Atorvastatin

[dahon]

I read somewhere that a statin such as Atorvastatin will increase RLS. Is this likely to happen? Do any other forum members have any experience of this medication.

[SueJohnson]

Yes all statins increase symptoms.

[Paganpatrick]

That’s interesting as I have RLS and my GP is insisting I stay on statins even though I have low cholesterol!

[SueJohnson in reply to Paganpatrick]

Have you asked him/her why?

[Paganpatrick in reply to SueJohnson]

Because it’s standard practice to give statins to diabetic patients. He said that your cholesterol can never be too low. I saw a different GP when he was away and she couldn’t understand it. She said as not her patient she couldn’t stop it but she halved the dose. I’m 3 to 4 on the cholesterol scale which I’m told is low. He is no longer my GP, I have been fortunate enough to be under the care of the hospital outpatient pain team for 3 years, throughout Covid, when discharged from their care I will have different GP. I have Fybromygelia as well which he said doesn’t exist!!!

[SueJohnson in reply to Paganpatrick]

Unbelievable !

[StJulian1305 in reply to SueJohnson]

Sue, I see you name a lot. And as far as I know good advice. Who are you? 💕🇬🇧

[SueJohnson in reply to StJulian1305]

I am a 81 year old female. I went through what many others did. Augmented on ropinirole and was then put on gabapentin and my symptoms are now completely controlled. I am retired and decided to learn everything I could about RLS and pay it forward by helping others.

[StJulian1305 in reply to SueJohnson]

Well, how useful has your illness been for others. More so when you’ve been there to understand, I should think you have more information understanding than a GP. well done for being there…. 👏🏻👏🏻🇬🇧

[SueJohnson in reply to Paganpatrick]

Is your RLS under control?

[Paganpatrick in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes since last June when pain consultant made major meds change. I had tried Gabapentin ten years ago and had bad reaction to it. So then was put on Duluxotine and pretty much the same. No RLS benefit and awful side effects. Asked to come off them GP said no, Consultant said yes, but I had stopped it months before anyway. I am now on a Buprenorphine patch and Amitripline at night. Both have contributed to RLS symptoms nearly gone, down by 75% at least. My main concern now is breakthrough lumbar and knee pain but had a spinal block which is really helping apart from knees. So by luck rather than specific prescription my RLS has been greatly eased.

[SueJohnson in reply to Paganpatrick]

That's interesting because most people find their RLS worse on tricyclic antidepressants which is what Amitriptyline is. but I'm glad it is helping you. Have you had your ferritin checked?

[Paganpatrick in reply to SueJohnson]

Well it might be the Buprenorphine that’s doing the heavy lift but I’m sure the Amitripline helps for me too. Need to get my ferritin checked but Drs practices are using Covid to hugely alter how their services work and much is being privatised here in U.K.

[StJulian1305 in reply to SueJohnson]

I’ve taken myself off Amitriptyline, lot of reasons. And some how my legs are are so much better. I’m an insomniac, and without boring you fro being 10 to now 72 , my doctor and I are doing a program, to help with this. Starting with melatonin. I’m very nervous in using it, don’t know where to start looking, but if I don’t try I wo t know if it’s going to help. 🇬🇧

[SueJohnson in reply to StJulian1305]

Melatonin makes RLS worse for most people with RLS. If you need something for insomnia ambien is best.

[Wobby]

Hi, I too have RLS. and at one point I was getting up from bed 3/4 times a night. I take 40mg of Atovastatin. along with various other meds. for heart condition. I went to my GP and he wasn’t much help however I’ve recently changed my eating habit both to loose a little weight. I now have a heathy breakfast and a light lunch around 13.00 hrs. In the evening I eat very little, mainly fruit and perhaps a slice of bread but no more. Since doing this my RLS has all but disappeared and I’m loosing my stomach fat, so much so that I feel much better. I believe my RSL was directly connected to my tummy being upset and full when I went to bed. I’ve suffered with RLS for a number of years, but the last 3 months have seen a sea change in my condition. I just hope this is helpful to fellow sufferers of this strange but awful condition

[SueJohnson in reply to Wobby]

That's great. Have you had your ferritin checked?

[Wobby in reply to SueJohnson]

Each year Sue and mines fine.

[SueJohnson in reply to Wobby]

It's over 100 then?

[Wobby in reply to SueJohnson]

🤷 just told it OK.

[SueJohnson in reply to Wobby]

You need to ask them for the actual number. What is OK for others if not OK for those of us with RLS.

[Eryl]

Statins will lower your cholesterol but lowering your cholesterol with medication only has a 1% success in preventing heart attacks. What you need to do is change your diet which will lower your cholesterol and reduce or eliminate your RLS.

[DicCarlson]

Statins are whack! I was on three different ones - lots of side effects. Interesting book I just finished "The Clot Thickens" Dr. Malcolm Kendrick. He disputes the Cholesterol hypothesis.

[ChrisColumbus]

Yup, Atorvastatin is the worst, prescribed by stroke specialist. I took myself off it and my GP put me on Ezetimibe - less effective at reducing cholesterol, but also didn't trigger my RLS. GP has now asked me to try Rosuvastatin: appears to trigger RLS but less than Atorvastatin and also doesn't make me as tired. Don't yet know how effective it's been at reducing cholesterol. However as Eryl and Dic say, changes to diet likely to be better than statins - even if cholesterol reduction is really effective against heart/stroke issues, which is debatable - but I'm weak willed!

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

My husband lowered his cholesterol from 221 to 131 by going on a vegan diet but I sure wouldn't want to do it and luckily don't have to. Have you had your ferritin checked?

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SueJohnson]

Ferritin 200-300+ several times over the last 10 years

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Is your RLS under control?

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SueJohnson]

Generally mild symptoms, linked to statins and poor diet choices around sugar and sweeteners, ameliorated by taking Magnesium Citrate 600mg daily.

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Have you thought about taking gabapentin which can completely control your symptoms?

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SueJohnson]

If my mild symptoms became much worse I'd (i) come off statins (ii) look at diet changes, and only if symptoms stayed severe talk to my GP about Gabapentin. However in the UK G is generally prescribed for epilepsy and nerve pain; for RLS ropinirole, pramipexole and rotigotine skin patches are still most commonly prescribed and I wouldn't touch any of these with a bargepole.

In general I prefer to avoid any prescription meds for RLS, but would certainly raise Gabapentin with my GP if my RLS got severe enough.

[Wanted-sleep]

OTC supplement Berberine with an baby ASA will likely trigger RLS. Believed to be an equal to taking statins.

[SueJohnson in reply to Wanted-sleep]

I doubt it would trigger RLS. It is a herb. It helps mild cases of cholesterol.

[Hidden in reply to Wanted-sleep]

Right you are good sir. My research showed that berberine is a dopamine antagonist. Terrible in the short run but possibly a great RLS treatment in the long run. Thankfully, if taken in the morning it is unlikely to affect evening RLS. It has a short half life.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Wanted-sleep]

"Many studies show that berberine increases dopamine levels in the brains of mice. However, further research is needed to fully understand the effects of berberine and dopamine levels in humans."

[BeachGolfer]

Atorvastatin did not exacerbate my RLS.

[Wanted-sleep]

Berberine caused my RLS symptoms to go nuts.

[Hidden in reply to Wanted-sleep]

What time of day did you take the berberine? It has a short half life, unlike statins so theoretically should be ok to take in the morning. I have a theory that in the long run berberine is good for RLS.

[Wanted-sleep]

Taken late morning. Tried it for 2 weeks and felt RLS symptoms a little harsher than ‘normal’.