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Diltiazem belongs to a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. The chart below lists drugs that may interact 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. Statin drugs such as Lipitor may cause harm to a fetus if taken during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about other treatment options that are safer for you.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell whether the muscle aches or other problems you’re having are statin side effects or just part of the aging process. Taking a break can help you determine whether your aches and pains are due to statins instead of something else. Occasionally, statin use could cause an increase in the level of enzymes that signal liver inflammation. If the increase is only mild, you can continue to take the drug. Rarely, if the increase is severe, you may need to try a different statin. Statins are drugs that can help decrease your levels of LDL cholesterol.
Is it safe for me to take Lipitor with sildenafil (Viagra)?
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Lipitor. This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Lipitor. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur when taking Lipitor. Lipitor contains the active ingredient atorvastatin, while Livalo contains pitavastatin.
They can determine how much caffeine may be safe during your treatment. 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. Before you start taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you.
People who drink alcohol regularly should discuss their consumption habits with a doctor before taking statins to reduce the risk of complications. It is often not safe for people with liver disease or dysfunction to take statins. In addition, those who have liver disease due to chronic hepatitis C infections may respond better to medications when they are given statins. There are at least 50 case reports of liver injury in people taking statins which have led to death or the need for liver transplantation. If a person is concerned about how much alcohol they drink or needs help to stop drinking alcohol, they should speak with their doctor.
- No, there aren’t any known interactions between Lipitor and lisinopril .
- See this article to learn more about the link between ED and high cholesterol.
- Reduced effects mean your good and bad cholesterol levels are out of balance despite taking medication, putting you at risk for heart attack or stroke.
- They can determine if you should stop taking Lipitor and if you need to start taking a new drug in its place.
It’s believed that aspirin is safe to take with Lipitor. Zetia is actually approved to be used with statin drugs such as Lipitor to lower cholesterol in certain adults. If you take St. John’s Wort, be sure to tell your doctor before you begin taking Lipitor.
And they’ll check for possible causes of your symptoms. Your doctor will likely check your liver function before you start taking Lipitor. Although it’s not common, abnormal liver function is a possible serious side effect of Lipitor.
If you’d like to learn more about Lipitor and its side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about this drug. Before you start taking Lipitor, it’s important to tell your doctor if you consume alcohol.
The role of the present value of an ordinary annuity in alcohol metabolism means those who drink heavily could be at greater risk, however. Although taking the two together has no direct risks, both statins and alcohol can impair liver function and cause tissue damage. Mixing alcohol and statins can, therefore, increase the burden on the liver, potentially raising the risk of liver damage or disease. Lipitor and other statins may reduce your risk of heart disease, but alcohol, through causes such as alcoholic cardiomyopathy and much more, may worsen your risk. Of course, alcohol has plenty of calories, something that also increases the risk of heart disease.
Mixing Lipitor and Alcohol: Are You Endangering Your Health?
Additionally, joint pain was most commonly reported by people taking a 40-mg dose. There has also been evidence that statins may help with brain function — in people with dementia, for example. Don’t stop taking your statin medication before talking to your doctor. For more information about the potential side effects of atorvastatin, please visit our atorvastatin side effects page. Several potentially adverse side effects may be experienced when someone combinesalcohol and medications. One medication that is sometimes taken at the same time as alcohol and may cause negative side effects is Lipitor.
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. Most commonly prescribed drugs to treat high cholesterol. Alcohol is sold at virtually every restaurant and bar in the U.S.
You wouldn’t need any additional liver enzyme tests unless you begin to have signs or symptoms of trouble with your liver. A strong predictor you’ll experience muscle aches when taking statins could be whether or not you read about the potential side effect. For a more comprehensive list of interactions with atorvastatin, please visit our atorvastatin interactions page. The FDA states that before taking Lipitor, you should let your doctor know if you consume more than two glasses of alcohol each day. Depending on your individual health profile, consuming alcohol while also taking Lipitor can have serious, and sometimes harmful, side effects. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.
Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Lipitor and Other Statins?
By some estimates, about 9% of people who take statins are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes after taking them for 4 years. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot properly use insulin. If you drink alcohol you should let your healthcare provider know. Many people underestimate their intake, but being honest with your healthcare provider will ultimately help them take care of you as well as possible.
They may suggest medications or provide a referral to a support group or specialist counselor. Binge drinking can increase a person’s risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. However, there is no proven cause-and-effect link showing any heart health-related benefits from drinking any form of alcohol. To understand how alcohol consumption and cholesterol levels may be linked, it can be useful to get some basic facts about each substance. The sections below look at each of these in more detail. Other medications can affect the removal of atorvastatin from your body, which may affect how atorvastatin works.
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Lipitor. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Also, talk with your doctor for more information about how these drugs are alike and different. If you’d like to stop taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor. 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. Certain side effects of Lipitor, such as infection or liver problems, may cause tiredness.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. 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. 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.
Some studies suggest that alcohol in moderation may be beneficial for the heart. Red wine consumed in moderate amounts may be linked to healthy cholesterol levels and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. 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. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Statins can cause elevated liver enzymes, an indication of liver problems.
Can People Allergic to Peanuts Drink Peanut Butter Whiskey?
Ending your Lipitor treatment should not cause any side effects. But if you stop taking Lipitor and do not replace it with a different treatment, your cholesterol may increase again. If you have concerns about experiencing any of these side effects during your Lipitor treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. For lowering cholesterol in children with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia , the recommended dosage is 10 mg to 20 mg, taken once per day. Staying well hydrated and increasing exercise intensity and frequency at a slow and steady pace can help minimize joint and muscle pain. For instance, take the claims that alcohol may increase your “good” cholesterol, more officially known as high-density lipoprotein .
Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Lipitor. Before you take Lipitor, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Lipitor may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Alcohol may reduce the positive effects of Lipitor even more than the digestive system.