Niacin, a B vitamin, may be used to lower cholesterol in addition to diet. There is a risk of liver toxicity with these drugs. In this section, we provide help and advice around the topic of mental health. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 2 Nov 2020), Cerner Multum™ (updated 2 Nov 2020), ASHP (updated 23 Oct 2020) and others. High cholesterol and alcohol use can be linked if alcohol is consumed chronically and excessively. Alcohol is a physically addictive substance. Learn more: See alcohol (ethanol) drug interactions with your medication. Worsening obstructive biliary disease, acute liver failure, and cirrhosis are contraindications for statins. Due to the effect of statins on the function of your liver, mixing them with alcohol is not recommended. What Effects Do Statins Have On the Liver? Cholesterol Testing: What Do Your Results Mean? Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Medications and Alcohol Interactions, Erectile Dysfunction Medications and Alcohol, Motion Sickness Drugs and Alcohol Interactions, Muscle Relaxants and Alcohol Interactions, Pain / Fever Drugs and Alcohol Interactions, Seizure Medications and Alcohol Interactions, Stomach / Heartburn Medications and Alcohol, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/hdl-cholesterol/art-20046388, https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/do-alcohol-and-statins-mix, Alcohol and cholesterol medications known as statins: you may consider moderating your alcohol intake because statins mixed with alcohol may elevate. Alcohol is not. Statinsor other cholesterol medications work by lowering LDL (low density lipoproteins, or “bad” cholest… Alcohol abuse is a common risk factor for statin-related myopathy (muscle weakness, muscle pain or tenderness, and muscle toxicity). For those struggling with alcohol addiction, understanding which medications are most dangerous is an important part of risk management until detox and recovery are possible. These enzymes are the same ones involved in the breakdown of drugs. Statins are used to help protect the heart and vascular system and lower the risk of heart attack or stroke. Select one or more newsletters to continue. Statins are medicines used to lower the levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the bloodstream. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. It manifests in severe symptoms besides elevations in liver enzymes. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Amgen USA, Thousand Oaks, CA. In this section, we offer information about the most common forms of addiction affecting society in the UK. Nonetheless, you should discuss your alcohol consumption with your doctor before commencing treatment with statins. These treatments are available at residential or outpatient rehab clinics across the UK and abroad. If you have alcohol-related liver disease or other diseases of the liver, be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Praluent Pen (alirocumab). Avoid alcohol at the time of niacin administration due to an. Statins are used to help protect the heart and vascular system and lower the risk of heart attack or stroke. As such, refraining from alcohol consumption when taking pharmaceutical medication of any kind is, generally speaking, the best idea. He also covers a variety of topics relating to addiction and recovery. As a result, the potential for injury increases, especially when taken in conjunction with medications such as fibrates. This could indicate liver problems; it’s also essential to note that statins do interact with other medicines. Who is at Risk When Mixing Statins & Alcohol? Accessed Dec. 10, 2019 at. Below we have listed more severe side-effects to consider: In some cases, statins cause an increase in the enzymes which signal liver inflammation. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease or consume large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis. And if you do that, you can have your wine and your statin, too. Drinking alcohol with these drugs may increase your chance of having liver problems or make your liver problems worse. However, mixing them with alcohol can increase the severity of potential side effects.