Can You Mix Statins and Alcohol? What to Know

This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid. Have there been studies showing the potential benefits of a glass of red wine or a hoppy brew? But she cautions against thinking you’re boosting your health by tipping back an alcoholic beverage. Statin drugs such as Lipitor may actually decrease the amount of CoQ10 in your body. This can increase your risk of certain side effects from Lipitor, such as myopathy (muscle pain) and rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown).

What does Lipitor cost?

Both Lipitor and alcohol are mainly processed by the liver, which could lead to problems if there are signs of liver injury present. Depending on your intake, alcohol may either positively or negatively affect cholesterol levels and other measures of heart health. On the contrary, a prospective randomized trial evaluated the effect of 90 days of moderate RW intake (150 mL/day for women, 300 mL/day for men) in 44 healthy subjects. They described no changes in either HDL-C or TG levels during the trial, yet LDL-C levels were lowered in the RW group (−0.3 mmol/L; 95%CI −0.6–−0.04). The reduction of LDL-C by RW was 16% when compared with the other groups at the end of the 90-day period [72]. The most frequent way to address this issue is by self-reporting, which inherently involves the possibility of under- or overestimating intake depending on the social perceptions of the individual [16,17,18].

The side effects of Lipitor and alcohol

1. But it’s possible to develop serious side effects from this medication.
2. The women’s metabolic measurements were then taken over the next 6 hours.
3. If you have a history of heavy drinking or liver damage, it’s crucial that you are honest with your doctor about this, especially if they recommend you begin taking statins.
4. Drinking large amounts of alcohol puts you at an increased risk of liver damage, which may be worsened by Lipitor.

But it’s important to note that Lipitor can make certain birth control pills less effective. Your doctor can recommend a birth control option that won’t interact with Lipitor. Studies have shown that statin drugs, including Lipitor, may cause problems with fetal development (commonly known as birth defects) if used during pregnancy. Headache isn’t a side effect of Lipitor, but it could be a symptom of other conditions, such as high blood pressure. For lowering cholesterol in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), the recommended dosage is 10 mg to 20 mg, taken once per day.

How can I prevent interactions?

For example, several studies have reported that people with a higher SES may consume similar or higher amounts of alcohol than those in the lower category. Nevertheless, groups with the lowest SES seem to present higher negative alcohol-related consequences [12]. Factors such as the level of education, race, ethnicity, and gender, as well as economic disparities and populations with marginalization and vulnerability can induce greater negative alcohol-related consequences [12,13].

For most people, light to moderate drinking is unlikely to negatively affect cholesterol levels. In fact, it may improve HDL cholesterol levels and even reduce the risk of heart disease. Another cohort study following 1471 black South African individuals over a period of 5 years evaluated the association between alcohol intake, mortality, and the development of hypertension. They described that participants self-reporting alcohol intake had a 30% increased risk for developing hypertension (hazard ratio (HR) 1.30, 1.07–1.59) [16]. Ford et al. [8] reported similar results, showing that non-smoker individuals following a healthy diet and who were physically active presented a lower risk of mortality by CVD (65%) than those that have none of these healthy behaviors. Research suggests that there are no immediate side effects of drinking alcohol while taking statins.

Taking Lipitor with certain antifungal medications may raise your risk of side effects from Lipitor. Azole antifungals can decrease your body’s ability to break down Lipitor. This can cause Lipitor to build up in your body, which can raise your risk of side effects. In some cases, side effects may be serious, such as myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and liver problems. Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Lipitor.

If you experience any of the symptoms above, seek medical care right away. Treating this condition early may help limit damage to your kidneys. If you have mild muscle or joint pain, your doctor may lower your dose of Lipitor. Researchers have found evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction or impaired bioenergetics related to alcohol consumption. This is not surprising, because mitochondria are a major target for free-radical injury.

It can decrease the stress of LDL cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol, which helps remove cholesterol deposits from your arteries and protects against a heart attack. Taking CoQ10 supplements along with Lipitor may lower your risk of these side effects. But more research is needed to determine is it possible to get sober without aa whether CoQ10 may be effective for this use. Talk with your doctor to see if they may recommend taking CoQ10 supplements along with Lipitor. If you’d like to have caffeine while you’re taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor. They can determine how much caffeine may be safe during your treatment.

Because Lipitor is processed in the liver, a damaged liver could affect how Lipitor is absorbed and processed in the body. 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. Patients combining cholesterol medications and alcohol who have liver disease due to excessive alcohol use (for example, cirrhosis) or who consume large quantities of alcohol should alert their doctor to this issue. There are changes in liver tests alone (no symptoms,) clinical liver disease (symptoms) related to statin use, and severe liver disease.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking Lipitor with lisinopril. But if you need to have lab tests, make sure the healthcare professional giving you the test knows about all medications you currently take. They can make sure there won’t be any interactions between your lab tests and medications.

If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about nursing considerations and your treatment plan. But because the drug could cause serious side effects in a child who is breastfed, you should not take Lipitor while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. They can determine if you should stop taking Lipitor and if you need to start taking a new drug in its place. You should not stop taking Lipitor unless your doctor recommends it. If you have questions about whether Lipitor is safe for you to take, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take St. John’s wort, your doctor may recommend that you stop taking it during your Lipitor treatment. If you do experience more side effects than usual, your doctor may recommend a different birth how to avoid a relapse when things seem out of control 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.

It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911. 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, many healthcare providers recommend taking it in the evening since most cholesterol is produced by the body at night.

He described that there was no significant correlation between these two variables and concluded that further studies are needed to evaluate this association in heavier drinkers [40]. If you have alcohol-related liver disease or other diseases of the liver, be sure to discuss this with your doctor before you start treatment with either of these drugs. Ask your doctor if it’s safe for you to drink alcohol if you take one of these medicines. Statins can lead to liver disease in roughly 2% of patients, and ongoing monitoring of liver function may be needed.

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. Getting help for any substance use disorder, including alcohol use disorder, is essential. Check out FindTreatment.gov for more information on how to get help. Talk with a trusted health professional about your concerns or visit this website to find treatment options and resources near you. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article were reported.

However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. In addition to this medicine, your doctor may change your diet to one that is low in fat, sugar, and cholesterol. Manage high cholesterol online using K Health for just $29 per month. They work to remove existing cholesterol in the bloodstream by reducing the inflammation in your artery walls.

It is often not safe for people with liver disease or dysfunction to take statins. But, because the risk of liver damage is so rare, this is no longer the case. The role of the liver in alcohol metabolism means those who drink heavily could be at greater risk, however. Lipitor may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions.

Moreover, serum markers of alcohol intake have been identified, mainly gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). This marker correlates with alcohol consumption and has been shown to predict cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, independently is it ok to drink alcohol with prednisone of alcohol intake [18]. It is important you limit alcohol consumption with Juxtapid to no more than one alcohol-containing drink per day. Before you start treatment with Juxtapid, tell your doctor if you drink alcohol.