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More than 200 million people around the world currently take statin medications like Lipitor. While Lipitor can be an effective and beneficial medication, it can negatively interact with some substances, including alcohol.
Doctors prescribe statins to reduce the amount of “bad cholesterol” in the blood and increase the amount of “good cholesterol.”
They help blood flow properly to the heart, brain, and rest of the body by preventing fatty substances, like cholesterol, from building up in the blood. Doing so reduces the chances of developing heart disease and heart-related events, such as a stroke or heart attack.
If you drink two or more alcoholic beverages every day or multiple days a week, your doctor may want to prescribe a different cholesterol medication to avoid the side effects of mixing Lipitor and alcohol.
Why Do Alcohol and Lipitor Interact?
Lipitor passes through the digestive system before entering your bloodstream. Its bioavailability or absorption rate is around 14%, which means that 14% of the drug actually gets into your circulation and produces effects. Once it enters circulation and reaches the liver, it goes to work inhibiting the production of cholesterol and eliminating cholesterol already in the bloodstream.
Lipitor and alcohol travel similar paths through the body. Alcohol travels through the digestive system and bloodstream. The liver processes and distributes alcohol to different body parts through the bloodstream, where Lipitor also travels.
Interactions may occur when Lipitor and alcohol cross pathways. Several things can happen, including:
- Alcohol may reduce the positive effects of Lipitor. Your good and bad cholesterol levels may stay imbalanced despite the medication, putting you at risk of a heart attack or stroke.
- Alcohol may change the effects of the ingredients in statins, making a safe ingredient now unsafe.
- Mood changes may occur in some people taking Lipitor, particularly men, leading to increased depression, irritability, agitation, and aggressiveness.
- Some report sleep disturbances and increased oxidative stress after one month of Lipitor use.
Side Effects of Alcohol and Lipitor
As with all medications, Lipitor presents side effects when taken with alcohol and other substances. These side effects include:
- Nausea
- Aggression
- Pain in the stomach or abdomen
- Body temperature changes
- Muscle weakness and cramping
- Joint swelling and pain
- Headaches
- Rhabdomyolysis (the release of proteins and electrolytes into the blood)
- Myopathy
- Liver damage
Alcohol produces many side effects that range from mild to severe, including:
- Slurred speech
- Confusion
- Delayed reactions
- Dizziness
- Compulsive behaviors
- Agitation
- Digestive problems
- Injuries
- Toxicity or poisoning
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Dependence
- Overdose
Both substances have side effects when used on their own. Combining them can make these side effects more severe.
Risks of Mixing Alcohol and Lipitor
When you drink alcohol while taking Lipitor, you may experience a range of physical effects, in addition to mood and sleep disturbances. Let’s take a look at the most common concerns.
Blood Sugar Imbalance
Lipitor raises blood glucose levels and liver enzymes, and can lead to diabetes in some people. If someone with diabetes consumes alcohol, which is extremely high in sugar content, they could be at risk of hyperglycemia, or dangerously high blood sugar.
If blood glucose rises too high, you could face adverse reactions, such as coma or overdose. Alcohol also disrupts insulin functioning, a process that regulates your central nervous system. For some people, mixing Lipitor and alcohol can lead to whole-body insulin resistance.
Liver Injury
Hepatic effects are injuries to the liver caused by exposure to certain drugs, including statins such as Lipitor. Alcohol can also cause damage to the liver. Combining Lipitor and alcohol could exacerbate liver damage and hinder drug metabolism. You will experience higher blood alcohol concentration and impairments, such as incoordination.
Also, both substances can elevate liver enzymes. If enzyme levels remain too high, it may lead to long-term diseases like fatty liver disease.
Urinary Tract Infection
Sometimes, Lipitor is the source of urinary tract infections, and alcohol use is known to cause frequent urination. These combined side effects could become painful.
Other Conditions
Other harmful effects of mixing Lipitor and alcohol include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Pain in joints and other body parts
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Acid reflux
If use of alcohol and Lipitor continues, adverse reactions may include stroke, heart attack, and liver failure.
