1. < Neuropathy
Profile picture for Nazir Khan

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.

Profile picture for mayoconnectuser1
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @decopainter62 "One other thing many people are not aware of. I went to a heart doctor to..." + (show)
Profile picture for decopainter62 @decopainter62

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!!!

Jump to this post

decopainter,
While it nice of you to share your thoughts, most of what you shared doesn't make much sense ... you do not specify which advanced lipid test was a 4 ... or, why the doctor said he "prefers 3.5" - or, not sure what a calcium score of 1.2 would be since they don't have decimal places, or, why would you categorize something by saying at "great risk," or why you think doctors would be making the broad assessments on cholesterol you note since they are scientists and very bright, and really why you have bought into this weird anti-statin thing ... in summary, you do not sound like someone who should be making statements like you make ...

So, please folks, talk to your doctors - if you are unsure, seek second opinions from other doctors - NOT, online on forums.

I'm sorry, but good grief!

REPLY
Profile picture for mayoconnectuser1
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @rlh "Google Dr Ken Berry statins. In the comments section he cites the research that he bases..." + (show)
Profile picture for rlh @rlh

Google Dr Ken Berry statins. In the comments section he cites the research that he bases his recommendations upon. There are also numerous other doctors who post to you tube. Unfortunately it is a controversial topic and you will find both sides of the issue. In my own experience my neuropathy came on after being on statins for several months.

Jump to this post

Yeah - no. I don’t do YouTube doctors.

REPLY
Profile picture for rlh
rlh | @rlh | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @mayoconnectuser1 "rlh, Can you provide citations to and urls of, the research you mention regarding statin use?..." + (show)
Profile picture for mayoconnectuser1 @mayoconnectuser1

rlh,

Can you provide citations to and urls of, the research you mention regarding statin use?

Further, given the need to be clear, can you provide before and after lipid panel, weight, age, BP (are you taking BP med?) numbers? All these bear on your condition and path to improved health.

Jump to this post

Google Dr Ken Berry statins. In the comments section he cites the research that he bases his recommendations upon. There are also numerous other doctors who post to you tube. Unfortunately it is a controversial topic and you will find both sides of the issue. In my own experience my neuropathy came on after being on statins for several months.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for mayoconnectuser1
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @rlh "I stopped taking a statin after reviewing the research on its effectiveness and side effects. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for rlh @rlh

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.

Jump to this post

rlh,

Can you provide citations to and urls of, the research you mention regarding statin use?

Further, given the need to be clear, can you provide before and after lipid panel, weight, age, BP (are you taking BP med?) numbers? All these bear on your condition and path to improved health.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for mayoconnectuser1
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @decopainter62 "I was on Crestor about 9 months due to extremely high cholesterol. I was 59 at..." + (show)
Profile picture for decopainter62 @decopainter62

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!!!!

Jump to this post

decopainter,

I am assuming you tried several different statins? There are several versions.

How about injectables that are now available?

REPLY
Profile picture for mayoconnectuser1
mayoconnectuser1 | @mayoconnectuser1 | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @molly7234 "I would also like to hear from those who have stopped statins, and if it helped..." + (show)
Profile picture for molly7234 @molly7234

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.

Jump to this post

molly7234,

Can you provide citations for those studies in Europe?

REPLY
Profile picture for decopainter62
decopainter62 | @decopainter62 | Mar 7, 2023

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!!!

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for decopainter62
decopainter62 | @decopainter62 | Mar 6, 2023

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!!!!

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for molly7234
molly7234 | @molly7234 | Mar 4, 2023

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.

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