Despite having lower total cholesterol than white people, African Americans are at greater risk of dying from heart disease. 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. Supplements can affect the way other medicines work. 7,752,060 and 8,719,052. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Drink water (no soda, etc). She completed Pharmacy Practice Residency training at the University of Pittsburgh/VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. But, many Legal Examiner Network Affiliates are. Lisinopril is used to lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much may be safe to consume during your Lipitor treatment. The main issue with Lipitor and alcohol consumption arises if you tend to drink heavily every week. Take LIPITOR each day at any time of day at about the same time each day. If youre pregnant. These combined medications include (FDA, 2014): Essentially, grapefruit increases your risk of experiencing the potential side effects of statins. These are known as contraindications. Read on to find out more about healthy cholesterol levels, and if a cholesterol level of 250 ml/dL is considered, Heart disease is a top cause of death in the U.S. If youre currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about other treatment options. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 Feb 2023), Cerner Multum (updated 22 Feb 2023), ASHP (updated 12 Feb 2023) and others. No, Lipitor isnt known to interact with any vaccines. Its likely safe for you to have caffeine along with Lipitor. 1. Drinking grapefruit juice has been shown in past studies to increase the blood levels of certain medications, including some statins, allergy medications, immunosuppressive drugs, and anti-HIV medications. Also, avoid excess alcohol use, as this may cause serious liver problems. Put the center of the resistance band under your back foot. Optimally, your total cholesterol level should be below 200 milligrams per deciliter, according to the Mayo Clinic. Can I drink both red yeast rice stew and simvastatin ? Lipitor dosages range from 10 mg to 80 mg. Lipitor may interact with certain birth control pills. Get answers from Cardiologists and top U.S. doctors, Our doctors evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, order lab tests, and recommend follow-up care. If you need help understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help. Digestive problems, rashes, flushing, poor blood glucose management, and memory issues and confusion are other side effects that have been reported. Red yeast rice and Lipitor work in similar ways to lower cholesterol levels. Due to this risk, if you have liver problems, your doctor will likely recommend that you take a different medication for your cholesterol. Policy. Drinking grapefruit juice or eating the whole fruit can cause a dangerous interaction with some statin drugs, including atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor), as the juice blocks an enzyme that helps your body break down and use the medication, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Is Orange Juice OK with Lipitor? How long does it take for lipitor (atorvastatin) to work? Grapefruit can increase the potency of many drugs (including simvastatin) from the normal dose up to 4 to 5 times of the dosage. I cannot say whether someone ever established a "safe dose" for grapefeuit juice, but as long as you'd avoid the actual thing and go for pure artificialness, I'd say you should be safe. Grapefruit juice contains compounds called furanocoumarins that stop CYP3A from doing its job. Taking diltiazem with Lipitor can increase your risk of side effects from Lipitor. Learn how to stop taking statins safely. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Lipitor for you. But high LDL cholesterol levels in, When should you start getting screened for high cholesterol? During this process, your body uses certain enzymes to break down the drugs. Side effects from grapefruit-statin interaction are typically mild, such as increase in muscle and joint pain. Dr. Savard encourages the warning be added to the drug labels. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. If you do experience more side effects than usual, your doctor may recommend a different birth control option for you. Last medically reviewed on September 23, 2022. Grapefruit can increase the potency of many drugs (including simvastatin) from the normal dose up to 4 to 5 times of the dosage. If youd like to have caffeine while youre taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor. Drug interactions are reported among people who take Ginger and Lipitor. The dosage of your cholesterol medication is based on your cholesterol levels. Be sure to talk with your doctor about any supplements you take along with Lipitor. Allergic reaction. Flavors included Pepperoni Pizza, Philly Steak, and Buffalo Chicken. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can inhibit CYP3A metabolizing enzymes, which are responsible for Lipitor (atorvastatin) metabolism. With that being said, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests that you not drink grapefruit juice if youre taking a statin like Lipitor, reasoning that different people can respond differently to the combination, and instead, consult your healthcare provider to make a decision that is right for you (FDA, 2017). Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Grapefruit and other juice products appear to interfere with an enzyme the body uses to break down certain statins. Should I let you know if I start taking other medications or supplements during my Lipitor treatment? This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Caffeine is a nonspecific adenosine receptor blocker, and thus drinking CC may block the myocardial protective effects of statins.. Theyll determine whether Lipitor is right for you. Statins may also . You should not take Lipitor if you have liver problems, including liver disease. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Past research has warned that eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice and taking statins for high cholesterol may increase your risk for complications such as rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle tissue that may lead to kidney damage, joint pain, and muscle pain. But these drugs dont come without side effects. (2016). Last medically reviewed on March 2, 2018. In some cases, these side effects may be serious, such as myopathy (muscle pain), rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), and liver problems. If you do choose to drink, use caution and drink moderately. High cholesterol can be hereditary, but it can also be caused by other factors. (2015). All rights reserved. (2011). 