Can you mix Statins and Alcohol?
When using statins, you should refrain from consuming large amounts of alcohol. Among other health issues, drinking alcohol while taking statins might result in liver illness or damage.
What is Statin?
Statins are drugs that can reduce your cholesterol. They function by intercepting a substance your body needs to produce cholesterol.
Reducing cholesterol isn’t the only advantage associated with statins. These prescriptions have also been connected to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke. These medications may help stabilize the plaques on blood vessel walls and reduce the risk of certain blood clots.
A number of statins are known for use in the United States. They include:
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- Fluvastatin (Lescol XL)
- Lovastatin (Altoprev)
- Pitavastatin (Livalo, Zypitamag)
- Pravastatin (Pravachol)
- Rosuvastatin (Crestor, Ezallor)
- Simvastatin (Zocor)
Periodically, a statin is mixed with another heart medication. Examples are atorvastatin-amlodipine (Caduet) and ezetimibe-simvastatin (Vytorin).
What is Statin Used For?
Statins work in two ways. First, they stop the production of cholesterol in your body. Second, they help your body reabsorb the cholesterol that has built plaques in your artery walls. This reduces your risk of blood vessel blockages and heart attacks.
Statins are typically very successful at lowering cholesterol, but they only work as long as you’re taking them. Therefore, most people who begin taking statin medication will likely take it for the rest of their lives.
Skip To:
- What is Statin?
- Mixing Statins With Alcohol
- How much Alcohol can you drink with Statins?
- Statins Interactions with Alcohol
- Alcohol and Statins Side Effects
- Statins Mixed with Alcohol
- Statins for Alcohol Withdrawal
- Statins and Alcohol Death
- Statins and Alcoholism Treatment
- FAQs
Learn More:
If you’ve been taking Statins and would like to stop, you’ll need to do so with your doctor’s guidance. This is because it can be harmful to stop taking statins. These drugs are highly effective in preventing heart problems such as heart attack and stroke. In fact, according to the American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source, they can decrease your chance of these and other cholesterol-related problems by as much as 50 percent. The AHA looks at preventing the use of such sufficient prescriptions as essentially doubling your risk of these health problems.
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Mixing Statin With Alcohol
There are mixed opinions about mixing statins with alcohol. The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends the use of statins to prevent heart disease, yet the ACP also warns that patients who drink and take statins may suffer side effects.
The most common side effect of statin therapy is muscle pain, which can be treated by stopping the medication. Some patients, however, develop muscle weakness as a side effect. The ACP recommends that if you are taking a statin and alcohol, you should do so in moderation.
Alcohol is not a statin and should never be taken with statins. This can cause dangerous side effects, including decreased liver function, impairment of the body’s ability to use oxygen and other substances, and even death. Alcohol can also negatively interact with statins by increasing their rate of breakdown and lowering their levels in the blood.
How much Alcohol can you drink with Statins?
If you take statins and drink alcohol, it increases the risk of liver damage. The more alcohol you drink, the greater the risk of liver damage is likely to be.
The amount of alcohol you should avoid when taking statins depends on your age and other factors such as whether or not you have had a history of liver problems.
The recommended maximum daily dose of statins is 40 milligrams (mg) per day. If you take higher doses of statins, talk to your doctor about how much alcohol you should drink before or after taking statins.
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Statin Interactions with Alcohol
Statins and alcohol use can interact in several ways, most notably by increasing its metabolism and thus reducing blood levels of the active metabolites. In addition, they can slow down the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. This means that less alcohol reaches the brain and some of it is eliminated by the liver before it can cause any problems.
One study found that statins have a profound impact on alcohol metabolism in mice, with significant changes occurring in liver function and acetaldehyde production.
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Alcohol and Statin Side Effects
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, about 10% of people taking statins will experience severe side effects. The most common side effects include muscle pain, weakness, and joint pain. People who are sensitive to statins may also experience skin changes, headaches, or dizziness.
Some people may also experience gastrointestinal problems such as nausea and vomiting. Other possible side effects include liver damage or liver failure, cataracts, and eye problems such as glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye).
If you have any of these symptoms while taking a statin and alcohol, call your doctor immediately so that you can be taken off the medication and given a different treatment plan if needed.
Are any Statins safe with Alcohol?
There are a few things you need to know about statins and alcohol. Statins are medications that lower cholesterol by blocking an enzyme in the liver that helps convert cholesterol into other compounds.
The problem is that statins are also known to be “statin-like” in their effects on the body, so they can interact with alcohol in similar ways. In particular, they can slow down the rate at which alcohol is metabolized by the liver, which can lead to elevated blood levels of alcohol and more serious side effects like liver damage and heart problems. So if you’re taking a statin, it’s best to avoid drinking any type of alcohol while you’re on it.
STATINS DRUG FACT SHEET
Statins – Risks and Benefits
For most people, statins are absolutely safe. A 2014 study meta-analysis of 20 years’ worth of published research indicated that the risks of long-term use of statin drugs are low, and the potential benefits are very high.
What are the Serious Side Effects of Taking Statins?
A review of scientific studies into the effectiveness of statins found around one in every 50 people who take the medicine for five years will avoid a serious event, such as a heart attack or stroke, as a result.
Nonetheless, it would be best to discuss the benefits and risks of taking statins with your doctor before you start taking the medicine.
Is there a raw condition of statins?
