AZ Neuropathy Centers

Statin Drugs
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Statin Drugs - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly? 

Statins and peripheral neuropathy.

Jeppesen U, Gaist D, Smith T, Sindrup SH.

, Gaist D, Smith T, Sindrup SH.

Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

Within the past 3 years seven cases of reversible peripheral neuropathy apparently caused by statins have been reported. Here we report seven additional cases associated with long-term statin therapy, in which other causes of neuropathy were thoroughly excluded. The neuropathy was in all cases axonal and with affection of both thick and thin nerve fibers. The symptoms of neuropathy persisted during an observation period lasting from 10 weeks to 1 year in four cases after statin treatment had been withdrawn. We suggest that long-term statin treatment may be associated with chronic peripheral neuropathy.

PMID: 10027656 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/05/020514075710.htm

http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/print.aspx?token=de6453e6-8aa2-4e28-b56c-5e30699d7b3c&ChunkIID=21351

Neuromuscular complications of statins.

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2008 Feb;19(1):47-59, vi. Review.

PMID: 18194749 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Peripheral neuropathy and statins.

Prescrire Int. 2007 Dec;16(92):247-8.

PMID: 18092417 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_lipitor.pdf

A row of bottles on my shelf

Caused me to analyze myself.

One yellow pill I have to pop

Goes to my heart so it won't stop.

A little white one that I take

Goes to my hands so they won't shake.

The blue ones that I use a lot

Tell me I'm happy when I'm not.

The purple pill goes to my brain

And tells me that I have no pain.

The capsules tell me not to wheeze

Or cough or choke or even sneeze...

The red ones, smallest of them all

Go to my blood so I won't fall.

The orange ones, very big and bright

Prevent my leg cramps in the night.

Such an array of brilliant pills

Helping to manage all kinds of ills.

But what I'd really like to know...........

Is what tells each one where to go!

There's always a lot to be thankful for if

You take time to look for it. For example

I am sitting here thinking how nice it is

That wrinkles don't hurt.

Statin-associated peripheral neuropathy: review of the literature.

Chong PH, Boskovich A, Stevkovic N, Bartt RE.

, Boskovich A, Stevkovic N, Bartt RE.

Department of Pharmacy, John H. Stroger, Jr Hospital, School of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612-3715, USA.

Various pharmacologic agents are available for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, commonly referred to as statins, which offer favorable lipid-lowering effects and reductions in morbidity and mortality. Statins are usually better tolerated than other lipid-lowering agents and therefore have become a mainstay of treatment for hypercholesterolemia. However, recent case reports of peripheral neuropathy in patients treated with statins may have gone unnoticed by health care professionals. To evaluate the possible link between statins and peripheral neuropathy, literature searches using MEDLINE (January 1993--November 2003) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (January 1970--June 2002) were performed. Key search terms were statin, neuropathy, and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Based on epidemiologic studies as well as case reports, a risk of peripheral neuropathy associated with statin use may exist; however, the risk appears to be minimal. On the other hand, the benefits of statins are firmly established. These findings should alert prescribers to a potential risk of peripheral neuropathy in patients receiving any of the statins; that is, statins should be considered the cause of peripheral neuropathy when other etiologies have been excluded.

PMID: 15460180 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Fortunately the word is getting out to the doctors in the field, but tragically ever so slow.

We are conveniently located off the Loop 101 in Chandler,  Scottsdale and Peoria.  For directions,
please use the map locator on the directions page.

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