2005-2023 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. NSAIDs are used to treat pain, swelling, or fever. Both Lipitor and alcohol can raise your risk of liver problems, so combining the two may raise your risk of liver problems even more. Drinking alcohol while taking Lipitor can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. This may increase your risk of side effects, including myopathy (muscle pain), rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), and liver problems. The effect remains the same whether you cook the grapefruit or drink frozen or homogenized juice. StanleyHazen, MD, PhD, co-section head of preventive cardiology, says its a frequent topic of concern. You should avoid large quantities of grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which can increase the risk of serious side effects. This is an issue only for lovastatin (Mevacor) and simvastatin (Zocor, or Vytorin) and typically is only problematic at the highest dosages. If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. If you have kidney problems, you may have a higher risk of these side effects from Lipitor. Hi gang, I have a question about a certain diet soda that has grapefruit juice in it? Pomegranate juice should also be avoided for the same reason. Can I Recover Compensation for a Brain Injury Caused by a Virginia Car Accident? Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. Atorvastatin is used along with a proper diet to help lower "bad" cholesterol and fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. Statin drugs such as Lipitor can cause liver problems. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better options for you. Several sources report eating as little as one grapefruit can cause issues. Side effects from grapefruit-statin interaction are typically mild, such as increase in muscle and joint pain. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The list below includes contraindications of Lipitor. (2016). Does my health history affect whether I should take Lipitor? NTI meds to be closely monitored when co-administered with cannabinoids. Yes, its likely safe to take Lipitor along with NSAIDs. Severe side effects are rare, but can include muscle fiber breakdown and kidney injury. In addition, enzyme inhibition from grapefruit can last 24 hours, so separating grapefruit from medication by a few hours generally isn't sufficient. Would spacing out my medications lower my risk of interactions. Before you start taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Several years ago, the FDA recommended regular enzyme testing for statin patients. Its not known if Lipitor passes into breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a breastfed child. They can determine if they may be safe to take during your Lipitor treatment. I also had about 18 oz of Ruby Red Squirt (which contains 2% or less of concentrated ruby red . Rosenson, R. S. & Baker, S. K. (2020, July). Is there a safe amount of grapefruit to consume if I'm taking atorvastatin? Select a condition to view a list of medication options. Although past research has generally required participants to drink almost a liter of grapefruit juice a day to test how it affects liver enzymes that break down drugs, the amount it takes to affect that process appears to be far lower. I've constantly tried losing weight but gain it.I eat healthy. They could occur with foods, supplements, vaccines, or even lab tests. This warning has led to a lot of questions from people taking this type of medication. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. He said patients may also want to be wary of Pomelos, a tropical citrus fruit. Due to these possible risks, your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment if youre pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Do you takestatinmedications to lower bad LDLcholesterol? In other words, alcohol wont immediately interfere with or react with the statins in your body. Bring the handles together straight up over your head. Lipitor can interact with a certain type of antifungal drug called azole antifungals. But if you need to have lab tests, make sure the healthcare professional giving you the test knows about all medications you currently take. 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. However, even small amounts of grapefruit juice can interfere with important intestinal enzymes and change how some medications are metabolized by the body. I need to know if there is a safe duration between drinking grapefruit soda and or eating grapefruit and taking simvastatin. If you have any liver problems, tell your doctor before taking Lipitor. If it does contain real grapefruit juice then I wouldnt advise drinking it but you can double check with your Dr or better yet, your pharmacist. More About Atorvastatin For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. (2020). Copyright 2023 Healthgrades Marketplace, LLC, Patent US Nos. ): Dr. Brian Staiger is a licensed pharmacist in New York State and the founder of the Q+A website PharmacistAnswers.com. But statin side effects like liver damage and memory issues can also occur. There's no clear evidence, however, that taking CoQ10 at the same time as atorvastatin will benefit your health. Patients taking warfarin should be aware of foods that contain Vitamin K (green leafy vegetables) and try to maintain a consistent diet of these foods. Is it safe to use it with Benadryl though? Do other drugs that treat my condition also have similar interactions? "Drinking cranberry juice while taking these medications might increase the effects and side effects of atorvastatin.. 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 . Can I take weight loss pills? The role of the liver in alcohol metabolism means those who drink heavily could be at greater risk, however. There arent any known interactions between the two drugs. I was told by someone that you shouldn't drink grapefruit juice while taking Lyrica is this true? 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. Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. LIPITOR can be taken with or without food. 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 . Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and digestive fluids. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911. If you already have liver problems, taking Lipitor may make your condition worse. 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). (2014). Things to remember when you fill your prescription. Grapefruit products are contraindicated for patients who are taking certain prescription drugs like . To learn more, please visit our, There should not be any impact. Question posted by phrogkar on 21 March 2013, Last updated on 21 March 2013 by DzooBaby. