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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.

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anya40 | @anya40 | Mar 28, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @gthalbrooks, Statins have a known side effect of causing neuropathy. If if were me, I..." + (show)
Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

Welcome @gthalbrooks, Statins have a known side effect of causing neuropathy. If if were me, I would definitely discuss your question about the study with your doctor or the folks running the study. I have refused statins myself for lowering cholesterol for that specific reason - I don't want to make my neuropathy any worse. There are conditions requiring statins where I may feel different for myself based on the risks but I would discuss it with my care team. Here's another discussion on the topic you may want to read through.

Statins cause peripheral neuropathy?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/statins-cause-peripheral-neuropathy/

Have you talked with your doctor about your increased neuropathy symptoms and the study?

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I've beenfon a st\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

I've been on a statin drug for several years and had no idea it caused neuropathy. I didn't know what neuropathy was until I was diagnosed several months ago. It started with a feeling similar to restless leg syndrome at night and has progressed to a burning feeling in both legs from my knees to my ankles. Because I only get intermittent sleep at night, I'm so completely exhausted during the day I can barely do anything and end up sitting in my recliner most of the day. My question to anyone out there who has stopped using statins is: - Once you stop does your neuropathy get better and to what degree? Also, how do you then treat your cholesterol? I would really appreciate any insite you could give me.

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Profile picture for Guythomas
Guythomas | @gthalbrooks | Mar 28, 2022
In reply to @johnbishop "Welcome @gthalbrooks, Statins have a known side effect of causing neuropathy. If if were me, I..." + (show)
Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

Welcome @gthalbrooks, Statins have a known side effect of causing neuropathy. If if were me, I would definitely discuss your question about the study with your doctor or the folks running the study. I have refused statins myself for lowering cholesterol for that specific reason - I don't want to make my neuropathy any worse. There are conditions requiring statins where I may feel different for myself based on the risks but I would discuss it with my care team. Here's another discussion on the topic you may want to read through.

Statins cause peripheral neuropathy?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/statins-cause-peripheral-neuropathy/

Have you talked with your doctor about your increased neuropathy symptoms and the study?

Jump to this post

No, and I don’t have another appointment until July. I’ll talk with her then.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 28, 2022
In reply to @gthalbrooks "I am in a study testing whether taking a statin can help prevent dementia. Each day..." + (show)
Profile picture for Guythomas @gthalbrooks

I am in a study testing whether taking a statin can help prevent dementia. Each day I take atorvastatin or a placebo. During the time I have been in the study my neuropathy seems to have gotten worse. Could the study pill have caused this decline? Should I stop participating in the study?

Jump to this post

Welcome @gthalbrooks, Statins have a known side effect of causing neuropathy. If if were me, I would definitely discuss your question about the study with your doctor or the folks running the study. I have refused statins myself for lowering cholesterol for that specific reason - I don't want to make my neuropathy any worse. There are conditions requiring statins where I may feel different for myself based on the risks but I would discuss it with my care team. Here's another discussion on the topic you may want to read through.

Statins cause peripheral neuropathy?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/statins-cause-peripheral-neuropathy/

Have you talked with your doctor about your increased neuropathy symptoms and the study?

REPLY
3 replies
Profile picture for Guythomas
Guythomas | @gthalbrooks | Mar 28, 2022

I am in a study testing whether taking a statin can help prevent dementia. Each day I take atorvastatin or a placebo. During the time I have been in the study my neuropathy seems to have gotten worse. Could the study pill have caused this decline? Should I stop participating in the study?

REPLY
1 reply
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kennapie | @kennapie | Mar 27, 2022

I discontinued it several years ago due to muscle issues. My cholesterol has remained steady with no problems since. I tried Crestor and it did not help.

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gator123 | @gator123 | Mar 26, 2022
In reply to @kbirchem "It can take you from being a pre diabetic to diabetic . It raise your blood..." + (show)
Profile picture for kbirchem @kbirchem

It can take you from being a pre diabetic to diabetic . It raise your blood sugars .

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I need to stop taking this stuff I'm going to probably take a once or twice a week you're exceptionally correct it went from my lack of 6.1 - 7.0 in a little over two years that's how long I've been taking rosuvastatin is gone up I'm feeling of tingling and numbness in the legs

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kbirchem | @kbirchem | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @gator123 "Omg I am tingling in my toes and that and I take the same medicine" + (show)
Profile picture for gator123 @gator123

Omg I am tingling in my toes and that and I take the same medicine

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It can take you from being a pre diabetic to diabetic . It raise your blood sugars .

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1 reply
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gator123 | @gator123 | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @kbirchem "I stopped taking rosuvaststin . I was told by my cardiologist that it caused my neuropathy." + (show)
Profile picture for kbirchem @kbirchem

I stopped taking rosuvaststin . I was told by my cardiologist that it caused my neuropathy.

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Omg I am tingling in my toes and that and I take the same medicine

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gator123 | @gator123 | Mar 25, 2022
In reply to @asianeagle "The medical answer to all high cholesterol seems to be to take statins. I took lipitor..." + (show)
Profile picture for asianeagle @asianeagle

The medical answer to all high cholesterol seems to be to take statins. I took lipitor for a long while and my doc even put me on the highest dosage. i complained of muscle pain, lost energy, needing to sleep for an hour every morning and another in the afternoon, constant tiredness, water retention, etc. in short, my life was gonig down the toilet but the cardiologist insisted that the statins were great. I phased them out over 30 days, lost 45lbs over 6 months (so far), and have had work done to get my lymphatic system working again as it was shut down by the lipitor poison. i am now full of energy and enjoy life!!! my cholesterol is dropping slowly but this is not the issue - i understand from an honest doctor that inflammation is like a fire and cholesterol is the fire brigade. why would doctors reduce the fire brigade with statins and not address the fire? I need to get my triglycerides down as this is fat linked and not good. how can i achieve this and not have to take pill-poison?

to put this further into perspective, my cardiologist was talking of putting me on diabetes medicine also as my blood sugar was high @7.8. I refused and my sugar level has dropped to @5.9 and going down.

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How did you lower your blood sugar

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Teri | @tsc | Mar 11, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "Thanks for the report. According to my primary doc, red yeast rice extract would not be..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

Thanks for the report. According to my primary doc, red yeast rice extract would not be an option for me due to potential to exacerbate my lung and gastric issues. I am using a largely Mediterranean diet with lots of veggies and olive oil, very few grains and limited red meat. Waiting to have lipids retested in June.

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Hello all, I've been taking Maximum Strength Plant Sterols from Swanson Health. The capsule contains phytosterols including beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, brassicasterol, and beta-sitostanol and has lowered cholesterol for both my husband and me. I also use a lot of olive oil, eat avocados and oatmeal as much as possible. Good luck!

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