Vytorin and Peripheral Neuropathy

[donsabi]

In January I was started on Vytorin. I put up with the pain from this statin as long as I could and I ended up with peripheral neuropathy in both feet. After stopping the Vytorin the PN persisted for six weeks. My feet were ice cold with a pins and needles feeling for about four weeks. Then they became hot with the pins and needles. Finally after six weeks the PN seemed to go away. Now, several months later the PN is back. I have not taken any new meds including statins since I stopped the Vytorin. I recently moved and met with my first MD. He told me he was sure that statins don’t cause PN. He WAS my new MD until he said that. I met with my new chiropractor and I gave him my medical history citing the Vytorin incident. He told me that many of his patients taking statins are complaining of leg pain and PN.

[Stumper]

Originally Posted by donsabi

In January I was started on Vytorin. I put up with the pain from this statin as long as I could and I ended up with peripheral neuropathy in both feet. After stopping the Vytorin the PN persisted for six weeks. My feet were ice cold with a pins and needles feeling for about four weeks. Then they became hot with the pins and needles. Finally after six weeks the PN seemed to go away. Now, several months later the PN is back. I have not taken any new meds including statins since I stopped the Vytorin. I recently moved and met with my first MD. He told me he was sure that statins don’t cause PN. He WAS my new MD until he said that. I met with my new chiropractor and I gave him my medical history citing the Vytorin incident. He told me that many of his patients taking statins are complaining of leg pain and PN.

Donsabi,


I am not sure just how much experience Chiropractors have when it come to cholesterol.
My doc tells me that 97% of people who take statins never have problems. I take Vytorin and feel absolutely GRREEEAAT !
I am in the majority.

[JJ]

donsabi....My husband was on Lipitor for almost 7 yrs. Around the 2nd yr. he developed severe muscle pains and was constantly tired, but we never associated it with the Lipitor, and of course the dr. at that time said NO way was it the statin. All that poor man did was eat, sleep and work, as his pain hindered him from doing much else. This went on for yrs., and at the time we had no computer so I wasn't able to research anything, plus we just took the drs. word for it...."Age related". ...YEAH, RIGHT!

Finally in 2000 I was put on Lipitor and after 3 months started with GI problems and muscle weakness, pains and aches, etc. At that time I bought a computer and did some research and found so many folks with the same problem. I took myself off the statins and also my husband. It took them 8 months to get my GI problems under control, and about 9 to get rid of the lousy aches and pains. When hubby had a good long talk with his cardio man about his problems, the dr. told him he thought he was getting PN and it definitely could be caused from the long use of statins. I wish I knew way back then what I know now, as now hubby has PN quite badly and is on meds. for it. Since being off statins his muscle pains and aches have become better, but unfortuneately the PN is here to stay. Many folks we know have stopped taking these drugs due to badside effects, and yes, there are some who take them with little problems, but they are the MINORITY. Hopefully your PN will go away, as U weren't on them very long. Try taking some Co Q10, as statins deplete the body of Co Q10. It isn't cheap, but it sure has helped alot of folks, and drs. don't tell U when U are on a statin U should be taking it. Many folks here take it and do mighty good.

Hopefully your PN will deminish with time, it is NOT a pleasant thing to have to deal with. Best of luck.....

[gardeninggal]

Stumper, I am glad for you that you have not had any side effects. I do caution you to be very aware of your body and if you see any side effects like what you have read on this forum go to your doctor. You say you are among the majority and that may be true. I don't know what the majority percentage is and I doubt that the drug companies are going to give us a true answer. I do know that I have heard of a lot of people who have had a lot of problems and serious ones. I was on a statin for almost 3 years before I had serious things begin to happen and many on this forum were on a lot longer before it happened to them. I am only saying be aware. This is a real case of Russian Loulette and I personally don't want to play until I have no other choices left.

[HubbleRules]

Originally Posted by donsabi

In January I was started on Vytorin. I put up with the pain from this statin as long as I could and I ended up with peripheral neuropathy in both feet. After stopping the Vytorin the PN persisted for six weeks. My feet were ice cold with a pins and needles feeling for about four weeks. Then they became hot with the pins and needles. Finally after six weeks the PN seemed to go away. Now, several months later the PN is back. I have not taken any new meds including statins since I stopped the Vytorin. I recently moved and met with my first MD. He told me he was sure that statins don’t cause PN. He WAS my new MD until he said that. I met with my new chiropractor and I gave him my medical history citing the Vytorin incident. He told me that many of his patients taking statins are complaining of leg pain and PN.

Donsabi,

I think you and I and many others are victims of a big problem - the chronic under-reporting of drug-related adverse effects.

Listen to some of the audio feeds I posted earlier.

One of them points out the problems in the voluntary Adverse Event reporting mechanism the FDA established. Even some members of the FDA agree that it seriously underestimates the true number of drug adverse effects being experienced by the public!

Also listen to the one that tells you about how the FDA does NOT do any independent studies of drugs. 100% of the clinical trials are conducted and funded by the drug maker - and the drug makers do a good job of promoting the benefits and try to hide the deleterious effects of their drugs.

If people are open-minded enough to consider these 2 facts, then all the posts of problems with drugs on this and other forums begins to make a whole lot of sense.

I'm sure that statins do a good job of lowering cholesterol in the majority of users without any noticeable adverse effects. But I'm also sure that the number of people who cannot take them due to serious side-effects is far greater than we are being told.

HubbleRules