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Statins and Arthritis

Cholesterol Drugs’ Bonus Benefits

Arthritis drugs likely are not the only type of medication in your bathroom cabinet. You also may take medicine to help you manage symptoms or conditions that sometimes accompany arthritis – antidepressants to improve mood and quality of sleep, sleep aids to help you get a good night’s rest, or statins.

Arthritis patients often take statins because because the No. 1 cause of death for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA ) is cardiovascular disease. In fact, data from a 2006 study in the Journal of Rheumatology suggested that rheumatoid arthritis should be considered an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and that all people with RA should be screened regularly for high cholesterol. When cholesterol builds up on artery walls, the arteries become narrow, and that can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Statins often are prescribed for people at risk of cardiovascular disease because they are effective, have few side effects and even offer a few benefits. They block a liver enzyme that helps make cholesterol, and also may help your body reabsorb cholesterol that already has built up in your arteries. The statin drugs include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin calcium (Crestor) and simvastatin (Zocor).

Besides the benefits linking statins and arthritis-related cardiovascular disease, scientists are finding statins also may reduce the risk of other conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer and smoking-related lung damage. And that’s not all. The anti-inflammatory properties of statins may be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis, too. A 2006 study by researchers in Japan found that Lescol killed synovial cells in test tubes. In RA, synovial cells lining the joint reproduce abnormally, causing inflammation. Over time, abnormal synovial cells destroy cartilage and bone. Killing synovial cells could stop or slow that process.

Another study showed that RA patients who received 40 milligrams (mg) daily of Lipitor had less swelling than those who received placebo. More studies would be needed to confirm the results, so doctors aren’t planning to prescribe statins for rheumatoid arthritis just yet.

Even though today’s statins may not prove ideal for treating RA, they provide important benefits to people with RA who also have high cholesterol.

Statins and Arthritis

Cholesterol Drugs’ Bonus Benefits

Even though today’s statins may not prove ideal for treating RA, they provide important benefits to people with RA who also have high cholesterol.

Jane Brewer

13 Nov 2009, 12:35

I have had osteoarthritis for years. I kept it under control with Aleve for years while I worked. My doctor neglected to tell me it would damage my kidneys. The really severe pain started in my knees. I have been taking Zocor for several years and been put on another one lately. I have chest pains sometimes for which they have never found the cause. I am seeing a heart doctor and a kidney doctor. My arthritis has got about three hundred per cent worse in the past month. But I have only been taking the second cholesterol pill a few days. The arthritis is now full body except my head and feet. The pain is so bad sometimes I don't think I am going to get through it. I don't sleep well at all and don't even remember having a good nights sleep and waking up in the morning feeling human. Sometimes I feel like the pain is literally going to run me crazy. My eye doctor is the one who told me about arthritis and cholesterol. I am sorry for writing such a long comment. This is the first time I have ever done this. I appreciate your listening.

kim

08 Nov 2009, 18:09

I was dx with moderate psoriatic arthritis (fingers, toes, tailbone and long-term psoriasis) in 2001 and had borderline lupus dx. Due to being in my childbearing years I chose not to go on methotrexate at the time and have successfully controlled the PA when my diet is healthy and I'm sleeping well (which, admittedly, is not all the time). My cholesterol has bordered high since my early 20s and after a physical at age 40 and a visit to the cardiologist, she said that although I was very healthy at the time my cholesterol level and family history indicated the need to go on a statin. I resisted for a while but went on it almost 2 years ago (simvastatin). Around eight months ago I started experiencing joint pains in my hands/wrists again. I wrote it off to flare of PA but now I can hardly get out of bed some days and I have to stand slowly at work and walk slowly. I was VERY fit 2 years ago and now I can't jog around the block. Yes, I got a little busy and lazy but now I believe statins have robbed me of strength and vigor and have inflamed my arthritis. I have pain in my entire feet, ankles, knees, hips, spine, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, neck and even jaw. I am going in to the dr asap to be tested for damage. My last dose was just 3 nights ago but I have some relief already. I'll check back in.

