Cholesterol Medications and Alcohol Interactions
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.
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.
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.
Does Lipitor interact with alcohol?
Therefore, taking the two together might put people at a greater risk of liver-related health problems. Statins can lead to liver disease in roughly 2% of patients, and ongoing monitoring of liver function may be needed. Your doctor may check your liver enzymes and assess you for liver disease before starting a statin.
Consumption of large liberty cap effects 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 drink heavily every week. Drinking large amounts of alcohol puts you at an increased risk of liver damage, which may be worsened by Lipitor.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Before you start taking Lipitor, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. If you do plan to drink, check with your doctor first, and drink in moderation — (one glass of wine or beer a day for women, two for men). Some people, especially pregnant women, and those who take certain medicines regularly, should avoid alcohol entirely.
- The blood levels of Lipitor are higher in people with chronic alcoholic liver disease than in otherwise healthy individuals without liver problems.
- Lipitor and alcohol both affect the liver, and people who drink excessively may need to be extra cautious while taking this medication.
- However, most of the time these elevations are only temporary and not usually dangerous.
- It’s not rare for some people to experience a sore throat and a stuffy nose after a night of drinking alcohol.
What happens when you mix Lipitor and alcohol?
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 what is drinkers nose 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.
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 staying motivated in recovery (Cartia XT, others).
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Lipitor. Before you start taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Lipitor is safe for you to take. Drinking alcohol may lead to worsened gastrointestinal side effects of Lipitor, such as upset stomach and diarrhea. Alcohol can also trigger indigestion and heartburn in some people, which could magnify an upset stomach.
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.
Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Lipitor and Other Statins?
In some cases, they may prescribe a lower dose of Lipitor for you. Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a prescription drug used to treat high cholesterol and to lower certain risks. The drug can interact with certain foods, other medications, and some supplements. It is important you limit alcohol consumption with Juxtapid to no more than one alcohol-containing drink per day.
Drinking heavily, on the other hand, can be tied to high cholesterol levels and poor outcomes. Heavy alcohol use may also be linked to high blood pressure and obesity, which are risk factors for heart disease. People without certain underlying conditions, such as liver disease, may be able to safely consume small to moderate amounts of alcohol while taking a statin medication. Your doctor can help you understand whether any amount of alcohol is safe for you.
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 present.
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Lipitor is the most commonly prescribed prescription medication 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.
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Furthermore, excess alcohol intake may contribute to increases in blood pressure and waist circumference, which are also considered heart disease risk factors (11, 12). Since moderate to high alcohol intake can also elevate liver enzymes, the combination of heavy drinking and statins will increase the chances of abnormal test results. Research suggests that there are no immediate side effects of drinking alcohol while taking statins. However, some research suggests that statins can sometimes impact your liver, making heavy alcohol consumption while taking statins potentially dangerous for your health. This is because heavy drinking and statin use, although rare, can both potentially interfere with liver function.