Hello everyone, Is it possible that my statin drugs are making my rls worse? I got off of ruvastatin a week ago for legs pain. Was off it for a week plus changed the time of my ropinirole. Legs were much better and I slept for 11 hours! Crazy right? Anyway,
The doctor switched me to pravastatin I have taken it two nights . My rls started becoming much more pronounced, super crazy bad. I can't find much online about the correlation. Anyone out there have that issue?
It's common. Have a look at RLS-UK website and show your doctor.There are tips for what else to take.
Also be on alert for augmentation. Ropinirole is no longer prescribed by knowledgeable doctors.
See alerts on RLS-UK.
Thanks for your reply. I'm in the U.S.I'm absolutely sure that the ropinirole is augmenting. I desperately want to wean myself off of it. My dose is 1.5 mg so I'm hoping it won't be too dificult. Plus i take 1800 mg of Gabapentin. Ive been on that dose of ropinirole for 12 years. Ocassionally add a .25 pill if I try and be on a car for more than an hour but I seldom attempt to travel.
I'm waiting for an answer on a referal to see a neurologist at the University of Missouri Neurology group. The medical system is seemingly a mess in this country especially after covid. It takes months to get in to any doctor or to have any tests done.
The health care system in this country has always been one of the best but not so much these days.
Most likely my appointment, when I finally get it will be 4 to 6 months from now only adding to my frustration and anxiety.
I research rls all the time to see what's new. Only in the last year have seen what they are doing with iron infusions. My ferritin levels are up to 40 from 24 so I'm continuing the iron supplements to try and get it to 100. And the news that dopamine drugs are no longer recomended. Though my primary doc just wants to up my dose. Of course I refused to do that.
I have excellent health care insurance so that helps. I'm so glad I found this forum. Lots of great information on here. I'm extremely pro active in my health care. We have to be our own advoacat. Too often I have to be my own doctor.
You don't have to wait for an appointment to start reducing your ropinirole. You have the information you need plus gabapentin and how to take it which will probably control your RLS once you are off it.
Yes statins make RLS worse. Nexlizet (Nustendi (UK) is a cholesterol lowering drug that is not a statin, but I don’t know if it exacerbates RLS symptoms. Ezetimibe (Zetia) - reduces cholesterol although It doesn't reduce cholesterol as fast as the statins, but according to Chris Columbus it didn't trigger his RLS, however don't take it if you have diabetes and then there is Triglide which seems safe. Berberine may help if it is mildly elevated. You might want to discuss these with your doctor. A more difficult way to reduce cholesterol is to go vegan. My husband lowered his cholesterol from 221 to 131 this way.
I will check this out. I wouldn't take one at all but I had to have a heart stent placed 3 years ago and I guess it makes sense to stay on something. The vegan diet would be hard but maybe we'll worth the effort.
Statins raise blood sugar which contributes to systemic inflammation which can cause RLS. Statins are over hyped anyway. Cholesterol is not the cause of cardiovascular disease anyway, it's there to repair the damage done by sugar. youtu.be/09PKmMXu118?si=DHo...
statin was a culprit in my case, my doc changed to diff.meds, all better now
Yes, atorvastatin was awful for my RLS, rosuvastatin not as bad but still an RLS trigger. Ezetimibe initially worked for me instead, but it did give me bowel issues - although my bowel is particularly sensitive because of post-radiotherapy proctitis and diverticular disease.
My doctor eventually agreed that it was best not to take any cholesterol reducing medication because the side-effects were worse than the risks of not taking. Unfortunately too many doctors will only prescribe statins, but do read the info at the link that Joolsg gave above and talk to your doctor
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