Itchy Skin

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I've been taking simvastatin for about 4 months and have had a really bad itchy skin reaction, but nothing is relieving it. I do not see this posted as a side effect. Not using grapefruit juice, what else might it be interacting with to cause this great discomfort?

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1

I've been on simvastatin for over a year. Several months I contracted an itch. My PCP doesn't think it is the medicine, but I do. I feel like bugs are crawling under my skin. I have stopped taking it for a few days and the itch has subsided. I'm going to stay of the pills for a week then try them again and see if the itch comes back. If so, I'm telling my doctor he has to prescribe something else. BTW, I don't drink grapefruit juice.

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2

Many people just have problems and suffer these types of side effects from Statin drugs, usually they have to switch their medication.

Unfortunately, your MD is not trained the same as a pharmacist, so they don't always know all the side effects and issues that certain drugs can cause, they prescribe according to known effectiveness.

You may need to speak to your pharmacist and, if necessary, have them call your doctor regarding this matter.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Simvastatin/­

Have you tried contacting them about it?

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3

Thank you, Verwon. I tried a half dose and the itch has begun again, so I am getting off the simvastatin until my next doctor visit which is in a few weeks.

I'm also going to speak to my pharmacist. Thank you again. That is great information to know.

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4

I have been taking statins for about a month now, and have developed an itchy face, forehead and outer nose.
Has anyone else found the same?

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5

This is to Kaymc: I take simvastatin and sometimes itch like crazy on my forehead, outer ears, outer nose and sides of my head. I know just how you feel....and I'm sure it's the statins because it never itched like that before I started taking them.

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6

Do your statins contain E-320 butylated hydroxyanisole?

You will find information in what your tablets contain section plus the side effects i.e irritant to the eyes,skin or mucus membranes

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7

Sympathies to all on this itch. I have just gone through 10 days of itching hell and yesterday went to the dermatologist who is running some bloodwork. I did my own internet exploring and found your comments. Now I am convindced its the Simvastatin I have been taking for 4 years. Hell. Can't we turn the clock back to being 20 again???

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8

I have been on 60 mg. a day of Zocor and I frequently have very intense scalp itching whenever I try to use my brain to solve problems or make decisions. I am going to stop taking it for a month to see what happens. I had a quadruple heart bypass operation 3 months ago so I don't think I will will accumulate much plaque in my new coronary arteries/veins in one month.

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9

I have Simvastati prescription since last April and have developed itchness of the skin on legs last July. I've stopped taking the medicine since mid-Jan. this year and my skin still itches at night. Just wonder what other medicine do you switch to? Does itchness stop?

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10

I took Simvastatin for three weeks and developed an itch over all of my body. It's been over five months since I stopped taking Simvastatin and I still have the itch. My doctor seems not to be too concerned. Fortunately the itch is bearable and does not keep me awake. I use Gold Bond lotion to relieve the itch. The itch is worse late afternoon and evening. It seems to move from my legs to my upper body and back to my legs after a couple of weeks.
I.m hoping this will eventually go away.

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11

I too have suffered from a debilitating itch of my legs, worse at night. I eliminated various mess/supplements and started to use the mildest soaps and fabric softeners with no improvement. I did not think it was caused by the statins as I had been on for over 2 years, however, I stopped my statin due to joint and muscle aches and low and behold, the vicious itch subsided and after 1 month is completely gone!

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12

I have been on simvastatin for three months. I was taking niacin along with it and after a few weeks got severe itching on my upper back. I stopped taking the niacin about 5 weeks ago and the itching subsided somewhat but now seems to be getting worse. I think I'm having an allergic reaction to the simvastatin. I'm going to stop taking it and call my Doctor on Monday and see id he can prescribe something else.

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13

yes i take simvastation40mg and every time i shower or wash my skin itches just as if something is crawling inside my skin my doctor gave me some cream for dry skin, what a lot of rubbish still itching doing back to the dr,

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14

I was on vytorin 80mg and went to the eye Dr. because of some itchy eyes. My family Dr. Immediately changed my prescription to simvastatin 40mg and now I'm itching like crazy. My head, noise, and cheeks some times my back. I believe this is from the drugs. Question to anyone, Can simvastatin be worse than the vytorin? And I'm talking half the dose. Any ideas?

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15

after 5 years on simvistatin I started to itch on my forehead, hands, sides and back. I went to a dermatologist who said this was a side effect of statin drugs but he also did blood work and discovered pemphigus, a rare auto immune disorder, exacerbated by statin drugs. My GP switched drugs but the itching has come back with a vengeance. Trying OTC antihistamines and cortisone creams

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16

I tried zocor twice before and itched from head to toe. My dr. Put me on a lower dose and after 3days Im itching again!

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17

I have been on Simvastatin 40 for about a year after quadruple bypass surgery. My arms itch on top by the elbows. Creams and allergy pills (benedryl) help but it seems to come back quite regularly. What changes of meds or stopping simvastatin have others experienced to get rid of the itch? How long for it to go away?

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18

I have been on Simvistatin since late June. 5 days ago I woke up with a rash on my lower abdomen. Now the rash has spread to my back and legs. At first the rash didn't itch. Now it does, especially when I work out. My PCP told me to stop the Rx for a couple of weeks to see if the rash goes away. After reading everyone's posts on this site I'm fairly sure the rash is from the Simvistatin.