Marcella

30 Oct 2009, 12:43

Statins are wonderful drugs, but they can
create problems for certain people.I used Mevacor and Zocor unsuccessfully because of
muscle pain and weakness. Then we tried Lipitor. It did wonders for my cholesterol.
Because I had used it for a year without any
trouble, I didn't associate my serious muscle
weakness and pain, and joint pain with the
Lipitor. I thought it was my arthritis. It
was my primary doctor who did blood tests
and took me off the medication immediatley.
She also referred me to my rheumatologist.
The statin and done damage to my muscles that
she felt would take at least a year to recover. But my muscles never quite went
back to normal.Recently, a little more than
a year and a half later, because my muscles
were weak and injure easily, and because there were certain markers in my blood tests,
the rheumatologist concluded that the damage
was permanent. There is the possibility that
over the next five years, they may come
back to normal...maybe. My medical chart
now reads that I am not to have statins of
any kind.We are trying other things for my
cholesterol. But I would like to urge anyone,
but especially those who have arthritis,
who are taking statins to immediately see their doctor if they develop any muscle pain,
weakness or joint pain while taking the
medication.Better to be on the safe side.

Kurt B.

27 Oct 2009, 15:22

I have been taking lipitor for probably 8- 10 years, maybe more. Zocur prior to that but it was worse. I have always thought it made my joints achy . I was recently told I may need a shoulder replacement due to heavy arthritus. I have had knee surgery 2 x and was told I have heavy arthritus. The shoulder problem has become worse in the last two years. I am 56 . The lipitor was my first thought about why the arthritus is so bad. Kurt

merrie

06 Oct 2009, 09:53

I have contacted the FDA to see if there has ever been a study on whether statins can cause arthiritis. So far I got a response about statins and joint pain. I'm hoping if enough of us ask the question, the FDA will investigate this issue, if they haven't done so already. If I get a more specific reply, I will post it here.

Marcus C

27 Sep 2009, 06:55

Thanks Merrie, I'll take your advice. In my case there seems to be a connection between arthritis in my fingers, the statins I take and high uric acid levels. If I have a glass of white wine for lunch my hands hurt a lot in the afternoon. When I started taking statins, the problem got worse. So, does wine help the heart but hurt the joints? Do statins help the heart but hurt the joints? Is it all about lubrication? I know that arthritis is a disease but do some things accelerate the process or make the symptoms worse? I am carrying out my own empirical study to try and find the key to all this.

Merrie

24 Sep 2009, 09:26

Marcus, I agree. I wonder if there has been any research done on this. Talk to your docter though before going off. I have stayed on mine despite my concerns because of my family history, and my own heart problems. I just would like to know if this is really a potential side effect or coincidence.

Marcus C

22 Sep 2009, 08:34

I am concerned. I take a statin, low dose, once a day and have noticed that, since taking the drug,my hand joints hurt and I seem to be developing arthritis. Can somebody be honest? Does the statin remove all the oils from the body, needed in joints???
I'm going off the drug to see what happens.

Merrie

14 Sep 2009, 07:56

Julie, I have the exact same suspicion as you. I am 45. I started on Lipitor at 38, and went off at 43 when my legs started hurting. My doctor said it couldn't be the lipitor since I had been on it so long without problems. I went off any way and the legs felt better. My knees had been achey for some time. My cholesterol climbed, so I was put on Simcor 6 months ago. Since then my knees have become severely painful. I went to an ortho and found I have advanced arth in both knees and need a replacement! What is going on? Is anyone aware of any research in this area, or a website, or possibly an attorney?

Leo Z

03 Sep 2009, 11:00

I took myself of all statin medications after I found my legs weak and painful. I needed a cane to walk. Once in a while I do take a capsule of "Red Rice Yeast" which is a statin, but I only take it once or twice a week at most.
The pain and weakness has since gone and I can walk again, but since then my cardiogist is watching my cholesterol much more closely. It was 137 in June and 142 in late August. I have RA and it is no picnic, but I am also doing my best to deal with the cardio-vascular issues that the statins are supposed to help.

