Statin discontinued due to neuropathy. What are some alternatives?

I have taken 10mgs of Atoravastatin for years-there is no cause effect relationship with this medicine and my neuropathy

I stopped taking a statin after reviewing the research on its effectiveness and side effects. I have eliminated sugar, seed oils, and most grains from my diet. So far I am managing my triglycerides and cholesterol with these changes. My weight and blood pressure have also dropped. My neuropathy is mostly staying fairly much the same, neither improving nor getting worse.

Hi @rlh, I avoided taking a statin myself and have managed my cholesterol numbers similar to the way you have. The past few years I took it up a notch and started using intermittent fasting and low carb healthy fat eating to lose and maintain weight. I was surprised how easy it was after struggling with weight most of my life. I shared my neuropathy journey in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/.

I noticed that you joined a few years ago and this is your first post. Have you been following any other discussions in the neuropathy or other groups?

Yes, I do monitor some of the neuropathy discussions. I follow Dr Ken Berry, along with some others on You Tube, and am moving towards more of a Carnivore diet to manage my neuropathy.

I was allergic to statins so my doctor switched me over to Repatha. Cholesterol problems disappeared. Repatha is an injection I give myself twice monthly.

Hi, sure wish I had known about the connection between statins and neuropathy..I had open heart (quad by pass) at 38 in 1980, and have been taking statins ever since, so 43 years of it, and I have severe peripheral neuropathy and no diabetes, etc. Have had ongoing heart problems, rotablation, stents, angioplasty, then heart failure and A Fib, and they still insist statins are doing more good than harm....I question that, as not walking for me is like a jail sentence... I do follow a heart healthy diet, but cholesterol sky high, thankfully my hdl is high too, I think it is just familial and statins don't mean a thing to my old bod, if it is genetic I don't think much can be done, (my opionion) and as statins have not lowered my cholesterol much in all that time, don't know what to suggest other than a daily ration of red wine.....as I do,, good luck and best wishes Terry

I would also like to hear from those who have stopped statins, and if it helped neuropathy. There are so many studies, mostly in Europe, connecting statins with neuropathy.

I just saw this news article pop up on my phone: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/health-news/new-cholesterol-pill-nexletol-lowers-heart-attack-risk-for-patients-who-cant-take-statins-study/ar-AA18e6xt

I was on Crestor about 9 months due to extremely high cholesterol. I was 59 at the time I refused it all these years. My pcp said it’s just too high I need to get on a statin. I did reluctantly cause I’m very pill sensitive I went on Crestor 5 mg. It started out better than expected and 3 months later lowered bad cholesterol 100 points. Then after 9 months I started getting neuropathy, in my hands and feet where it would last a hour at a time. It was gradual here and there and kept getting worse and worse knifes jabbing me along with pins and needles and felt like bugs crawling on me. I called the pcp and told him I wasn’t going to take the statin anymore. I gradually got better and better it took 90 days for the majority of it to go away but still have fleeting neuropathy that hasn’t left. I hope it’s not permanent! Had all kinds of blood work and have not received a definitive answer on my condition from the neurologist, or a hematologist. I do not recall any neuropathy before I started on the Statin. I’m a painter and really pay attention to my aches and pains - neuropathy was never one of them!!!!

One other thing many people are not aware of. I went to a heart doctor to see if he thought I was going to have a stroke or heart attack. He was very concerned how high my cholesterol was I told him it’s hereditary not a lot I can do. So he had me do an advanced lipid test. He said I scored a 4. He prefers 3.5 but considering how high my bad cholesterol is he said that’s not too bad. He said in bad cholesterol there is big fluffy kind (hereditary) that won’t do all the damage and in bad cholesterol there is the small that causes heart attacks and strokes. So he went one step further and had me do a calcium test to see if I was at risk. They scanned my chest and gave me a score of 1. 2 You want a score of 0-10. Anything higher you’re at great risk for a stroke or heart attack. He was really pleased with my score! See for some reason Doctors make bad cholesterol all bad and it isn’t!! It’s basically so they can jam statins down your throat and make money for pharmaceutical companies and wouldn’t be surprised if pcp are getting a kick back also. Everyone should get a advanced lipid test my insurance covered and the calcium screen which insurance does not cover. Mine cost $100.00. Find out how bad your bad cholesterol really is!!!