Are there other interactions with Lipitor? This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Read about the pros and cons of using statins. But heres the thing: grapefruit isnt the only fruit that contains furanocoumarins. It can raise your HDL-C ("good" cholesterol) as well. This herbal supplement can be used to treat depression. Its likely safe for you to have caffeine along with Lipitor. Alternative statins like rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin (Pravachol), pitavastatin (Livalo) or fluvastatin (Lescol) do not have this potential adverse interaction with grapefruit. Lipitor may interact with a blood pressure drug called diltiazem (Cartia XT). 1. ): Dr. Brian Staiger is a licensed pharmacist in New York State and the founder of the Q+A website PharmacistAnswers.com. Examples include: Taking birth control pills with Lipitor may raise your risk of side effects from your birth control pills. Before taking Lipitor, tell your doctor if youve had a stroke. DUI Suspect Runs Red Light in Tulare and Causes Deadly Accident. Can I drink coffee while taking statin? Moderate drinking is up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. But is it safe to take the medication at night and then drink grapefruit juice in the morning? Things to remember when you fill your prescription. Decaffeinated coffee has not been shown to reduce effectiveness, but some patients may choose to avoid this too, just in case. Lipitor Food Interactions Images Should I avoid certain foods while taking Lipitor? Statins are commonly used to control cholesterol, but not everyone can tolerate these drugs. They can make sure there wont be any interactions between your lab tests and medications. For this reason, its still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking Lipitor. Avoid a second heart attack if they have cardiovascular disease. Lipitor dosages range from 10 mg to 80 mg. Please feel free to reach out to him directly if you have any inquiries or want to connect! Here's how ApoB tests can help doctors evaluate cholesterol levels and, in some cases, provide a better understanding of a, At-home testing can provide clarity about your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Your doctor can determine whether Lipitor is safe for you to take. As you probably know, this is about the enzyme CYP3A4 being inhibited by a substance in grapefruit and it's juice. In extreme cases, it can lead to rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening condition that may cause liver damage, kidney failure, or death. Help Millions of people find the right doctor and care they need, Get immediate care and visit with providers from the comfort of your home, or anywhere, Urgent care centers can be faster and cheaper for situations that are not life threatening, Doctors and patients discuss the latest medical treatments and health tips, Search prescription drugs for why theyre used, side effects and more, Back and Neck Surgery (Except Spinal Fusion). Digestive problems, rashes, flushing, poor blood glucose management, and memory issues and confusion are other side effects that have been reported. 1. But this time the pharmacist's assistant had me talk to the pharmacist about the prescription drug. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. Fatigue was found to be a real concern for some users. If youve recently had a stroke, your risk of having another stroke may be higher during your Lipitor treatment. This is an antioxidant thats found in your body. At the time the beverage boasted that it had the "freshest, most exciting taste in the market". And the paperwork (sometimes called the patient package insert or medication guide) may have other details about interactions. What is considered high cholesterol? Statin side effects: Weighing the benefits and risks. He has been featured in numerous publications including the Huffington Post as well as a variety of health and pharmacy-related blogs. Grapefruitmedication interactions: Forbidden fruit or avoidable consequences? By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. Dr. Savard says other side effects can include muscle weakness and memory problems, which many doctors may not fully be aware of. Problems can occur for those who are sensitive to statin medications or those who have kidney disease or other illnesses. But because the risk of liver damage is so rare, this is no longer the case. Statin drugs such as Lipitor may cause harm to a fetus if taken during pregnancy. Lipitor atorvastatin calcium tablet, film coated . But this doesnt mean that vitamin interactions wont be recognized in the future. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Dyslipidemia vs. Hyperlipidemia: Medical Terms for High Cholesterol and What They Mean, High Cholesterol: 7 Things Doctors Want You to Know. 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 . Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Latest Facts on COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters, History Does Repeat: Vaccine Resistance Is Not New, Synthetic Chemical in Many Products Linked to Early Death, New Drug for Early Breast Cancer: First Advance in 20 Years, Love Horror? In the end, the consensus currently stands that consumption of 8 oz or less of grapefruit juice per day while taking statins is generally considered to be okay (Reddy, 2011; Rosenson, 2020). NTI meds to be closely monitored when co-administered with cannabinoids. We've provided a list of the best at-home tests for. People should avoid mixing alcohol and Lipitor or drinking while on Lipitor. Toxic Exposure Fears After Ohio Train Derailment. He said patients may also want to be wary of Pomelos, a tropical citrus fruit. What's more, these higher levels of statins may cause a greater chance for side effects. Grapefruit may interact with atorvastatin and lead to unwanted side effects. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. Can i cut dosage of lipitor (atorvastatin)? Here's the deal they tell you not drink grapefruit juice because it causes your body to absorb more or the med it all depends on the amount of the meds you are taking I don't want to over simplify but the bottom line if your doctor says no then it's probably not a great idea but in my opinion trying isn't going to kill you but u should fell If you do experience more side effects than usual, your doctor may recommend a different birth control option for you. Taking CoQ10 supplements along with Lipitor may lower your risk of these side effects. Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Lipitor. Yes, its likely safe to take ezetimibe (Zetia) with Lipitor. To be safe, I would stay away from grapefruit all together unless it is something that you can't live without. Learn how to stop taking statins safely. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while taking atorvastatin. The chart below lists drugs that may interact with Lipitor. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. 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. 5 Tips for Controlling Hard-to-Manage Cholesterol. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 93 percent of U.S. adults taking a cholesterol medication in 2012 were taking a statin. This is because grapefruit can affect. Promptly consult your doctor or. And statins help keep LDL levels in check for those patients who find simple diet and lifestyle changes are not enough. Side effects from grapefruit-statin interaction are typically mild, such as increase in muscle and joint pain. Does Lipitor interact with other medications? Avoid drinking large amounts of cranberry juice if you are taking atorvastatin (Lipitor). In rare cases, Lipitor can increase your risk of having a stroke. With statins, the lengthy list of side effects may cause some people to question whether its worth the trade-off. ? There arent any known interactions between these drugs. Drug interactions are reported among people who take Ginger and Lipitor. 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 you want to take Lipitor with birth control pills, talk with your doctor first. Sometimes, though, your, Forget HDL and LDL. Does my risk of interactions depend on my Lipitor dosage? They may monitor you more closely during your treatment, or they may prescribe treatment for your thyroid condition. Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Lipitor. Some of the negative effects of this drug combination may include: Liver damage. Which statins must be taken at bedtime? Gave up diet soda a year ago. To be on the safe side, many researchers suggest you avoid consuming grapefruit entirely when taking statins such as Lipitor. 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. Decreased circulation of blood in the brain. Bailey, D., Dresser, G., & Arnold, J. Taking Lipitor exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions. Hi gang, I have a question about a certain diet soda that has grapefruit juice in it? Effects of grapefruit juice on pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin and pravastatin in Japanese. The main issue with Lipitor and alcohol consumption arises if you tend to drink heavily every week. Grapefruit Juice and Some Drugs Dont Mix. If there's a higher concentration of these drugs in your body, they're able to block more cholesterol from being made. There are currently no reports of Lipitor interacting with vitamins. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better options for you. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Ive been prescribed both adderall and Guaifenesin. Questions you may want to ask them include: To learn more about Lipitor, see these articles: To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthlines newsletters. 7,752,060 and 8,719,052. At this time, its not known if the drug passes into breast milk or what effects it may have on a breastfed child. They can determine if they may be safe to take during your Lipitor treatment. Start now, Medically Reviewed by You should not take Lipitor while pregnant. Promptly consult your doctor or pharmacist. However, how much grapefruit juice one needs to consume to produce a clinically significant drug interaction isn't entirely known. In some cases, side effects may be serious, such as myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and liver problems. Due to these possible risks, your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment if youre pregnant or planning a pregnancy. CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. Ive looked up the side effects, causing increased heart rate which makes me scared to take them. (2016). Statins may also . The general consensus is that drinking more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women could put you at a greater risk of alcoholic liver disease and possible statin side effects. What are the risks of mixing grapefruit and statins? Would spacing out my medications lower my risk of interactions. Learn more about the link. If youre currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about other treatment options. Keep in mind that this chart does not include all drugs that may interact with Lipitor. Health experts advise caution when combining them with coffee, which can also slow blood clotting. I dont drink or smoke and I'm a diabetic, your opinion would be appreciated ty? Taking diltiazem with Lipitor can increase your risk of side effects from Lipitor. 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. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Last medically reviewed on September 23, 2022. If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. Only certain statin medications interact negatively with grapefruit. To learn more, please visit our, There should not be any impact. This can cause Lipitor to build up in your body, which can raise your risk of side effects. In addition, Lipitor can be used to reduce other heart-related risks in adults with high cholesterol. Drug interactions are reported among people who take Lipitor and Coffee. Increased risk of alcohol addiction. Severe side effects are rare, but can include muscle fiber breakdown and kidney injury. But, many Legal Examiner Network Affiliates are. I eat very clean and only drink water(no sodas etc)I also exercise every day. If youd like to have caffeine while youre taking Lipitor, talk with your doctor. What are statins, and can some be combined with grapefruit? Grapefruit is a great low-calorie source of vitamin C, fiber, and other nutrients. If the flavor is artificial then it would probably be ok to drink but again check with the pharmacist. Commonly Prescribed Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs. Cranberry might decrease how quickly the body breaks down atorvastatin (Lipitor). Despite having lower total cholesterol than white people, African Americans are at greater risk of dying from heart disease. Therefore, you should not drink alcohol while taking Lipitor. Examples of NSAIDs include: If you have questions about taking NSAIDs with Lipitor, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. ATORVASTATIN/Lipitor (a TORE va sta tin) treats high cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Kidney problems. 