PMR caused by statins??

[DevonMichael]

Has this forum discussed or found any causal link between satins and PMR? I have come across this in a Facebook discussion thread....

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

In my own case I first had GCA and along with the prednisolone and associated medications was prescribed with satins for high cholesterol and I did go on to develop PMR.

However the Atorvastatin side effect list (which is longer than my arm) gives as common, 'joint pain and muscle pain '. making it hard to discern what is in the body or the tablet!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

There have been many discussions about statins before, but I don’t think there is conclusive evidence either way.

Personally I was started on them some 10 years before GCA, so I can’t say they had an affect immediately - maybe long term - who knows?

I did find however that (like my brother) I had to try 3 different types before I found one (Rosuvastatin- Crestor) that didn’t give me muscle problems in my legs.

With GCA I never had any leg muscle problems - only the inevitable weakening through Pred.

[DevonMichael in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks! As I hit the send button the links threads on this topic came up and on looking I can see there has been much debate and contributions from you and PMRpro.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is discussed every so often on all the forums I think.

Simvastatin actually lists PMR as an adverse event - or used to at least. I was put on Lipitor/atorvastatin briefly - I didn't want to and refused simvastatin point blank - and within a week I could hardly walk. The slight uphill into the hospital was almost beyond me. I had been fine the week before when discharged from hospital. I stopped it - didn't ask, I told them - and it took a few months to get back where I had been before. I'm expecting the cardiologist to have a go next time I see her - I saw her in February I think and she said nothing but mentioned it in the letter to the GP. She knows my opinion so didn't make a fuss about it.

I recently took methotrexate for 4 weeks - it left me feeling worse than I did in the 5 years without pred. I'd rather do that! mtx actually caused muscle and joint pain too - thought i was having a flare. No mtx - no muscle pain...

[DevonMichael in reply to PMRpro]

Interesting. When I tapered off GCA prednisolone, I quit the omeprazole, calcium and dispersible aspirin. At that point the only tablet I had to take was Simvastatin and in a bid to be drug free I quit the statin (against GPs advice). However within weeks I could hardly climb in and out of the car (I had to lift my leg in and out like it was an artificial limb!) I saw the rheumatologist and was diagnosed with PMR and 15mg of prednisolone gave me back my body and I gladly accepted all the drugs again and with it Atorvasatin. I am now down to 5mg but feel less confident on tapering to zero this time around!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DevonMichael]

I really would take my time - Rod Hughes likes to keep patients at 5mg for up to 9 months. Works for me!

[DevonMichael in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the sage advice which I shall stick too!

[yogabonnie]

I have PMR but have never taken Statins. My husband takes simvastatin but doesn't have PMR. I wasn't taking any prescription drugs when I got this. But I do know lots of women friends who stopped statins because of muscle weakness..but weren't diagnosed with PMR. It's all so WEIRD!

[DevonMichael in reply to yogabonnie]

Yes it is! Trying to sort what is a medical condition from medication side effects not to mention just growing old and less mobile!

[scats]

Sorry never had a statin.

[HeronNS]

I don't trust drugs. I question doctors and don't accept advice without research. One third of deaths annually in the US can be attributed to medical error, and I suppose it's similar in other Western countries. Too often a doctor will reach for the prescription pad when the solution may be something very simple (no I didn't need antidepressants, I needed to feel life had a purpose). Not denying the need for some medications (thank you pred) but we patients also too often accept the prescription without checking that there may be another way (improved bone density with nutrition and exercise no meds).

[HeronNS in reply to HeronNS]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/281...

Not as bad in UK and its former dominions or developed countries like Germany....

[DevonMichael in reply to HeronNS]

I always say hospitals are dangerous places with infections etc. I spent most of my working life keeping away from clinicians but at age 64 I was hit with GCA and after a prednisolone taper to zero I was hit with PMR and I was only too happy to get back on the prednisolone to restore movement and get my life back to enjoy my retirement.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DevonMichael]

The majority of people go into hospital relatively healthy - and are ill when they come out Must be dangerous places!!!!!!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I heard a story that the doctors went on strike in Canada a while back and the death rate went down!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

I've heard something similar...

[Celebrant]

I am convinced my PMR was brought on by statins--tried many and finely Praulent and I believe it tipped me over the top

[Grants148]

I also think that statins could have caused PMR,l was only taking them for one month and they caused pain and cramp in my legs,followed by a nasty red rash.l am apparently allergic to statin. I was diagnosed with PMR a few weeks later and thought it could be that

[Grants148]

My I pad locked and l could not finish my previous post,but l did think that statins caused my PMR,l am always cautious with drugs and l do not even take paracetamol unless l really need to and l think that too many strong painkilling drugs are given out in hospitals.

[HeronNS in reply to Grants148]

A few years ago I broke my leg and upon release from the emergency department they tried to give me a prescription for 50 oxycodone tablets. I said I refused to have those in my house, so an hour later they finally collared another doctor who wrote one for 20 tylenol 3. The 20 tablets lasted me an entire year, being used for occasional bad headaches as I only used about four or five while the leg hurt at night, and even with a little help from hubby using them up. Why anyone would have thought a person with my particular injury would need 50 heavy duty opioids is beyond me.

[Gaycreasey]

I was prescribed Atorvastatin in 2016, although my Cloresterol level was at 4.5. I immediately began to have pains in my calves and was advised to come off it for a month to see if it would get better. It didn’t. I stopped taking it altogether and in November 2016 I was diagnosed with PMR. The pains subsided with the prenisolone until earlier this year and have now returned with a vengeance. My GP believes it is the Pred that is causing it and so far his only advice has been to do exercises every day to stretch the muscles. Not working! My legs feel weak now and although not too bad walking downhill, on the flat or a slight income they become very painful. My GP is a great believer in exercise and to some extent I agree with him. However when a simple walk becomes a painful and sometimes embarrassing experience it’s hard to follow his advice. My normal activities are Pilates, ballroom dancing and Tabletennis with the odd U3A walk thrown in. I want to continued with these but the walking has become the most difficult.