Do statins cause neuropathy?

Statin drugs are prescribed to help control cholestoral.
Medical literature shows some thinking that statins have
a side effect of helping to cause neuropathy

Yes that's possible. If the statin caused a disturbance in liver function then it's possible that this triggered the itch.
The UK datasheets list the following as possible among many other side effects: Simvastatin - peripheral neuropathy, Pravastatin - polyneuropathy, Atorvastatin - peripheral neuropathy, pruritis.
Given that statins are still a relatively new class of drug and that the newer statins are quite different on a molecular basis from their predecessors, I'm quite prepared to believe that any side effect is possible. Look at the story that's now beginning to unfold about NSAI drugs and their possible harmful effects. The acid test question is "what happened when you stopped taking the drug" 鈥?if the neuropathic pain improved again then I guess it's quite convincing.
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Although the most likely cause of your increased foot pain is neuropathy related to diabetes, there is a small possibility that pravachol is making it worse. A small percentage of individuals who take pravachol and other similar drugs used to lower cholesterol called "statins" develop painful neuropathy that goes away when the drug is stopped. When the patient has diabetes, the pain is usually attributed to diabetic neuropathy and often the medication is not considered as contributing to the problem. There is a good brief description of the problem in the August edition of the journal Diabetes Care. The reference is: Statin Neuropathy Masquerading as Diabetic Autoimmune Polyneuropathy (Tom Brooks Vaughan, MD and David S.H. Bell, MD, Diabetes Care 28:2082, 2005).

If you already have neuropathy from diabetes, the only way to see if the pravachol is making it worse, is to stop the pravachol and see if the pain improves and then restart the pravachol to see if the pain returns. Keep in mind, that pain from diabetic neuropathy can get worse and improve spontaneously making it difficult to determine if medication is making it worse. Do not stop the pravachol without the advice of your physician as a rise in cholesterol could cause problems. Your doctor may feel it is safe,however, to try another medication used to control cholesterol and stop the pravachol to see if your pain decreases. I am not aware of itching being related to the use of statins. I would make sure you have no fungal infection on your feet. I would also make sure you haven't changed laundry detergents recently and developed an allergy to a new laundry detergent or a material in your socks.

I hope this helps and you find a way to control your pain.

Yes they can

Neuropathies are not rare.
2 million Diabetics are prone to it.
Pernicious anaemia can cause it.
many, many medical conditions, and drugs can cause it

Neuropathy is extremely rare. More common (but still not common overall) is muscle aches, Most people can be switched to another statin that they can tolerate.

Yes I believe they do ~ My mother in law was on statins and has terrible neuropathies ~ Neuropathies are prevalent in diabetics and people using statins to name a few.

No,
diabetes cause neuropathy.

Im on pravasatin, and got neuropathy but my doc said it is caused by my Diabetes.


Dreamgirl 1