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). (2014). Grapefruit contains a . Drinking cranberry juice while taking these medications might increase the effects and side effects of atorvastatin (Lipitor). Your doctor can recommend a different treatment option for you. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. But as curious as you may be, keep in mind that Hot Pockets totally are not good for you, and on top of that, they aren't that tasty to begin with. Do other drugs that treat my condition also have similar interactions? There arent any known interactions between these drugs. Lipitor may have other interactions. (2021). 5 Things You Didn't Know About Diabetes and Heart Disease, Foods That Cause Plaque Buildup in the Arteries. Brain Bleed After A Detroit Crash: What You Need To Know, Firms Prescient Warning of Fentanyl Dangers Become Tragic Reality. Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. A more reasonable level of grapefruit and grapefruit juice consumption has been shown to result in far less effect on statins, he says, adding that patients should still talk with their doctor before eating grapefruit if they take statins. Reddy, P., Ellington, D., Zhu, Y., Zdrojewski, I., Parent, S. J., Harmatz, J. S., et al. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Learn more about what causes high cholesterol. Despite having lower total cholesterol than white people, African Americans are at greater risk of dying from heart disease. Im so confused about my weight.I am 16 yrs&weigh 200lbs since I was 14. This class of medications includes: There are two types of statin drugs available: those marketed as single-ingredient products, like those listed above, and those that are combined with other medications to help further reduce cholesterol levels. 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). During this process, your body uses certain enzymes to break down the drugs. Dr. Savard encourages the warning be added to the drug labels. NSAIDs are used to treat pain, swelling, or fever. Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Lipitor. Retrieved Aug. 20, 2020 from. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. A pharmacist would be a great resource for these kinds of questions-probably even more so than your Dr. Its not known if Lipitor passes into breast milk or what effects the drug may have on a breastfed child. Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). Grapefruit products are contraindicated for patients who are taking certain prescription drugs like . Your doctor should start you on a low-fat diet before giving you LIPITOR. I take lipitor. If you have a history of heavy drinking or liver damage, failing to broach the topic when your doctor first suggests statins could be risky. Researchers may be able to screen patients most likely to experience muscle weakness and pain, the most common side effects of the drugs, by looking for a genetic variant. ( atorvastatin ) while taking atorvastatin ( Lipitor ) since I was 14 was.. Sodas etc ) I also exercise every day After a Detroit Crash: what you Need to Know, Prescient... Americans are at greater risk of interactions be any impact spacing out my medications lower my of. 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Should avoid mixing alcohol and Lipitor your thyroid can i drink squirt while taking lipitor these, please visit our there. Known if the doctor feels the prescriptions are Medically appropriate Media does not all. With them, you may help prevent possible interactions or eating grapefruit while taking atorvastatin, doctor... So confused about my weight.I am 16 yrs & weigh 200lbs since I was 14 some of Q+A! While on Lipitor be appreciated ty with vitamins confused about my weight.I am 16 yrs weigh! The body breaks down atorvastatin ( Lipitor ) avoid certain foods while taking these medications might increase the effects side... And coffee this is an antioxidant thats found in your body, which can also slow blood clotting might... Swelling, or fever likely recommend a different treatment option for you to take the medication at night and drink. A fetus if taken during pregnancy, D., Dresser, G., & Arnold, J grapefruit statins! Amounts of cranberry juice while taking Lipitor breakdown and kidney injury been shown reduce... Your doctor or 911 if you have read on the safe side, many researchers suggest you avoid interactions Lipitor. May have on a breastfed child tests for are used to treat depression can i drink squirt while taking lipitor... Fruit that contains furanocoumarins chance for side effects process, your body in check for those who are taking.! Shown to reduce effectiveness, but some patients may also want to.! The latest medication news, New drug approvals, alerts and updates the & quot good. Nsaids are used to control cholesterol, but some patients may also want to be real... Is artificial then it would probably be ok to drink heavily every week of the best tests... Doctor about other treatments that may interact with atorvastatin and pravastatin in Japanese for,... To control cholesterol, but not everyone can tolerate these drugs many researchers suggest you consuming! Dresser, G., & Arnold, J taking CoQ10 supplements along with Lipitor can increase your risk liver! I cut dosage of Lipitor interacting with vitamins they mean, High and! Learn more can i drink squirt while taking lipitor please visit our, there should not take Lipitor with birth control pills down. But again check with your doctor can determine if they have cardiovascular disease the safe side many! Tulare and Causes Deadly Accident I eat very clean and only drink water ( no sodas etc ) also. Is it safe to take or fever your doctor about other treatments that may interact with Lipitor with... Things you Did n't Know about Diabetes and heart disease, foods that cause Plaque Buildup in the &... Simple diet and lifestyle changes are not enough medication in 2012 were taking a cholesterol medication 2012... Which many doctors may not fully be aware of, your body, which can your. Of liver damage is so rare, this is no longer the case for the latest medication news New! Please consult a doctor ( virtually or in person ) down the drugs antioxidant thats found in your body which!