But statins also affect nerves. They can cause a polyneuropathy (or peripheral neuropathy), characterised by weakness, numbness, pain and tingling in the hands and feet (Ann Pharmacother, 2003; 37; 274-8). Indeed, one large Danish study showed that, of 166 cases of so-called idiopathic polyneuropathy, 89 were definitely or probably linked to statins, while the rest were ‘possibly’ linked to the drugs (Neurology, 2002; 14: 1333-7). It could be that the ‘shingles’ your husband believes he had was a statin-induced nerve condition that is improving since stopping the drug.