI waiting results. I have extreme pain in my foot and kidneys.
Shaw
I am so glad I read this post. Like several others, I have been taking Simvastatin since past 6 years. During these years my primary care asked few times if I was having leg pain, and I guess that is probably the only side effect he was concerned about. In past about six months, I started to have tingling in my fingers, as well as low energy. Doctor told me that it was carpel tunnel and old age, and that I have to do exercise with stress ball. BTW, I am 62, and in good shape since I regularly go to gym and walk/run 3-4 times a week. Remedies like stress ball exercise, cold/warm water, massage, mattress change, ibuprofen having failed, I insisted that there must be some other reason for tingling. Guess what, my doctor sent me to the cardiologist for a stress test, which I did and they found nothing. In next few days I will be going back to him and bring up the damage the statin may have caused me.
D
I have neuropathy of the feet not caused by diabetes. I have been on Lipitor for 10 years, never associated the feet neuropathy with Lipitor until a few weeks ago.
Saw a neurologist 6 years ago with no explanations of why this happened. Took myself off of Lipitor 3 weeks ago with no change of feeling I am walking through molasses. However I am more than patient to see how this works out.
dennist
After taking Lipitor for 15 years, I started feeling numbness in my feet. This progressed over three years to shooting pain. Neither my doc nor two neurologists, including a specialist in peripheral neuropathy, made the connection. Last October I read the side effects information from the pharmacy and saw that PN was now listed. Stopped Lipitor, within weeks the pain, stingers, itching were much reduced. The numbness persists. (Anxiety also went away).
My doc did not accept it at first but agreed to support my decision after a calcium scan showed very low heart calcium for my age. Others struggling with the decision may ask their doctors about this inexpensive, painless procedure. In fact I think everyone should get their heart calcium checked before starting a lifelong medication regime.
A.R
my friend has very little movement in her legs she uses a walker, she has had brain scan and spinal scan but showing nothing, her voice has been affected where it is hard to understand what she is saying, she is taking statins and is very tired at any movement.
ike
I have taken a statin for more than 15 years and like many people did not question or investigate as I should. I developed peripheral neuropathy (non-diabetic) and have been seen by a neurologist. I now take many more drugs with feet pain growing.The more I learn the more upset I get. We have been sold out by the FDA and the very powerful pharmaceutical industry that controls what we take and now what we eat. I am going to talk to my doctor and determine how I get out of this mess and will take any help I can get.
i
ifeoma emedike-anwah
Diet is the key to control cholesterol and not statins
Marie
Frank – and others,
thanks for your stories.
I have never taken statins – nor would I.
My father and mother had heart attacks.
My father died more than 10 years ago.
My mother will soon be 94 and is still going strong. I am sure the situation would be different had she not stopped with Zocor ten years ago.
Her doctor did not agree although she was suffering from weakness/cramps/aches in her legs and sleeping problems.
I recommended her some books by Uffe Ravnskov and translated patient stories from this site and others (we live in Sweden) and eventually she told the nurse that they could make a note in her records that she had stopped and that it was her own decision.
I am so glad she is still here and enjoying life.
Not every one agrees with the Cholesterol Hypotethis. Please visit http://www.thincs.org and read some critical books. There are also some videos (Statin Nation for instance)
Here are some suggestions:
Ignore the awkward (Uffe Ravnskov)
Top screwups that doctors make and how to avoid them (Joe and Teresia Graedon)
Are your prescriptions killing you? (Armon B. Neel and Bill Hogan)
Armon B. Neel seems very fond of the elderly and want the best for them. He is a pharmacist from Georgia with long experience. He writes about many different types av medications, for instance statins.
Overdosed America (John Abramson)
Our Daily Meds (Melody Peterson)
Seeking Sickness (Alan Cassels)
There are many more. Please google the names of the writers and I am sure you will find some interesting information.
My father was on many medications, like you. He was quite old when he died, but had suffered many terrible years and I think he would have been pleased with a somewhat shorter – but better – life.
Unfortunately, it was only towards the end of his life that I had Internet and had realised that it`s absolutely necessary to look for alternative information.
There are lots of patient stories at http://www.askapatient.com and http://www.spacedoc.net and I certainly enjoy the articles/comments at http://www.drmalcolmkendrick.org who also has written a book and seems to be writing on another one. I really look forward to that.
The best thing you – and others – can do is to try and educate yourselves on these issues and make up your own mind.
