Statin Drugs that Cause Neuropathy

The FDA requires that the pharmaceutical companies tell you about any possible side effects that a medication may cause.  The pharmaceutical companies do this by providing you a booklet which has all this information when you get your prescription. 

When referring to neuropathy, or any of the many terms used to refer to the various forms of this condition (see below), the booklet may read something like, "..possible numbing and tingling" or "...pins and needles."

Please review your prescription information and see whether it may be a cause and/or contributing factor to your neuropathy. 

NEWLY UPDATED LIST OF CHOLESTEROL LOWERING DRUGS (STATIN DRUGS) KNOWN TO CAUSE NEUROPATHY AS A SIDE EFFECT:

Advicor, Altocor, Atorvastatin, Altoprev, Atorvastatin, Baycol, Caduet, Cerivastatin, Crestor, Fluvastatin, Lescol, Lescol XL, Lipex, Lipitor, Lipobay, Lopid, Lovastatin, Mevacor, Pravachol, Pravastatin, Pravigard Pac, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Vytorin, Zocor.

These are the various terms for neuropathy that are found in the side effects listed for these statin drugs:

paresthesia: an unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensation on the skin.

neuritis: inflammation of a nerve, accompanied by pain, loss of reflexes, and muscle shrinkage.

neuralgia: an intermittent and often severe pain in a part of the body along the path of a nerve, especially when there is no physical change in the nerve itself.

vertigo: a condition in which somebody feels a sensation of whirling or tilting that causes a loss of balance.

dysesthesia: a condition in which light physical contact of the skin causes pain; abnormal sensations on the skin that can include burning, prickling, numbness, or pain.

hypoesthesia: an unusually reduced sensitivity to touch; numbness.  Also called hypesthesia.

hyperalgesia: increased sensitivity to pain or enhanced intensity of pain sensation; excessive sensitiveness to pain.

hyperesthesia: a heightened sensitivity of a part of the body such as the skin, or of any of the senses.

NOTE: If you're taking any of the above medications, you need to speak to your doctor about getting off of them and replacing them with a natural supplement.

Minimally, your doctor should put you on a medication that does not cause neuropathy.

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