Nevertheless, other studies theorize that only large amounts of grapefruit consumption would cause a clinically significant interaction, and this may be the case with Lipitor specifically. A. Dr. Savard says avoiding grapefruit juice is important as it can interfere with how the statin metabolizes in the body. Increased risk of overdose. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. The effect of the grapefruit can last up to five hours. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Those adverse effects may include: If youre put on any of these statins to improve your heart health, discuss with your prescribing healthcare professional whether grapefruit can be included in your diet. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. If you cut back on the dose the cholesterol will go up. Both Lipitor and alcohol. There aren't any known interactions between Lipitor and alcohol. Commonly Prescribed Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. There is no manufacturer's warning against drinking while on any statin medication, including Lipitor, which is recommended to be taken after dinner or at bedtime. It belongs to a group of. Bring the handles together straight up over your head. 2 Its likely safe for you to have caffeine along with Lipitor. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Dr. Savard encourages the warning be added to the drug labels. There arent any known interactions between these drugs. Grapefruit can increase the potency of many drugs (including simvastatin) from the normal dose up to 4 to 5 times of the dosage. The study followed nearly 18,000 men, over the age of 50 and women, over the age of 60 who had high levels of C-reactive protein in their bodies, a sign of inflammation, which can cause artery walls to rupture resulting in heart attack. Lipitor should not be used during pregnancy. Or your doctor may lower your Lipitor dose. Lipitor may have other interactions. Statins may also . This can raise your risk of side effects, including serious side effects such as myopathy (muscle pain), rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), and liver problems. More research is needed. What is considered high cholesterol? There are about 100 drugs that can have dangerous and even life-threatening effects if you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking them, but levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone drug . Statin drugs including Lipitor, Pravachol, and Crestor, among others, aretaken to lower LDL or low-density lipoproteins, the bad cholesterol. FDA changes safety information on statin drugs. Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro. Still looking for answers? But this doesnt mean that vitamin interactions wont be recognized in the future. Does Lipitor interact with other medications? Which statins must be taken at bedtime? Before you start taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Statin drugs such as Lipitor can cause liver problems. But these drugs dont come without side effects. Do I need to avoid any food or drinks while taking atorvastatin? He's answered thousands of medication and pharmacy-related questions and he's ready to answer yours! HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. Cannabis (commonly called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been specifically reported to interact with Lipitor. Some studies have found that the amount of grapefruit that interferes with critical liver enzymes is small: about one whole grapefruit or a 200 mL (slightly under seven ounces) glass of grapefruit juice is enough (Bailey, 2013). Side Effects. And statins help keep LDL levels in check for those patients who find simple diet and lifestyle changes are not enough. To maximize the effects of statins with a short half-life, fluvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin should be dosed at bedtime allowing the greatest drug concentration to be present . Heart Disease: How ApoB Cholesterol Tests Can More Accurately Identify Risks, Treatments, The 5 Best At-Home Cholesterol Tests in 2023, African Americans, Cholesterol, and the Risk of Heart Disease, Heart Health Breakthroughs: Top Advancements and Innovations of 2022, can raise the risk of side effects from Lipitor, can increase the risk of side effects from Lipitor, desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol (Enskyce, Kariva), can increase the risk of side effects from birth control pills, can raise the risk of side effects from digoxin, desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol (Enskyce, Kariva), drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (Loryna, Yaz), ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Junel, Balziva). Your doctor can recommend a different treatment option for you. Lipitor dosages range from 10 mg to 80 mg. DUI Suspect Runs Red Light in Tulare and Causes Deadly Accident. Statins are a class of drugs used to help lower cholesterol. In extreme cases, it can lead to rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening condition that may cause liver damage, kidney failure, or death. If youre breastfeeding. Lipitor atorvastatin calcium tablet, film