Julie

16 Aug 2009, 15:03

I find this very worrying. I was started on statins approx. 6 years ago. I was diagnosed with a "touch of arthritis" 18 months ago, and now it is so bad that I need a new hip. It is also in my other hip, and advanced in the lumbar spine. I've not x rays to confirm it, but I feel that it is now in my neck, shoulders, knees and elbows if the disconfort is anything to go by. I wouldn;t mind but I was only 49. There is no history of arthritis in my family. I wonder if I need to come off the statins ..... before i'm in a wheel chair!!!
I wouldn't mind, but i'm a nurse, and they wont give me my pension, as they say I can get a new hip and do some work!!!!!!
Any thoughts from readers gratefully received

sylvia

19 Jul 2009, 06:25

i am taking (ezetimibe (ezetrol) as a last resort due to statins causing muscular breakdown the leg pains were worse than my RA
and am now registered as allergic to statins having tried 3 different one's with no good results still having high cholestrol. keeping my finger's crossed for these ones

sylvia

19 Jul 2009, 06:21

Hi all i have been taken of statins as it caused muscular breakdown and am now on (ezetimibe) ezetrol
this is after trying 2 other drugs with statin in and still having high colestrol i find these 10 mg tablets to be ok with no side.effect :) pity i still go to bed and wake up in pain and havent had a night of unbroken sleep in yrs due to pain

Ren Zhou

08 Jul 2009, 22:16

It is so odd that researchers found simvastatin would benefit arthrtis! As a matter of fact simvastain has caused pains in the joints of my toes and fingers!!! I am thankful of the other patients here who ahared that they have the same symtoms as I do. I will stop my simvastatin. My doctor tested my blood saying there was no problem with simvastin on me. Perhaps there is no sign of my liver damage yet. The test has nothing to do with arthritis. Many doctors go by their textbooks. They just don't believe the stories from only a few patients. If the textbooks and papers start to mention such side effect as arthritis, then these doctors will start to believe it.

lorraine

07 Jul 2009, 18:02

i have been taking crestor my legs feel heavy and immobable ..advise

Muhammad Zubair Janjua

27 Jun 2009, 23:19

Dear Sir, I have gone through an appraisal comment regarding the statins as I am taking Lipitor 40 mg since april 2007 twice daily, which was reduced to one after my complaints of pains in my hands. As for my experience is concerned, I would boldly say that someone who is advocating Statins as possible treatment to the arithritus, I have a strong feeling , he is absolutely living in a myth of miracles by statins. Since I have started this Lipitor from april 2007, I have developed arthritus in my hands. Conditions were worst when I was on two pills and are better comparatively since when I came to one daily.

I have realized and I am convinced that it is Lipitor which pushed me to a life where my hands are at 24 hrs in pain!

I have developed an opinion that these statins may be they are having some benefits in reducing chlostrol in blood but the misery they are bringing as direly bad side effects, sometimes make me feel to die with heart choke better than to be in a punishment of being 24 hrs hands in pain! God help the researchers to find the facts.Once the pill is marketed and start bringing revenues in billions, perhaps who will bother to review its medicinal behaviour on the suffering patients!!

07 Jun 2009, 20:56

Mike H. my arthritis went out of control also on simvastatin. My arthritis doc started me on meloxicam and I found this web site as I believe it has exacerbated my dry eye condition. Ready to chuck all medications!

SHERRY

11 May 2009, 18:49

RHEEMATOID ARTHRITIS

mike h

15 Apr 2009, 00:19

i was put on simvastatin and had ALL BODY ARTHTITUS. i got dr to stop it and it went away. THAT IS A SYMPTOM OF A BAD CONDITION. I notified the FDA.

marsha stevens

13 Apr 2009, 12:49

My pharmacist suggested COQ10 for the leg cramping. It worked like a charm.

Judith Kay

12 Apr 2009, 23:34

Although my physician recommends statins to control my cholesterol, I find that when I take it I experience excruciating pain in my legs at night.

Any suggestions or information???

Thank you for your consideration.

18 Mar 2009, 22:05

would lovastatin be as good as lipitor in controling swelling?

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Statins and Arthritis

Cholesterol Drugs’ Bonus Benefits

Statins and Arthritis

Cholesterol Drugs’ Bonus Benefits

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