Statin use and Peripheral Neuropathy
Greetings!
For so many of us taking a doctor recommended statin to lower our serum cholesterol, the newest Danish study gives us pause.
Millions of Americans are helping themselves lower their lipids, especially the really bad guys, the LDL’s, through these medications. The reason is simple.
We all have a propensity to eat less than optimally and exercise less than advisable. Add familial predisposition, and you’ve got a “heart attack time bomb” slowly growing in your arteries.That is, a “lipid profile ” that allows for the deposition of artery clogging plaque.
Enter statins.
A wonder discovery quickly embraced by the medical establishment, statins are relatively benign and are quite successful at lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. So far, so good, right?
Well……
Remember that every cell wall is made up of cholesterol. Zero level cholesterol, or even too low a level is manifestly NOT healthy.
We need the stuff; just not as much as our livers think we do, or that those yummy cheeseburgers provide.
The problem arises when the statins do too good a job. The loss of adequate cholesterol is felt in the fat-rich tissues first- the nerves.
Statin induced peripheral neuropathy is real… and possibly more common than previously thought.
The bottom line is that, even when we see this phenomenon, we still believe that, on balance, statins do more good than bad.
That is, they may cause PN in a not insignificant number of folks, but also may save them from a stroke or heart attack.
So what to do?
First: If you’re taking a statin, make sure that you ask your doctor if the dose and type is appropriate for you. Not too much or not the more powerful ones when the lesser ones might serve just as well. Pravachol and Simvastatin had the least side effects overall; Crestor the most
Second: Don’t panic. Maybe that should be first. Remember that the statins still do way more good than bad
Third: Take coenzyme Q (ubiquinol) daily to help keep everything in balance. It’s cheap and easy to take.
As always, stay informed and ask your doctor about these issues if you need to. A well informed patient is a joy in any practice.
Yours in health,
Your Friends at NeuraVite