Rhonda
I’ve stopped the statin it’s not my thing if I am going to have a stroke it’s not going to be from a stupid drug that’s suppose to help me.
Lou
maryland
sorry to hear of your pain. On Liptor for 20 years, on numbness hands and feet now for 6 months.
Are you still not well
Sally K
I was so glad to read the information about numbness and statins. In the last few months, I’ve noticed that I drop things unexpectedly, and I feel some numbness in the toes. I’ve been taking Lipitor for more than three years. I’ll discuss with my doctor to see if Lipitor and/or prednisone may be the result of unusual high blood pressure. I have asthmatic bronchitis and allergies.
Judy A. F.
I took atorvastatin for 2 months starting last Summer and my always high cholesterol numbers went right to normal, but soon my elbows were painful and I had leg pain so I stopped. My cholesterol is way back up but I refuse to take statins again. I am on Synthroid 1.0 as my only med. I take 3 fish oil caps a day, follow a low fat diet and exercise, am trim and active. What else can I do? I am thinking of taking the Dr. Dean Ornish program for heart health.
GSR
I have been taking Synthroid for nearly 25 years and atenolol norvask flomax and few months ago my feet feel like quite slippery when I walk. I feel as if I am walking on oil coated marble floor.
I have to use a cane to steady myself
Is there any one with similar problem or any one has any solution for this?
I would be much thankful if you can tell me how to get rid of this
Rhonda
Diet is the best thing fish oil and least u can hold a cup in a years time
lcf
Question: Hundreds (or more) of readers have described the debilitating effects of statins, my husband included. Lives have been altered and in many, many cases (again, my husband included), changed for the worst. Yet, no one as gone after these doctors who continue to prescribe, or the pharmaceutical companies who continue to manufacture these pills of poison. Why don’t we start a class action suit and force the FDA to remove these drugs and tell the truth to the public? Maybe it wouldn’t bring back the health of those already affected, but it might spare thousands of others from harm. Any takers?
Abigail
I have refused to take statins and have lowered my LDL with diet and activity. However, I do now have some peripheral neuropathy. Are there foods that have effects like statins?
Frank
I have had peripheral neuropathy for years, although I know that statins could cause leg pains I was never told about peripheral neuropathy… I take about 17 pills a day for my blood pressure & tremors etc., granted I am 87, but it seems to me this is too much & there must be a better way. What would happen if you stopped taking lipitor? Please, thank you.
Katherine
I have been on Pravachol for many years, I’m now having problems with my hips and periformis muscles, can it be a result of taking this statin for so many years? I won’t stop them until I see my dr next month, thank you.
crandreww
I developed Peripheral Neuropathy at the same time, I had suffered from Neuronal Apoptosis (brain cell death), ataxia and apraxia, complete confusion and disorientation x3, incontinence of bowel and bladder, all for over a month while hospitalized at UW Madison, had brain and muscle biopsies, multiple labs, MRIs revealing dozens of lesions on my brain,and was nursing home bound at 34, because of Lipitor (ALL STATINS “WORK” THE EXACT SAME WAY) I was left with neuropathy, profound short term memory loss, NONE OF THIS WAS IN THE BROCHURE! It is supposed to be informed consent, whereas a patient is to be EDUCATED as to the actual RISKs and Benefits. But very few prescribers are aware of these data, as most are educated solely by the drug salesperson, who’ll boast a relevant risk reduction,versus the ABSOLUTE RISK REDUCTION which is a way to make a drug look better than it actually is. Now 12 years post my statin induced disability, I still suffer greatly from short term memory deficits, peripheral neuropathy, profound fatigue, sleep apnea (another statin induced problem. If your doctor mentions a statin for you, ask him/her if they know that the best any statin has ever shown, is a 0.34% absolute risk reduction, and not the 25+% you hear on tv. .34% I know I would have never started a statin had I known that by taking this pill, my chance of a heart attack would only be reduced by less than 1/2 of 1 percent.
djd
As I have commented before, after taking a generic drug, Gabapentin, I ended up with permanent neuropathy in my feet. I had many other side effects from this drug and stopped it. The damage was done–they sent me to a neurologist who said the damage was permanent. I was crushed because I could no longer work. For some reason I was allergic to this drug or perhaps because it was from a factory in India which has been identified as a source of major problems.
wwhite40274
I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet very bad my feet feel like they have glue on them. The only pill I am taking is levothyroxin 50mcgs could that be the problem?