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. If youve had an allergic reaction. Decreased circulation of blood in the brain. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. Can I drink coffee while taking statin? Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can block your bodys ability to break down Lipitor. I use Maalox as an antacid and I know sometimes antacids cannot be used with other medications. Cardiologists know cholesterol is a key factor in reducing risk of heart attack. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. (2014, December 16). Lipitor Food Interactions Images Should I avoid certain foods while taking Lipitor? Of all cholesterol-lowering drugs, statins are the most widely used. Don't break LIPITOR tablets before taking. If youve recently had a stroke, your risk of having another stroke may be higher during your Lipitor treatment. Sarah Lewis is a pharmacist and a medical writer with over 25 years of experience in various areas of pharmacy practice. What is considered high cholesterol? We've provided a list of the best at-home tests for. Mayo Clinic Staff. If you have questions about taking Lipitor with diltiazem, talk with your doctor. I have IBS. 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. Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question. Still looking for answers? The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Drinking cranberry juice while taking these medications might increase the effects and side effects of atorvastatin (Lipitor). Theyre also called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors because they lower LDL cholesterol by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that controls the rate at which cholesterol is made by the body. The original studies linking grapefruit ingestion to delayed statin metabolism involved large quantities of grapefruit juice daily (over a quart), and only showed that blood levels of the medications were increased, raising the potential for side effects. Patients should consult a pharmacist when starting, stopping, or changing doses of any medication when taking warfarin. Is it always possible to manage high cholesterol with diet and exercise alone? You shouldn't eat grapefruit if you are on lipitor (atorvastatin). Grapefruit juice may increase the amount of drug that remains in the body. If there's a higher concentration of these drugs in your body, they're able to block more cholesterol from being made. Statins protect your heart by lowering "bad" cholesterol. See below for details. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Linnea Zielinski. In some cases, they may recommend taking Zetia and Lipitor together. A study released in May, showed that pravastatin and simvastatin were associated with a decrease in energy and activity levels among users when compared to a placebo. Azole antifungals can decrease your bodys ability to break down Lipitor. As you probably know, this is about the enzyme CYP3A4 being inhibited by a substance in grapefruit and it's juice. 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. If you have diabetes, taking Lipitor can make your condition worse. If you have an underactive thyroid, talk with your doctor before taking Lipitor. ATORVASTATIN/Lipitor (a TORE va sta tin) treats high cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Luckily for grapefruit fans, there are cases in which a moderate amount should be safe. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Its not safe to take Lipitor while breastfeeding. 3 If taken 12 hours apart, that drops to between 44 percent and 66 percent. I take Benadryl every once in a while to sleep. Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, work to lower cholesterol byas the name suggestsinhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that controls the rate at which cholesterol is made by the body. As with any medication, taking the correct dose of statins is important. Drinking alcohol whilst taking statins can cause the possible side effects to be exacerbated, turning them from minor to very serious. Can i now take lipitor (atorvastatin) avery other day.? However, there are many risk factors that can increase your risk of complications. But new medications can help lower cholesterol and improve heart health. Which statins must be taken at bedtime? Learn more. Squirt claims to be "naturally" flavored but that is far from the case. You should not take Lipitor while pregnant. Third Party materials included herein protected under copyright law. Orange juice is safe to drink with Atorvastatin. Grapefruit may interact with atorvastatin and lead to unwanted side effects. Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Consuming grapefruit while taking atorvastatin, simvastatin, or lovastatin can cause higher levels of these statins in your body. Mixing these medications with caffeine . 7 Symptoms Never to Ignore If You Have Heart Failure. The effect of the grapefruit can last up to five hours. Answer It has been fairly well documented that grapefruit juice can interact with several drugs, including Lipitor ( atorvastatin ), a 'statin' medication used to lower cholesterol. Squirt, a carbonated soft-drink, contains grapefruit juice, as does Seville orange marmalade, according to Bieber. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 93 percent of U.S. adults taking a cholesterol medication in 2012 were taking a statin. Prescription cholesterol-lowering medication use in adults aged 40 and over: United States 2003-2012. Although rare, statins may increase liver enzyme production. The effect of the grapefruit can last up to five hours. Yes, its likely safe to take Lipitor and sildenafil (Viagra) together. How What Youre Eating Could Be Affecting Your Medications. Please feel free to reach out to him directly if you have any inquiries or want to connect! Both statins were found to be effective against LDL cholesterol. And in some cases, taking Zetia with statin drugs such as Lipitor is recommended to treat high cholesterol. Increased risk of alcohol addiction. At this time, its not known if the drug passes into breast milk or what effects it may have on a breastfed child. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. Fukazawa, I., Uchida, N., Uchida, E., & Yasuhara, H. (2004). Health Benefits of Resveratrol and Should You Take It? Forget HDL and LDL. But because the risk of liver damage is so rare, this is no longer the case. My Diabetes Is Controlled But Why Am I Gaining Weight? Its likely safe for you to take these medications together. This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.