Is my statin causing peripheral neuropathy?

Do you gave a high HDL (good cholesterol)? Your total cholesterol number will be high if you have a high good cholesterol. I’m sure you must be aware that it’s the LDL (bad cholesterol) that you should try to keep at 100 or below. Mine had creeped up to 139 which is why my doctor switched my statin to a stronger one, and which is what I think caused my neuropathy slowly over the last 5 months after the switch. My HDL has always been high, but that’s the good cholesterol. It’s always over 100. Normal is over 40.
Yes, I also have high cholesterol because of family. My father’s cholesterol was crazy, crazy high. While I'm on no cholesterol medication at the tine, I’m trying to eat healthy too. I don’t use butter anyway, so that’s not a problem. I use olive oil or olive oil cooking spray. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, poultry and very little red meat. Unfortunately, I don’t like fish which I know is good for me. I also read that salt isn’t good for neuropathy, so I cut out chips and other salty foods, including cold cuts which are high in nitrates and also bad.

Did you quit statins because of neuropathy? Glad that you found another way to fight cholesterol! I’ll, Jeep this drug in mind for the future.

Thank you!
I have an appointment next week with a neurologist after my testing all coming out showing nothing that would cause neuropathy (bloodwork, cervical MRI, Nerve conduction study/EMG). I did share my concerns with a nurse practitioner neighbor and she told me it would take as long a time that I was taking Rosuvastatin for the symptoms to diminish (I took rosuvastatin fir 6 months, so it’ll take 6 months + fir the symptoms to diminish. Hoping she’s right.

Hi…you probably know this…but the sensations you are having ( if it’s truly neuropathy) would likely be small fiber neuropathy…tingling, numbness etc. This type is not able to be detected on a nerve conduction study. Small fiber neuropathy is diagnosed via a skin puncture biopsy typically. FYI

So I take it red yeast rice could also have the same side effects, neuropathy? Or, are you saying to us instead of a statin?

I take red yeast rice after stopping statin. It is working without worsening neuropathy.

I had an aortic valve replaced in July, 2015 and was prescribed Atorvastatin to maintain my LDL level in normal range, although my LDL levels have never been high. I would occasionally have cramping in my calves and feet, but never paid much attention, as the cramps were not happening on a regular basis. Fast forward to April 2023...I had two stents inserted into one artery, because there was some blockage in the anterior artery of the heart. I've continued taking the Atorvastatin, but the the cramps in calves and feet began to occur nightly and I was getting up 3-4 times nightly to stretch and massage the calves and feet. After seeing my doctor to get her input as to what may be causing the symptoms, which had become severe at times, my doctor informed me that one of the side effects of Atorvastatin is muscle cramps! So she prescribed Rosuvastatin and it did not help, as the nightly cramps continued. I had a series of test to see if it may be related to circulation in lower extremities. There was no blockage in either leg. Since then, I have decided on my own to discontinue the statin drugs. My PCP prescribed Gabbapentin as a last resort. I been taking a low dose of Gabbapentin (100mg) at bedtime, increased my dosage of melatonin to 5mg, and taking a magnesium supplement at bedtime. I am seeing positive results, as the cramping in both calves and feet have been minimal or manageable for the last few nights. I still have a little numbness in the calves, but at least not having to get up during the night to stretch and walk around in the middle of the night. My PCP still has still not diagnosed my condition, but only through this website and blog have I determined that what I'm experiencing is PN.