The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines drinking in moderation as one alcoholic drink each day for women and two drinks for men. That said, having the occasional drink while on Lipitor should not cause harm in people who do not have liver problems and are generally healthy. Statins can also increase the risk of developing benign proteinuria, a condition in which there is excess protein in the urine.
There are changes in liver tests alone (no symptoms,) clinical liver disease ween off alcohol (symptoms) related to statin use, and severe liver disease. Statins may actually reduce mortality in some people who already have liver disease. 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.
Drug interactions explained
If you’re concerned that your drinking is damaging your health, consult a healthcare professional. Although maintaining healthy cholesterol levels is essential to reducing heart disease risk, many factors contribute to this condition, including blood pressure, genetics, and sex (19). Some studies suggest that alcohol in moderation may be beneficial for the heart. A healthcare professional can test your cholesterol levels to determine whether they’re currently within a healthy range, as well as assess other potential heart disease risk factors.
Side effects and risks of statins
This is because Lipitor can increase birth control hormone levels in your blood. This may raise your risk of side effects from your birth control pills. Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Lipitor. Current recommendations are that liver function tests be completed before beginning statin therapy and only repeated if there is a clinical reason to do so.
Taking diltiazem with Lipitor can increase your risk of side effects from Lipitor. This is because diltiazem can block your body’s ability to break down Lipitor. This can raise your risk of side effects, including serious side effects such as myopathy (muscle pain), rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), and liver problems. The blood levels of Lipitor are higher in people with chronic alcoholic liver disease than in otherwise healthy individuals without liver problems. Lipitor blood levels in people with liver disease can be around four to 16 times higher than those in people without liver disease, depending on the severity of the disease. The result of high fetal alcohol syndrome celebrities Lipitor levels in the blood could be an increased risk of side effects, including liver damage.
Interaction with certain antifungal drugs
Before you start treatment with Juxtapid, tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. However, many healthcare providers recommend taking it in the evening since most cholesterol is produced by the body at night. The effects of alcohol on overall health, including cholesterol levels, depend on many factors. Serious liver injury is possible on statins, but this is quite rare. As of 2017, there were approximately 50 case reports of liver injury in people taking statins that led to death or the need for liver transplantation. People who drink alcohol regularly should discuss their consumption habits with a doctor before taking statins to reduce the risk of complications.
Heavy drinking is also linked with high levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, which can further worsen heart health. At Healthgrades, our Editorial Team works hard to develop complete, objective and meaningful health information to help people choose the right doctor, right hospital and right care. Our writers include physicians, pharmacists, and registered nurses with firsthand clinical experience. All condition, treatment and wellness content is medically reviewed by at least one medical professional ensuring the most accurate information possible. Depending on your intake, alcohol may either positively or negatively affect cholesterol levels and other measures of heart health.
As always, you should seek medical advice from a healthcare professional if you have concerns about how to take prescription statin therapy, such as Lipitor. 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.
Conditions
That’s why keeping your cholesterol within a healthy range is important. Cannabis (commonly called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been specifically reported to interact with Lipitor. It’s possible for cannabis to either increase or decrease the amount of Lipitor in your blood. This may increase your risk of side effects, including myopathy (muscle pain), rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), and liver problems.
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. 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). You should avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during your Lipitor treatment. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can block your body’s ability to break down Lipitor.
Light to moderate alcohol drinking can raise HDL, but heavy drinking can increase total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. If you drink alcohol and are taking Lipitor, let your healthcare provider know. Many people underestimate their alcohol intake, but being honest with your healthcare provider will ultimately help them take care of you as well as possible. Your healthcare provider knows your medical history and current health status and can advise you on whether or not it is safe to drink while on Lipitor. Around 1–3% of people who take statins may experience elevated liver enzyme levels, which often cause no symptoms. This side effect tends to occur within the first few months of taking statins and typically does not result in long-term liver damage.
Diltiazem belongs to a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Drinking alcohol with this medicine may increase your chance of having liver problems or make your liver problems worse. Niacin what is a drinker’s nose or niacin extended-release, a B vitamin, may be used in addition to diet to lower cholesterol and other lipids. Niacin may lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and raise HDL levels. Statins or other cholesterol medications work by lowering LDL (low density lipoproteins, or “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides. They can also raise HDL (high density lipoprotein, or “good” cholesterol).
Studies have found that some people who use Lipitor have an elevation of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). It is often not safe for people with liver disease or dysfunction to take statins. However, heavy drinkers or those who already have liver damage due to heavy drinking could be at greater risk for more serious side effects. Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Lipitor. Before taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor about your health history.
But before you start taking Viagra, be sure to tell your doctor about any other drugs you take. This can help prevent interactions between Viagra and your other medications. For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Lipitor. St. John’s wort can cause your body to break down Lipitor too quickly, which can make Lipitor less effective. If you take St. John’s wort, your doctor may recommend that you stop taking it during your Lipitor treatment.
- 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).
- This can raise your risk of side effects, including serious side effects such as myopathy (muscle pain), rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), and liver problems.
- Light to moderate alcohol drinking can raise HDL, but heavy drinking can increase total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides.
- This is because diltiazem can block your body’s ability to break down Lipitor.
Talk with a trusted health professional about your concerns or visit this website to find treatment options and resources near you. When people do experience side effects from taking statins, they are typically minor and resolve once a person stops taking the statins or changes their dosage. People taking statins may still be able to consume some alcohol, but not more than 14 units per week. Statins work by reducing how much cholesterol the liver produces and increasing its clearance from the blood.