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Statins and Fibrates Help Stop Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes
Neuropathy feels like this.
Peripheral neuropathy (limb nerve damage) eventually afflicts fifty percent of people with diabetes; worse still, it leads to an amputation every fifty seconds world-wide. At the moment, nothing is approved in the U.S. to treat peripheral neuropathy, only to alleviate the pain that it causes. That might change soon, however.
A large eight-year study out of the University of Western Australia indicates that statins (like Lipitor) and fibrates (like Lopid and TriCor) can reduce risk of peripheral neuropathy. Of course, statins and fibrates are already being prescribed to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and protect against heart attack and stroke.
But the Australian researchers found that statins also reduced risk of peripheral neuropathy by 35 percent and fibrates by 48 percent (essentially equivalent numbers in the murky world of statistics).
Even better, the researchers believe that the two classes of drugs may work through different mechanisms, so taking both a fibrate and a statin might have twice the beneficial effect on neuropathy of taking either one alone. How they do the job isn't yet understood, but it is hypothesized that statins, at least, reduce both inflammation and oxidative stress.
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Source: 67th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association
Categories: Diabetes, Diabetes, Heart Care & Heart Disease, Nerve Care (Neuropathy), Professional Issues, Type 1 Issues, Type 2 Issues
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Comments
Statins CAUSED my neuropathy as has been well documented by the American Academy of Neurology (May - 2002).
In my 57 years I never had a hint of periferal neuropathy. While taking 20mg/day of Lipitor for 17 days, I developed extreme burning/freezing pain in my left foot. For this I have seen an internist, 2 pain management docs, 1 neurosurgeon, two orthopedic surgeons, and one neurologist - all who don't know what is causing this. I have appointments set up with 2 vascular surgeons since the neurologist suggested that this might possible be a vascular problem or periferal neuropothy. So far I have had 2 mri's, 1 CT scan, and today I go for a doppler of the left leg and foot. The only thing that changed in my life over the past 17 days was the introduction of Lipitor. I am not a doctor or a rocket scientist, but in this case I don't think I need to be to know that a caused b.
I had the same problem with Lipitor. Get off it ASAP. Pravachol was better but after 4 years, I have the same problem. I am looking at changing to something else.
i was a diabetic for 18years and did get peripheral neuropathy i had a combined transplant of pancress and kidney in august2004 which are both working well blood sugurs are 5.2 only my legs have got heaver and more painfull only when i am walking or standing i take no medication at all for this
Don't believe this for a moment . This will increase your odds of getting PN . I took lipitor about 10 years ago and within 4 weeks of starting the drug my feet were tingling and was losing feeling. Of course the DR. said it couldn't be the medicine and I was stupid enough to believe him , so I kept taking it for like 2-3 years as my feet got worse and worse . Well the PN and nerver damage is permanent now and slowly gets worse and has gone from my feet to the lower ankle area. Don't wish this on anyone . The article is garbage and obviuosly paif for by the drug companies. All you have do is do a search on neuropathy and statins and see how many hits you get .
This was odd i read this I've had diabetes type 2 for 9 years now and have PN in my feet and up to my calves and sometimes in my hands i can feel it. I've taken a lot of different meds for the PN the only med that gave me some relief is Tramadol but i still had residual pain and burning feeling but not much the other day my doctor put me on Crestor and Fenofibrate I've been on them for a week now and noticed it does help the PN pain and burning and pins and needles feeling in my feet taking all three of these meds together I have to wait and see by taking this longer to really see if it does work or if its just coincidence.
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