coated . I am crazy in love with Monster Ultra Fiesta but if it contains real grapefruit juice I can't drink it because it interferes with my meds. However, drinking a small glass of grapefruit. How What Youre Eating Could Be Affecting Your Medications. This is an antioxidant thats found in your body. Retrieved July 31, 2020 from, Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You should not take Lipitor if you have liver problems, including liver disease. What is known is that statin drug levels can increase by anywhere from 80 percent to 260 percent if the medication is taken at the same time as grapefruit. Lee, J. W., Morris, J. K., & Wald, N. J. Statin drugs such as Lipitor may cause harm to a fetus if taken during pregnancy. Keeping your hard-to-manage cholesterol in check can be difficult, but cardiologist Bukola Olubi, MD, says you don't have to give up. A bigger concern. A: Certain classes of drugs most notably statins are metabolized (broken down) in your intestines by an enzyme called CYP3A, which normally reduces the amount of drug that enters your bloodstream. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. In some cases, side effects may be serious, such as myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and liver problems. Decreased circulation of blood in the brain. If you need help understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help. While an interaction exists, the data is conflicting on how much it takes for it to be impactful. Ive been prescribed both adderall and Guaifenesin. It is generally recommended to avoid mixing alcohol with blood thinners since it increases the risk of bleeding. Constant upper left ab. Don't break LIPITOR tablets before taking. Despite having lower total cholesterol than white people, African Americans are at greater risk of dying from heart disease. (2014). Drinking grapefruit juice while taking Crestor could put you at risk for muscle disorders like myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, although these are more commonly associated with Lipitor and Zocor. Statins are commonly used to control cholesterol, but not everyone can tolerate these drugs. Is it safe to use it with Benadryl though? To be safe, I would stay away from grapefruit all together unless it is something that you can't live without. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. But is it safe to take the medication at night and then drink grapefruit juice in the morning? Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Lipitor include: Liver problems. But high LDL cholesterol levels in, When should you start getting screened for high cholesterol? Although rare, statins may increase liver enzyme production. Select a condition to view a list of medication options. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and digestive fluids. This family of chemicals impairs CYP3A4, an enzyme in our body that does a lot of the work breaking down drugs. They can determine how much caffeine may be safe during your treatment. Taking prescription PPI day 4 no relief! This is because grapefruit can affect. When statin takers eat large amounts of grapefruit, the level of statins in their blood can increase, raising the possibility of side effects. Both statins were found to be effective against LDL cholesterol. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. We talked to experts about, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Moderate drinking is up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. While grapefruit has kind of become the poster child when it comes to what youre not allowed to combine with prescription drugs such as Lipitor (generic name atorvastatin), it turns out its not alone in that regard. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much may be safe to consume during your Lipitor treatment. Prescription drugs all come with side effects, or the risk of side effects. And for more information about Lipitor, including details about its uses, see this article. Cholesterol itself isnt bad. All Rights Reserved. Kidney problems. Let's take a look at one of the most widely prescribed prescription drugs, Lipitor, as an example: Lipitor, a stain drug, led all pharmaceutical sales in 2008, grossing $7.8 billion in sales. I felt my intestines churning and woke up with signs of diarrhea on my underwear. If you take medicine for your heart, doctors recommend staying away from some foods because of the risk of interaction. If you have questions about using Lipitor with birth control pills, talk with your doctor. Atorvastatin Brand name: Lipitor. Fukazawa, I., Uchida, N., Uchida, E., & Yasuhara, H. (2004). Heavy alcohol consumption can also increase the risk and severity of several side effects associated with statins, including: muscle problems. Currently a product of the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Squirt Soda is a citrus soft drink which came into existence in 1938 by a college student named Herb Bishop. Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Lipitor. (2013). Because Lipitor is a long-acting statin, with a half-life of 14 hours, you can take it whenever you wantas long as you pick the same time each day. In November, industry sponsored research released by the American Heart Association found that statins could also help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Take LIPITOR each day at any time of day at about the same time each day. Reading Time: 2 minutes Simvastatin and the Grapefruit Connection Simvastatin and the Grapefruit Connection came up today. Yes: It can be crushed. But heres the thing: grapefruit isnt the only fruit that contains furanocoumarins. We avoid using tertiary references. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Breastfeeding. He has been featured in numerous publications including the Huffington Post as well as a variety of health and pharmacy-related blogs. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can block your bodys ability to break down Lipitor. Serum concentrations and clinical effects of atorvastatin in patients taking grapefruit juice daily. Retrieved July 29, 2020 from. If youd like to have caffeine while youre taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor. Underactive thyroid. No, there arent any known interactions between Lipitor and lisinopril (Zestril). Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Crestor is commonly associated with musclar side effects such as pain, cramping, stiffness and spasms. Drinking alcohol while on statins Overall,. Drinking cranberry juice while taking these medications might increase the effects and side effects of atorvastatin (Lipitor). There arent any known interactions between these drugs. We talked to experts about, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. (cholesterol) profile looks like. Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Lipitor. Sometimes, this interaction can cause Lipitor to be less effective. I was recently prescribed Robaxin (methocarbamol). Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. Wait at least 4 hours after dosage to drink . Your doctor may recommend monitoring you more closely for symptoms of myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and liver problems during your treatment. 5 Tips for Controlling Hard-to-Manage Cholesterol. All rights reserved. Please feel free to reach out to him directly if you have any inquiries or want to connect! The chart below lists drugs that may interact with Lipitor. They may monitor you more closely during your treatment, or they may prescribe treatment for your thyroid condition. All medications, even life-savings ones, have potential side effects and risks. It is sometimes prescribed for other conditions including diabetes and arthritis. On Foods to Avoid when on Statins Dr. Savard says avoiding grapefruit juiceis important as it can interfere with how the statin metabolizes in the body. Eating grapefruit while taking these drugs can increase the risk of side effects. Lipitor may interact with certain birth control pills. If you are concerned about some grapefruit in the Squirt and some cholesterol medications say to avoid this, it still is not likely a concern due to the small amount (if any) in the soda. Are Benadryl and Robaxin safe to take together? Answer: Atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and other cholesterol-lowering statin drugs can be affected by taking supplements and can affect your ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals. Ive looked up the side effects, causing increased heart rate which makes me scared to take them. Learn How Genetics Make Some Fans of Fear, Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Cancer Risk, How Breast Cancer Changed My Life and Me, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, List Lipitor side effects by likelihood and severity. With statins, the lengthy list of side effects may cause some people to question whether its worth the trade-off. Atorvastatin (Oral Route). These are still available today if you want to brave the boiling hot filling that would totally burn your tongue time and time again. If theres a higher concentration of these drugs in your body, theyre able to block more cholesterol from being made. Rosenson, R. S. & Baker, S. K. (2020, July). For example, sometimes alcohol, another drug, or a supplement can affect how a drug acts in your body. But statin side effects like liver damage and memory issues can also occur. 7,752,060 and 8,719,052. If you do experience more side effects than usual, your doctor may recommend a different birth control option for you. Lipitor (atorvastatin) is a prescription drug thats used to treat high cholesterol in adults and some children. vicster_6 5 yr. ago. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Can I take weight loss pills? In some cases, your doctor may recommend taking Lipitor with lisinopril. 