Due to the risk of severe muscle side effects, doctors typically will not prescribe gemfibrozil in combination with Lipitor. Both Lipitor and gemfibrozil can cause myopathy when taken alone. Taking these drugs together can increase the risk and severity of this condition. After you take a dose of Lipitor, your body uses a certain enzyme (protein) to break down the drug. Yes, it’s likely safe to take Lipitor and sildenafil (Viagra) together.
If you want to take Lipitor with birth control pills, talk with your doctor first. They may monitor you more closely for side effects from your birth control pills. Learn more about certain drug interactions that can adderall occur with Lipitor. Keep in mind that this chart does not include all drugs that may interact with Lipitor. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.
Is It Safe to Mix Statins and Alcohol?
It is often not safe for people with liver disease or dysfunction to take statins. The most common side effect of statin use is muscle pain and inflammation. Generally, this feels like soreness or weakness of the muscles. In extreme cases, it can lead to rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening condition that may cause liver damage, kidney failure, or death. While not a side effect of mixing the alcohol-depression connection, there is another negative aspect to mixing these two substances. Lipitor is explicitly used to lower the levels of cholesterol and is typically used by people who have a higher risk of negative health events when Lipitor is not used.
- Heavy alcohol use may also be linked to high blood pressure and obesity, which are risk factors for heart disease.
- Due to this risk, you should avoid consuming large quantities of grapefruit and grapefruit juice during Lipitor treatment.
- Sometimes, this interaction can cause Lipitor to be less effective.
- Lipitor is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs to treat high cholesterol.
- And the paperwork, sometimes called the prescribing information, may contain details about interactions.
Taking birth control pills with Lipitor may raise your risk of side effects from your birth control pills. 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.
Naltrexone interactions to avoid
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. Statins can also increase the risk of developing benign proteinuria, a condition in which there is excess protein in the urine. Statins can increase the risk how to help an alcoholic in denial of developing rhabdomyolysis, which can cause kidney damage and, eventually, kidney failure. Another dangerous side effect of taking Lipitor and alcohol at the same time is an increased risk of problems with blood circulation to the brain. Lipitor and alcohol both cause a decrease in the size of some brain arteries.
There aren’t any known interactions between Lipitor and alcohol. But your doctor may recommend limiting the amount of alcohol you drink while taking Lipitor. Both Lipitor and alcohol can raise your risk of liver problems. So you may be more likely to experience liver problems if you drink alcohol during your Lipitor treatment. Around 1–3% of people who take statins may experience elevated liver enzyme levels, which often cause no symptoms.
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. 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. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Do alcohol and Mucinex mix?
They can determine if they may be safe to take during your Lipitor treatment. People taking statins may still be able to consume some alcohol, but not more than 14 units per week. Drinking alcohol may lead to worsened gastrointestinal side effects of Lipitor, such as upset stomach and diarrhea.
Lisinopril is used to lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking Lipitor with lisinopril. 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. If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Having had an allergic reaction to Lipitor or any of its ingredients
Zetia is actually approved to be used with statin drugs such as Lipitor to lower cholesterol in certain adults. Lipitor may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. After you take a dose of Lipitor, your body uses a certain enzyme to break down the drug. An increased level of the drug can make side effects from Lipitor more likely to occur.
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. This article will discuss how liver function is impacted by statins as well as by alcohol, and who should avoid combining the two. After you take a dose of Lipitor, your body uses certain enzymes to break down the drug. St. John’s Wort causes your body to increase the activity of these enzymes. This can speed up how quickly your system gets rid of Lipitor. This may reduce the level of Lipitor in your body, causing the drug to work less well than usual.
While occasional changes in liver enzymes tests are normal, persistent elevations in liver enzymes can indicate serious liver problems. Although rare, there have been reports of liver injury caused by Lipitor. Several years ago, the FDA recommended regular enzyme testing for statin patients. 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.
In one study looking at people with severe alcoholic liver disease, the use of statins cut the risk of death from alcoholic cirrhosis in half. It’s actually common for people to be prescribed both aspirin and Lipitor. Aspirin is often used in certain adults who have heart disease.