1. < Neuropathy

Statin discontinued due to neuropathy. What are some alternatives?

Posted by Nazir Khan @nukhan, Jan 19, 2020

I have been using Lipitor since 2007 for lowering my cholesterol which is on the list of those medicines that are suspected to cause neuropathy. I am thinking of discontinuing this menace but before doing so want to check with those members who have discontinued using statin and what is their experience. What alternative methods have they since adopted for lowering their cholesterol .. diet, alternative medication, exercise or anything else ?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

rustyh904 | @rustyh904 | Aug 26, 2024
In reply to @auntcabby "I’m currently on Ratha and it’s doing a great job. I also have a co-pay card..." + (show)
@auntcabby

I’m currently on Ratha and it’s doing a great job. I also have a co-pay card which I pay five dollars per prescription, and it’s good for a couple of years. Just go to their website and they’ll give you instructions to apply for the copay card.

Jump to this post

Did you quit taking your statin medication?

REPLY
26sabrina | @26sabrina | Aug 27, 2024
In reply to @mamamarch "I hate to be a pessimist, but I don't see my Dr. helping much at all...." + (show)
@mamamarch

I hate to be a pessimist, but I don't see my Dr. helping much at all. I do the "figuring out possibilities" and then basically ask permission to take particular actions. The Dr. seems to not really care and I even worry that she thinks I'm a bit whack-o.
As to the thigh pain, I'm wondering if a physical therapist might be more useful. But, again, it can be hit or miss.
Overall, I'm with you on the attitude that at least we are ahead of where we were years ago. And I definitely think that progress is being made!

Jump to this post

If you are unhappy with your doctor, you must change doctor.

REPLY
fferreira | @fferreira | Dec 5, 2024
In reply to @mamamarch "I wish! I eat no meat (just fish), no dairy and practically the only sugar I..." + (show)
@mamamarch

I wish! I eat no meat (just fish), no dairy and practically the only sugar
I get is in a bit of dark chocolate after dinner. For years I have only
used olive oil (very little, at that) and I take an Omega 3 supplement. I
have aerobics, strength training and stretching classes three times a week.
I am 5' 4" and weigh 128 lbs. Still, my cholesterol was at 336!
I always avoided statins because my Cardiac Calcium Score came back
as Zero! No blockage of any arteries. But, last year my CAC (Coronary
Artery Calcium) score crept up to 20% and while that is not bad, I'm not
comfortable with the somewhat sudden increase. So, here I am,
experimenting with the lowest dose of statin that might keep the
cholesterol levels in check, but not exacerbate the peripheral neuropathy.
While diet and lifestyle are the answer for some, it is not
necessarily going to work for everyone.

Jump to this post

Olá! Tenho acompanhado seus relatos, muito ricos e interessantes. Descobri recentemente a polineuropatia periférica comprovada por eletroneuromiografia, provavelmente por tomar estatina por aproximadamente 30 anos. Tomo desde os meus 29 anos. Parei de tomar estatina recentemente, em 14/11/2024. Pergunto: quanto tempo em média as pessoas levam para descontinuar os sintomas de queimação em pés e pernas? Esse remédio que você toma Repatha pode agravar a neuropatia periférica? Agradeço sua ajuda.
I write in Portuguese, if you can help me, translate please. I'm not fluent in English. Thanks.

REPLY
dieterreuther | @dieterreuther | Dec 6, 2024

I briefly stopped taking my 40 mg Atorvastatin (Lipitor) for 10 weeks, but did not see any difference in my polyneuropathy symptoms.

REPLY
2 replies
fferreira | @fferreira | Dec 6, 2024
In reply to @dieterreuther "I briefly stopped taking my 40 mg Atorvastatin (Lipitor) for 10 weeks, but did not see..." + (show)
@dieterreuther

I briefly stopped taking my 40 mg Atorvastatin (Lipitor) for 10 weeks, but did not see any difference in my polyneuropathy symptoms.

