Statins

[Loopylegs]

In the last 3 weeks I've been taking rosuvastatin 5mg, I questioned my GP about this as I've been free from severe rls since starting buprenorphine patches, and I was skeptical about them not affecting my rls, the past 4 nights I'm back to my normal level of horrendous rls, arms, legs, shoulders etc... I'm taking clonazepam, codeine, buprenorphine, gabapentin, nothing is working so I've stopped taking the rosuvastatin 2 days now, is their any brand of statin that doesn't cause rls to worsen? Unfortunately I've tried diet, I'm not overweight, the cholesterol is a gene thing I'm afraid, it's just creeping up & I don't want to end up have a heart attack like my dad did in his fifties. Any advice as always, would be most appreciated, thanks

[ChrisColumbus]

I'm afraid that any statin can exacerbate RLS for many: for me atorvastatin was much worse (besides awful RLS I had joint pains, muscle aches and weakness, and extreme lassitude) but I couldn't tolerate rosuvastatin either because of RLS. Much of the medical profession will say that the benefits of statins outweigh any downsides, but while that's easy to say it's difficult to live!

My consultant finally agreed that I couldn't tolerate statins and put me on ezetimibe: however, I am not on this now as - probably because of post radiotherapy proctitis - this gave me bowel issues. My then GP finally agreed that the benefits of reducing cholesterol with medication were outweighed by quality of life. (My current GP is liaising with the Lipids Clinic to see whether there's an alternative unlikely to upset my bowel...)

There are some who question the necessity in most cases of reducing cholesterol at all, and more who question the need to take medication as a precautionary measure rather than as a necessity...

But if you do need to take something, have a look in the last section of RLS UKs Medications to Avoid section and discuss with your doctor:

rls-uk.org/medications-avoid

[SueJohnson in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Am I correct in what I say about Ezetimibe (Zetia) not triggering your RLS except as you mention in your reply.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to SueJohnson]

Yes, absolutely: no RLS (but bowel problems linked to radiotherapy damage during prostate cancer treatment: a separate issue unfortunately! Will see what GP suggests in 10 days time)

[Loopylegs in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thank you Chris, I hope it all works out for you.

[Catbennie in reply to ChrisColumbus]

I have highish cholesterol, genes probably because I eat very healthily and am not overweight. I have refused statins. When I visited the nurse last week for my shingles jab she did say to me in a years time there will be a kick back from all these statins they are dishing out. New research shows that of 90% of people on statins only 10% really need them. As she said it all depends on the person doing the research. The pharmaceutical companies will try to keep this quiet for as long as possible.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Catbennie]

See Justin Smith's 2017 published 'Statin Nation' for further views on this:archive.org/details/statinn...

[Catbennie in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thank you Chris. I always say do your own research and don’t always have the idea that ‘doctor knows all’ always ask questions

[Birdland in reply to Catbennie]

Catbennie, a doctor told me when I was 41 that I had to go on statins. When I was about 60 I decided the side effects were too much for me and decided to stop them. I’m 71 now and my current GP had me take a CT scan of my main aorta, to get an idea of blockage. The results could produce a number between 0 and something like 300. My result was 0. Meaning no blockage at all. All these years of doctors pushing statins on me! I told my doctor that I was going to eat a piece of cheese. He gave me his blessing. BTW, my triglycerides were never high.

[Catbennie in reply to Birdland]

My triglycerides aren’t high either and my good cholesterol is ok. Doctors think everyone should be on statins especially if you are over a certain age

[Birdland in reply to Catbennie]

I guess they only know what they are taught. And as we know from our experience with RLS, we have to be our own advocates.

[SueJohnson]

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 at least as he said below before the problems he mentions, however don't take it if you have diabetes which I don't believe you have but I mention this in case anyone else reads this, 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.

[Loopylegs]

Thanks Sue, I might go back to a plant based diet for 3 months and see if it makes a difference

[Niewiem]

statin does this. You need to chanege to other

[Eryl]

Do you think you need to lower your cholesterol? Statistically people with high choleserol live longer. Statins have serious side effects so if they aren't lengthening your life, is it worth suffering the side effects such as increased likelyhood of diabetes or muscle wastage? Statins omly prevent a second heart attack in one in a hundred people. youtu.be/I7r4j1u42V8?si=hdM...(Not working as expected?)

[DicCarlson]

Triglyceride/HDL Ratio is probably a better predictor for cardiac risk - especially if it is for Primary prevention (you haven't had a cardiac event). prevmedhealth.com/more-impo...