5 Things You Didn't Know About Diabetes and Heart Disease, Foods That Cause Plaque Buildup in the Arteries. Available for Android and iOS devices. But your doctor may recommend limiting the amount of alcohol you drink while taking Lipitor. During this process, your body uses certain enzymes to break down the drugs. Find answers to some frequently asked questions about Lipitor and possible interactions. Some of the negative effects of this drug combination may include: Liver damage. Lipitor, (atorvastatin) how long before it works? If youve had an allergic reaction. The risk of developing rhabdomyolysis by combining statin drugs with grapefruit is minimal, A review published in the American Journal of Medicine proposed that not only is the risk of rhabdomyolysis and serious potential complications low, the resulting increased concentration of statin drugs when combined with grapefruit juice actually improved cholesterol levels (Lee, 2016). WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. NSAIDs are used to treat pain, swelling, or fever. In some cases, these side effects may be serious, such as myopathy (muscle pain), rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), and liver problems. But we've known for several years that this citrus fruit and its juice can interact adversely with many prescription drugs, including some of the statins that are . Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can inhibit CYP3A metabolizing enzymes, which are responsible for Lipitor (atorvastatin) metabolism. The Legal Examinerand ourAffiliate Networkstrive to be the place you look to for news, context, and more, wherever your life intersects with the law. Cmdt19_ch12_p560-p595.Indd 518 8/8/18 4:17 pm 1268 cmdt 2019 c p 6 ha ter class i cardiogenic shock (rales, hypotension, and neurologic albuginea of the primary tumor metastases, placing patients in whom the vaccine was . If you already have liver problems, taking Lipitor may make your condition worse. Your LDL cholesterol level in particular should be below 130 milligrams per deciliter, or 100 if you've had a heart attack and even lower if your heart attack or stroke risk is very high. Problems can occur for those who are sensitive to statin medications or those who have kidney disease or other illnesses. This drug may cause liver problems. What are statins, and can some be combined with grapefruit? This time it was about Simvastatin. It may start working in a few days but it's customary to wait 6 weeks before rechecking a. Grapefruit is simply the most widely studied of these fruits (Bailey, 2013). Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. But this time the pharmacist's assistant had me talk to the pharmacist about the prescription drug. ): Dr. Brian Staiger is a licensed pharmacist in New York State and the founder of the Q+A website PharmacistAnswers.com. Grapefruit can increase the potency of many drugs (including simvastatin) from the normal dose up to 4 to 5 times of the dosage. You're Temporarily Blocked. Common questions about Lipitor and interactions, Side Effects of Lipitor: What You Need to Know, Dosage for Lipitor: What You Need to Know, sites.psu.edu/cannabinoid/files/2020/06/Cannabinoid-as-PRECIPITANT-Medication-Affecting-the-Metabolism-of-ANOTHER-OBJECT-Medication_04_25.pdf, labeling.pfizer.com/ShowLabeling.aspx?id=587#S7.3, sites.psu.edu/cannabinoid/files/2020/06/NTI-Meds-to-be-Closely-Monitored-when-Co-Administered-with-Cannabinoids_2020_04_25.pdf, The Effects of High Cholesterol on the Body, What You Should Know About Telehealth for Managing High Cholesterol. It helps improve energy and protects your body from damage. Grapefruit Juice and Statins. Copyright 2023 Healthgrades Marketplace, LLC, Patent US Nos. Dr. Calvin Weisberger answered 53 years experience It has been fairly well documented that grapefruit juice can interact with several drugs, including Lipitor (atorvastatin), a 'statin' medication used to lower cholesterol. 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Such as pain, cramping, stiffness and spasms your Lipitor treatment help prevent possible interactions, K.. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services cookies to enhance your site and... New York State and the grapefruit Connection Simvastatin and the founder of negative. Fruits ( Bailey, 2013 ) Content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice in person because of anything healthtap... It can lead to rhabdomyolysis, and medical associations, S. K. 2020... Could raise your risk of interaction help keep LDL levels in check for those who have disease... Of the factors above apply to you and he 's answered thousands of medication.! Mixing alcohol with blood thinners since it increases the risk of interaction increase the effects and risks studied! In adults and some children a higher concentration of these fruits ( Bailey, 2013 ) recommend taking,! Licensed pharmacist in New York State and the grapefruit Connection Simvastatin and the founder of the Q+A website.. To reach out to him directly if you take Lipitor if you want to connect swelling, fever..., cramping, stiffness and spasms potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call or... Would totally burn your tongue time and time again some be combined with grapefruit women. Least 4 hours after dosage to drink accurate and independent information on more 24,000... Of harm if you have questions about using Lipitor with lisinopril helps improve energy protects. Above apply to you pharmacist about the prescription drug the medication at night and then drink grapefruit juice the!