Jump to this post

Olá!
Pelo que tenho lido de pesquisas, a melhora ocorre de 4 meses a 2 anos, após a estatina ser descontinuada. No seu caso, só se passaram dois meses. Minha cardiologista aqui do Brasil, passou ácido alfalipóico 600mg, duas vezes ao dia. Total= 1200mg para atacar a neuropatia e compensar a descontinuação da estatina.
I write in Portuguese, if you can, translate please. I'm not completely fluent in English. Thanks.

REPLY
26sabrina | @26sabrina | Dec 6, 2024
In reply to @dieterreuther "I briefly stopped taking my 40 mg Atorvastatin (Lipitor) for 10 weeks, but did not see..." + (show)
@dieterreuther

I briefly stopped taking my 40 mg Atorvastatin (Lipitor) for 10 weeks, but did not see any difference in my polyneuropathy symptoms.

Jump to this post

Stopping the statin most likely will not reverse the neuropathy. I am taking other meds for my cholesterol. My neurologist is now treating the symptoms quite successfully

REPLY
2 replies
delia74 | @delia74 | Dec 7, 2024
In reply to @26sabrina "Stopping the statin most likely will not reverse the neuropathy. I am taking other meds for..." + (show)
@26sabrina

Stopping the statin most likely will not reverse the neuropathy. I am taking other meds for my cholesterol. My neurologist is now treating the symptoms quite successfully

Jump to this post

Would be helpful if you expand on what you posted:
•What drugs specifically are you now taking for cholesterol?
•HOW is neurologist treating the symptoms so successfully?

REPLY
evans1 | @evans1 | Dec 7, 2024
In reply to @26sabrina "Stopping the statin most likely will not reverse the neuropathy. I am taking other meds for..." + (show)
@26sabrina

Stopping the statin most likely will not reverse the neuropathy. I am taking other meds for my cholesterol. My neurologist is now treating the symptoms quite successfully

Jump to this post

Please say how neurologist is treating.

REPLY
suzva | @suzva | 4 days ago
In reply to @suzva "Many years ago my doctor prescribed a couple of different statins and everything caused severe muscle..." + (show)
@suzva

Many years ago my doctor prescribed a couple of different statins and everything caused severe muscle pain. I tried a very low fat diet and my cholesterol levels actually went up! Apparently, my liver produces more if I don't eat it. More research...took red yeast rice. It actually worked with no pain. But the longer you take it, the less effective it is. Stopped RYR for a while, and went back several times. All this time my old doc and now the new one is asking me to take statins. Not going to do it. Now, I'm reading that RYR "may" be the same as a statin. I developed neuropathy in my feet about 2.5 years ago. They are blaming it on my diabetes, although my A1c has never been out of control. About 6. But the last 2 tests have been 5.8.
Now, I'm going to stop RYR. More research. Found policosanol. There are actually NIH studies on this supplement. Google policosanol. I haven't started it yet, but from what I've found, looks promising for lowering cholesterol.
I've also heard, garlic, psyllium fiber and citrus bergamont might be helpful. I don't have any illusions any of this will get rid of the pain in my feet, but I am hoping it won't get worse.
Sorry this is so long and this is only my experience.

Jump to this post

followup- After taking policosanol 40mg for 6 months I'm back to red yeast rice. Despite all the good reviews I've read and the positive results I read about on the NIH study, it didn't work for me. With RYR, my numbers were only slightly high , around 200, on the policosanol, total cholesterol was 263! All the other numbers were up too....Trig, LDL etc. Only number that was good was HDL. But that's always been good. back to the drawing board!

REPLY
1 reply
walkthedog | @walkthedog | 3 days ago

My husband was put on Lipitor for a while. He developed severe foot pain - like heel spurs. He went off it and onto Simvastatin. Coincidentally, we moved and when he went to the dentist, the dentist told him he was retiring because his feet hurt. The husband asked if he was taking Lipitor. The dentist stopped Lipitor and did not retire.

I cannot take statins. I take plant sterols and my cholesterol returned to 'good' numbers.

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.