Statin discontinued due to neuropathy. What are some alternatives?

I 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. 🙂

I'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?

Leqvio it is not a statin. Take one shot, three months later another shot then every 6 months. Works very good. The manufacturer pays for the rest of the cost.

@jacquespierre I have been seeing a nutritionist and due to the fact that my triglycerides are high she sent me natural real supplements that have been approved by the FDA to lower the cholesterol and control my sugar all in one. It is called Berberine it’s by Solaray you can get it at Walmart or Amazon. Also hibiscus tea bags they are expensive but lowers sugar and cholesterol naturally but if you are diabetic you can’t drink that tea because it will bring your sugar way to low. Also good fats from Omega like salmon, macharel or tuna. You can try the omega3 supplement but it has to be 2000 mg. No cheese, dairy or red meats. Stick to fish that are high in omega3 and no eggs only egg whites or cage free brown eggs but limit those to 4 eggs the most a week or even 2 if you can. No ham or beef try to stick to poultry or seafood. Once you have controlled your cholesterol you can try red meats about twice a month. For milk try Oats milk.

@artemis1886

Is it intravenous? Who gives these shots?
Thank you,
Ruth

@rutica it says intravenous but it’s a shot in the arm. The doctors office applied for funding and I get them free from the cardiologist

@artemis1886
I had heard that it was intravenous and given by special specialists and medical offices.
Great to hear that it is a shot. Seeing my primary tomorrow and will tell her I want to get it.
Hopefully her office can start me on it.
Thanks for the response and info.
Ruth

@johnbishop I have only recently I’m aware that there is a serious issue of 50% of people that start taking statins develop neuropathy within a year of starting them. I was never advised at this before it was prescribed for me which I am very upset about. I haven’t had a chance to get in to my doctor yet, but I have started having symptoms of neuropathy, which I know are being caused by this statin. The symptoms started shortly after I started taking it, when I had no neuropathy symptoms whatsoever before I started the medication.