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19

My 68 yr old husband has taken statins for years - first Lipitor, then Pravachol, then Crestor. He had the usual side effects but less with each change until he developed this intense sporadic itch. Off all drugs now, been to every kind of doc, can't get rid of the itch. We've tried everything! He now takes Zyrtec in am and Claritin in pm. Now developing allergies to certain foods he's always been able to eat. This is a person who never even gets seasonal allergies! I know the statins caused the itch but what can be done now. Allergy meds help some but he doesn't like feeling like a zombie. Has anyone tried cholestyramine for the itching?

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20

my overall itching was diagnosed as a mild case of pemphigus, an autoimmune disorder that is exacerbated by statins. This was determined by a dermatologist after a blood test. I am now on a 5 mg dose of Crestor and 500 mg of Niaminicide, not Niacin, three times a day with meals. I would say that I have improved 75% but have not had a cholesterol test for three months so we will test next month to see if the bad cholesterol is down. I have been told phemphigus is very rare and I have a case without blisters. It's just annoying.

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49

I got my wife Benadryl tabs to see if the work will let you know.

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48

I started simvastatin and after just a few weeks I started to get itchy all over. I would say the itching is head to toe. My eyes and throat even itch. I have allergies and sometimes my face itches and I would say that the all over itching feels similar after taking the simvastatin.

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47

I have been taking Lipitor 10 mg for about 10 years. In early August my pcp (who is a cardiologist) changed my dose to 40 mg daily. I developed a generalized itch (no rash) and did the usual process of elimination to determine the cause. Benadryl was minimally helpful. After about 2 weeks of this misery I contacted my pcp and Phenergan was ordered. Another 2 weeks, and an office visit- suggested xanax. It makes you dopey, but no relief. After multiple attempts at discussion, I stopped the Lipitor (2 days so far). I was surprised to see how many people had very similar stories. This itch is awful. All of my blood work in mid-August was normal. I would appreciate any feedback. How long after the Lipitor was stopped did the itch go away?

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46

Re: Texas Red (# 1) Expand Referenced Message

Yes I've been taking it for a long while but all of a sudden I began itching and I always take it in the evening. I eliminated everything else . First thought it was the juice I took the med with . Well I eliminated that then after no itching I thought it was that but on taking my med it returned. I know it's the simastatin 40 MG.

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45

I agree with you about the medicine Statin. I am a 61 year old female. I have been taking simvastatin for like 20 years now and I have so many problems. PLEASE read the side effects. I have every single side effect. Please stop the simvastatin. I feel like things are crawling on me. I feel things under my skin. I'll look to reach for it and it's not there. Sometimes it feels like ice or water is on my skin but when I touch it, it's as dry as ever. Very scary. My muscles are sore, my legs tingle, I can not remember a lot of stuff family members ask, "girl what is going on with you you don't remember that?" It saddens my heart for me not to remember beautiful memories. NOW, I have a lump on my collarbone and these doctors don't understand why? They are running several test. The lump is hard. The lump does not hurt but the area does from my head to toe. I have to have a colonoscopy to have my thyroid checked and a few other tests. I am fine until the certain part of the day. 7/22/2017

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44

Was on a statin years ago. Assumed I had allergies to perfumed laundry detergent. Tried fragrance free stuff as the itchiness was just always in my trunk stomach area. and sides. VERY bothersome. Doc said my cholesterol wasnt good enough, he doubled my meds (this was generic lipitor). Days later I broke out in boils on my ears. Ceased taking this, DAYS later itch gone that I had had for YEARS. Doctor did not support my decision, didn't believe me, said I NEEDED a statin, nothing else works. Im also diabetic, and I have also found out that statins also raise your blood sugar. It is a vicious cycle. Recently switched doctors, this one is more holistic, prescribed 2000 mg fish oil. OK, I got a great kind, salmon oil, etc. taking over 2000 mg/day. Have blood work done, cholesterol and triglycerides are out of control. I have been off the lipitor for years and feeling wonderful. Old doc put me on Crestor, after 4 weeks, I have itching behind my knees, and on my stomach. It is VERY intense and wakes me up at night. Topicals do not much of anything. Maybe relief for an hour or less. I feel frustrated and that nothing will help me. I hears Zetia isnt a statin? ANyone tried this?

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43

I itched from head to toe. Stopped taking statins for about 6 weeks and the itching finally stopped. My doctor agreed and he still tries to prescribe statins but I refuse them. Taking zetia and Vascepa and no side effects. Just don't take more than two Vascepa at a time or you will feel very light headed.

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42

Yes....Face, scalp and forehead.Been on Simvistatin 2 months.

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41

I've been on Pravastatin, 20 mil for at least 5 years. This is really weird because I've noticed every time I get a new refill (every 6 months) that's when I feel itchy mostly on my arms and legs. Then after few days it goes away. But just recently the itchiness lingers much longer. It itches in my neck, sides of my chin and arms. I tried to put lotion thinking its due to dry skin but it didn't work. So I googled it and found that one of the effects of the statin is an itchy skin.

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40

crestor causing extreme intense itching. do all statins cause itching?

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