However, most of the time these elevations are only temporary and not usually dangerous. Statins disrupt insulin-signaling pathways and can affect the function of beta cells in the pancreas, which create and release insulin. Lipitor can interact with a certain type of antifungal drug called azole antifungals. Juxtapid (lomitapide) is a medication used in patients with an inherited (genetic) type of high cholesterol known as homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Getting help for any substance use disorder, including alcohol use disorder, is essential.
- You may see colored stickers on the label that describe interactions.
- Taking birth control pills with Lipitor may raise your risk of side effects from your birth control pills.
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can block your body’s ability to break down Lipitor.
- Alcohol is also well-known for causing liver problems, such as liver inflammation, scarring, and cirrhosis of the liver.
- The most common side effects of statin use are muscle pain and inflammation.
The release of histamine can cause symptoms like a runny nose and nasal congestion. Lipitor can also cause common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat and a stuffy nose. If you already experience occasional cold symptoms while taking Lipitor, you might experience worsened cold symptoms while mixing Lipitor with alcohol. However, even if you fall into the heavy drinking category, cutting back on alcohol may significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. This is why heavy drinking is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and heart disease-related death (13, 14). While your body needs cholesterol to function, having too much cholesterol may contribute to health issues, including an increased risk of heart disease.
What happens when you mix Lipitor and alcohol?
By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. If you have questions about getting specific vaccines during your Lipitor treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They could occur with foods, supplements, vaccines, or even lab tests. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Lipitor.
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Since both alcohol and statin use may raise the risk of rhabdomyolysis, combining the two may lead to even greater risk. People who take statins and consume alcohol may experience side effects. Alcohol intake affects cholesterol levels differently depending on the level and frequency of intake. The relationship between alcohol and health is complicated and depends on many factors, including how much and how often you drink. Although you may think of cholesterol as unhealthy, it’s essential for your health. For example, it makes up the membrane surrounding your body’s cells and is necessary to produce vitamin D and hormones such as estrogen and testosterone (1).
Hot drinks or spicy foods may also cause the same reactions with niacin. You may consider moderating or eliminating your alcohol intake with statins (like Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin) or Livalo (pitavastatin). According to the National Health Service (NHS), if you are taking a statin medication, you should not consume more than 14 alcohol units per week.
There is no specific Lipitor interaction with alcohol on the drug’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label. However, that doesn’t mean there is no risk of an adverse effect or that you’re set for several nights of heavy drinking in a row. Both Lipitor and alcohol are mainly processed by the liver, which could lead to problems if there are signs of liver injury rebuilding life after addiction present.
Can Drinking Alcohol Affect Your Cholesterol Levels?
Consumption of large amounts of alcohol is also linked with elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. Drinking in moderation is not likely to be a problem while taking Lipitor. The main issue with Lipitor and alcohol consumption arises if you tend to mary jane drug meaning drink heavily every week. Drinking large amounts of alcohol puts you at an increased risk of liver damage, which may be worsened by Lipitor.
Ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to drink alcohol if you take one of these medicines. People with liver conditions should not drink at all if they are taking statins. For people without liver issues, low to moderate alcohol consumption may be safe.
You should NOT use statins if you have active liver disease or elevated liver enzymes. It’s not rare for some people to experience a sore throat and a stuffy nose after a night of drinking alcohol. Studies suggest that alcohol, especially red wine, can promote the release of histamine in the body, a substance involved in allergic reactions.
Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School
With statins, the lengthy list of side effects may cause some people to question whether it’s worth the trade-off. And in some cases, taking Zetia with statin drugs such as Lipitor is recommended to treat high cholesterol. If you do experience more side effects than usual, your doctor may recommend a different birth control option for you. For example, a vaginal ring such as etonogestrel ethinyl estradiol (NuvaRing) or a contraceptive injection such as medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera) may be better options. Lipitor may interact with a blood pressure drug called diltiazem (Cartia XT, others).
Lipitor is the most commonly prescribed prescription medication celebrities with fetal alcohol syndrome worldwide. It is used to lower cholesterol levels, thus guarding against heart attack and stroke. In general, though, drinking low to moderate amounts of alcohol has not been shown to be harmful.
In addition, those who have liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C infections may respond better to medications (interferon) when they are given statins. However, it’s important to note that alcohol worsens hepatitis C, and should be avoided in general in patients with the disease. Clinically apparent liver injury—injury enough to cause symptoms rather than simply abnormal liver function tests alone—is very uncommon with statins.
