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Statin discontinued due to neuropathy. What are some alternatives?
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 ?
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I have been taking Pitavastatin for about 10 years. Prior to that, I took Zocor, Crestor, and Lipitor for about 30 years. The move to Pitavastatin (Livalo), did not prevent me from developing idiopathic PN. I have had the PN for about 15 years starting with coldness, and now I have numbness and pain. I do suspect 40 years of statin use as the culprit in my PN, but of course, can't prove it.
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2 ReactionsI can only say that I stopped taking statins (and related Stanols) due to intolerable reactions, including a damaged Achilles tendon. 🙁 So, I decided to try ingesting 5 tbsps of a very high quality EVOO (Virgeen from Italy). Lovely people own the vineyard and they are So transparent. You can write to ask them ANYTHING and they will answer, unlike most others. You know exactly what you are getting in their product. Took me a looong time to fine them!
I had a blood draw Sept. 23, 2025. Got the results today, Oct. 4, 2025. This is what happened:
Aug. 31 got my first 2 bottles of EVOO from Italy (Vergeen); From Sept. 1 to Sept. 23, 2025,
I consumed 4 tbsps.. of EVOO per day.
As of Oct. 4, 2025 my LDL had reduced from 157 to 111 - 46 pts.
HDL/LDL Ratio is 3.0 : range: < 5.0.
Total Cholesterol was 134: minus HDL: 66 = 68 : Range: < 130.
Triglycerides: 114: range - < 150 (Down from 151 – reduced: 37 pts.
I was shocked, since I thought I had ruined my experiment by using Crescents to mop
up my EVOO (mixed with a little Balsamic vinegar). Now I skip the Crescents and just
consume 2 tbsps in the a.m. and then one or so with lunch and same with dinner.
So, it would seem that my EVOO experiment has been totally successful by lowering my LDL by 46 pts.
Looks like I still have 12 pts. to scare away to get "in range" for LDL below < 100. I am ecstatic!
Admittedly, I completely rearranged my diet to align with the Mediterranean diet and eat lots of
nuts (the good ones) and seeds, salads, green tea, avacados etc. etc.
I had to look up the date I first started taking EVOO. I couldn't believe my eyes. 🙂
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4 ReactionsI'm very interested in giving this a try! I've been on statins for 20 years or so, and back when prescribed, I ate terribly! (knowing what I know now)
Now I eat healthy, although I do eat some red meat. (but mostly fish and chicken).
What is "crescents", did you mean croissants? (bread)?
Thanks! and congratulations on getting your cholesterol under control without statins!
The new PCSK9 inhibitors lower LDL cholesterol significantly in many cases replacing statins altogether.
Just google "PCSK9 inhibitors" for an explanation. Worked for me!
@dskellchock do they have a website?