Some people do not accept statins or may want to try raw remedies to treat their high cholesterol. Statin options include some prescription medications like ezetimibe and fabric acids. Natural remedies that some people use to help treat high cholesterol include omega-3 fatty acids and red yeast rice extract.
Who needs to take statins?
Your healthcare provider will look at your individual situation when deciding if you should take a statin. Having diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol and using tobacco products are all risk factors for getting heart disease. Your provider will also consider your age, sex, and race when deciding if you need a statin.
Providers prescribe statins for people who:
- Have high cholesterol (LDL above 190 mg/dL) that exercise and diet changes couldn’t reduce.
- Had a stroke, heart attack, or peripheral artery disease.
- Have diabetes and an LDL of at least 70 mg/dL and are 40 to 75 years old.
- Have an LDL of at least 70 mg/dL and a high risk of getting heart disease and are 40 to 75 years old.
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Statins Mixed with Alcohol
Statins and Alcohol
People who take statins for the prevention of heart disease are at risk for liver, muscle, and nerve damage if they drink alcohol. This can be serious, but it’s also preventable.
The American Heart Association recommends that people who take statins do not consume more than three alcoholic drinks a day. This is because it’s possible to experience side effects while taking statins, including muscle pain or weakness, nausea or vomiting, and fatigue.
While these symptoms are temporary, they can be avoided by avoiding alcohol altogether when you’re on statin medications.
Statins and alcohol users may experience an increased risk of heart and stroke when mixed.
You should refrain from consuming heavy amounts of alcohol when taking statins. The mixture of alcohol and statin prescription can cause liver damage or disease among other health complications.
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Statin for Alcohol Withdrawal
Statins and Alcohol
At first, researchers were surprised by this discovery. Statin drugs are known to work on the liver and other organs of the body, so why would they help with alcohol withdrawal? The answer is that statins reduce the amount of inflammation in the body and therefore decrease its sensitivity to pain. When we’re in withdrawal from alcohol, our body is going through an intense period of physical and emotional stress. This can result in severe pain or even death if not treated properly.
Now that we know how statin drugs can help during withdrawal, what does this mean for those who are currently taking them? It means that if you’re taking statins for your cardiovascular health and you’re experiencing symptoms like sweating, nausea, or diarrhea related to withdrawal, there’s a chance that using these drugs could prevent you from progressing further into your detoxification process—or worse yet—cause seizures
Statin and Alcohol Death
Statins and Alcohol
Since heavy drinking also increases liver function, if combined with statins, this can lead to an abnormal rise in liver enzymes. Statins may also lead to liver injury. Research has shown statins can cause liver injury resulting in a need for a liver transplant or death. This effect is rare, but it’s a possibility.
Statin Drugs and Alcohol
Statin and alcohol are both very dangerous, despite the fact that many people think they should be combined in some form or another. Statins are used to treat high cholesterol and other cardiovascular diseases. They can also be taken by themselves to lower LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Alcohol can have a negative effect on statin use due to its effects on liver function and liver fat.
Statin and Alcoholism Treatment
Alcohol and muscle relaxants combined form co-occurring substance abuse. Substance abuse requires the strongest treatment possible: specialized addiction treatment. A credible treatment program will begin with medical detox, during which the body is cleansed of alcohol and tizanidine, and the withdrawal symptoms are managed with safe medications. You will have a medical evaluation to determine whether you require any medical attention, and you will be monitored closely to ensure a secure and safe detox.
When used with alcohol, Statins pose a serious risk of death and can have negative side effects. The detox process from prescription medications can be difficult and painful without medical assistance. However, detox is a necessity for continuing treatment. We Level Up NJ provides the necessary care to aid you through our medication-assisted treatment program, with a 24-hour medical team on call. Call us if you’d like to talk with one of our counseling experts. Our therapists will answer your questions as they are aware of your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much alcohol can you drink with Statins?
You should abstain from drinking heavy amounts of alcohol when taking statins. The combination of alcohol and statin medication can cause liver damage or disease among other health complications.
What foods should be avoided when taking statins?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice should be avoided when taking statins. They can increase the concentration of the drug in your bloodstream.
Is It Safe to Mix Statins and Alcohol?
Both statins and alcohol can impair liver function.
Thus, mixing them can increase the burden on the liver and lead to more serious health complications such as liver damage or disease.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while taking statins can also put you at greater risk of the following:
* Muscle pain including aches, soreness, and tiredness
* Kidney problems
* Alcohol-induced constriction of cerebral arteries
When taking statins, you should limit your alcohol intake, avoid smoking, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly.
Can you drink Alcohol while taking Statins?
The short answer is yes. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that can lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Because of this, it’s possible to take statins and drink alcohol at the same time. However, it is important to note that the effects of alcohol on statin levels may vary depending on the individual’s genetic profile. In other words, some people will have a more negative effect than others when they consume alcohol while taking statins.
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Sources
[1] Alenghat FJ, Davis AM (26 February 2019). “Management of Blood Cholesterol”. JAMA. 321 (8): 800–801. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.0015. PMC 6679800. PMID 30715135.[2]National Clinical Guideline Centre (UK) (July 2014). “Lipid Modification: Cardiovascular Risk Assessment and the Modification of Blood Lipids for the Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease”. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Guidance. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK). PMID 25340243. NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 181.[3]Taylor F, Huffman MD, Macedo AF, Moore TH, Burke M, Davey Smith G, et al. (January 2013). “Statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease”. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 1 (1): CD004816.