Statin discontinued due to neuropathy. What are some alternatives?

Sorry, my response inadvertently sent , I wasn't finished. My PN / Spinal Stenosis were detected in 2013 while I was taking Statins from the Cardiologist. After complaining about muscular pains , my PCP advised Red Yeast Rice to lower my LDL cholesterol which it did, was 110 now 90 and so did effects. Cardio seems ok with LDL @ 90 and continue Red Yeast. Hope this clarifies my experience.

Ruthofanne: Pleeaaasssseeeeee stop taking Crestor (Rovustatin)! I was prescribed this strongest of the Statin drugs for 8 years and now need help going down my three front steps because of numb, tingling and needle piercing pain in my feet and a terrible balance problem. I've been taking 1 tablespoon of Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (32 oz. bottle) mixed in an 8 oz. glass of cold water every morning BEFORE breakfast for a year and a half and last week's visit to my PC showed normal Cholesterol readings including LDL.This is ALL I take to manage my Cholesterol and it can be found in most grocery stores. PLEASE READ:

Statin Drugs May Increase Risk of Peripheral Neuropathy
St. Paul, Minn. – Statin drugs can increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy, according to a study published in the May 14 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Peripheral neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves and causes weakness, numbness and pain in the hands and feet. Statin drugs are prescribed for millions of Americans to lower cholesterol. People taking statins were 14 times more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy than people who were not taking statins, according to the Danish study. However, the overall risk of developing neuropathy is rare, said study author David Gaist, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense. "The positive benefits of statins, particularly on reducing the risk of heart disease, far outweigh the potential risk of developing neuropathy," Gaist said. "These findings shouldn't affect doctor or patient decisions to start using statins. But if people who take statins develop neuropathy symptoms, they should talk with their doctor, who may reconsider the use of statins." For the population-based study, the researchers used a patient registry to identify all of the first-time cases of peripheral neuropathy with no known cause (such as diabetes) in Funen County, Denmark, over a five-year period. Each case was matched to 25 people of the same age and sex with no neuropathy as a control group. The use of statins was then determined for each group. They identified 166 cases of first-time neuropathy with no known cause. Of those, 35 had a definite diagnosis, 54 were probable cases and 77 were possible cases. Nine of the people with neuropathy had taken statins. They had taken statins for an average of 2.8 years. For those with a definite diagnosis of neuropathy, the statin user’s risk of developing neuropathy was 16 times higher than for the control group. When all cases of neuropathy were taken into account, the statin user’s risk of developing neuropathy was four times higher than the control group’s risk. Taking statins for longer periods of time and taking higher doses of them increased the risk of developing neuropathy.

Statin-induced neuropathy is increasingly described. Proposed mechanisms include an alteration in cholesterol synthesis, producing a disturbance in the cholesterol-rich neuronal membrane, or in the activity of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), a mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme inhibited by statins leading to neuronal damage (1). The entire class is implicated, and both polyneuropathy and mononeuropathy have been described with improvement or even complete resolution occurring with cessation of therapy (1). In all cases, clinical improvement occurred soon after statins were discontinued, and in the absence of specific clinical, biochemical, or electrophysiological characteristics, this has become the key diagnostic feature of statin-induced neuropathy. To date, autonomic features accompanying symmetrical neuropathy have not been described.

Here's some Mayo Clinic information on statins and side effects that may be useful to read https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statin-side-effects/art-20046013

I'm on my third statin due to the usual side effects that some experience, muscle aches and weakness and fatigue. On the 3rd attempt we started low and slow i am taking a low dose statin(rosuvastatin) 3x weekly. This has lowered LDL to less than 70 with fewer side effects that are tolerable.

@tim1028- Tim, I've been on 3 so far and my issues were more of a neuropathy numbness in my feet when I walked. I was on 40 mg of those. I recently started the Rosuvastatin at 20 mg and have very minimal numbness and my LDL fropped from 78 to 62 and triglyrcerides were down to 115. Very happy with this statin so far! Jim@thankful

Jim--I've been taking 5 mg rosuvastatin, 3 times weekly for 3 months. I definitely get side effects, but they are less than with other statins. Some individuals do better with hydrophilic statins, like rosuvastatin, vs. lipophilic statins. I'm glad to hear that this statin and dosing are working for you.

@tim1028- Tim, glad to hear that you have less side effects with rosuvastatin. Hopefully you are still getting the benefits either way! Stay well & positive! Jim@thankful

I take pravastatin, and have taken statins for the past 20 years or so (lipitor, zocor, etc.). I am borderline and can control without taking them.

Started taking 5mg of generic Crestor about 16 months ago. I took it every other day. My feet started to spasm at first, and now they feel numb, tight, and burn. Is there any connection with statins and neuropathy. I stopped taking my statin three days ago to see if my feet feel any better. Actually, since I stopped taking the drug and started doing foot exercises, they don’t burn as much. Any reply’s would be very much appreciated. Thank you. Btw, I don’t have diabetes.

I have neuropathy. I attribute it to statins. I took every one you can think of and had the muscle reaction to all of them.The Minnesota Neurological Society published an article about statins and neuropathy back in 2002. It's on the internet. They will help your cholesterol if you are willing to have neuropathy the rest of your life. I no longer take any statin. Several doctors have told me: "No evidence" of statins and neuropathy. Sorry, I believe there is.