Not everyone takes their statin according to instructions, and some do not take it at all. This is considered misusing prescriptions and can make mixing Lipitor and alcohol more dangerous than if using Lipitor as prescribed.
Consequences of Chronic Lipitor and Alcohol Use
Dangerous side effects of Lipitor and alcohol use include poisoning and overdose. The longer you take a substance, the more you risk developing a dependence and substance use disorder (SUD).
Overdose and Toxicity Risk
Lipitor labels warn that some people taking this medication may experience central nervous system toxicity. Misusing alcohol has a sedating effect on the central nervous system, including parts of the brain responsible for how your body functions.
Mixing alcohol and Lipitor can cause liver enzyme abnormalities and lead to harmful outcomes. Lipitor manufacturers claim you cannot overdose on the statin.
Yet, signs of toxicity specific to Lipitor include:
- Allergic reactions or anaphylaxis
- Swelling under the skin, or angioneurotic edema
- Blisters or bullous rashes
- Numbness and tingling sensations, or peripheral neuropathy
- Rhabdomyolysis
Signs of toxicity specific to alcohol include:
- Excessive vomiting
- Loss of consciousness
- Slow or stopped breathing
- Disorientation or confusion
- Seizures
If you think you are experiencing an overdose or interaction from mixing Lipitor and alcohol, call 911 immediately. You can also contact the Poison Control Center for guidance. Receiving medical attention as soon as possible is the best solution.
Dependence and Addiction
Research shows that the body cannot become dependent on Lipitor to function, and no studies prove that it’s an addictive substance. Alcohol misuse, however, can lead to both dependence and alcohol use disorder (AUD).
For those with AUD, trying to quit drinking alcohol or going without it for a significant period can cause withdrawal symptoms because their body has gotten so used to the substance that it relies on it to function. If the body doesn’t have alcohol, it reacts negatively.
Alcohol withdrawal is dangerous and should not be attempted alone due to the potential for seizures and delirium tremens, which can be fatal. AUD can also lead to intense cravings, an inability to stop drinking or control the amount of alcohol you consume, and negative emotions when you go without alcohol. For some, the symptoms are so severe that they must return to drinking alcohol for relief.
Who Is at Risk of Mixing Alcohol and Lipitor?
People often mix Lipitor and alcohol by mistake because they don’t understand the risks associated with the combination. Those who mix these substances even after knowing the risks are likely struggling with compulsive alcohol use or addiction.
As such, factors that can contribute to the risk of combining the two substances are those that contribute to the risk of AUD, including:
- Genetics
- Substance misuse by parents or others living in the same environment
- Pressure from peers or family members
- Mental health conditions
- Medical conditions
- Lack of coping skills
What To Do if You Mix Alcohol and Lipitor
If you’re consuming alcohol and Lipitor regularly, talk to your doctor. There may be options that allow you to consume a specific amount of alcohol at a particular time of day, so it does not interfere with the beneficial effects of Lipitor.
Some of the steps you can take to manage your medications more effectively include:
- Get help from someone you trust
- Keep a daily medication schedule
- Attend online or in-person educational courses on managing medications
- Talk to your doctor and pharmacist about medication management programs
- Read the FDA medication guides
Intentional mixing of alcohol and Lipitor is extremely rare and not supported by research. However, if you are intentionally mixing any substances with the plan of harming yourself, contact the Suicide Hotline or 911.
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If you are ready to stop mixing Lipitor and alcohol, reduce the side effects of Lipitor and alcohol, or want more information on Lipitor and alcohol precautions, talk to a licensed professional working in the field of alcohol use disorders.
Depending on your readiness for change, they can recommend the right treatment program.
Treatment programs can range from weekly outpatient visits to intensive inpatient rehab. If you want to stop misusing alcohol and Lipitor but are afraid of the withdrawal process, inpatient detox programs exist to provide medication assistance to ease the distressing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
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