Statin medications and alcohol interaction

Examples: atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, Crestor, Lescol, Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor

What happens when you take medicine after alcohol?

Medications and alcohol can react in many ways. For example, medications can increase effect of alcohol. When that happens, you can feel drunk faster. Or you can feel drunk even after drinking less alcohol. Or your hangover can stay longer. Alcohol can also increase blood levels of medications. More medicine in your blood means you can get more side effects. Read more about how alcohol reacts with medications

Can statins increase or decrease blood levels of alcohol?

We don't know if statins increase or decrease blood levels of alcohol. Discuss alcohol use with your doctor. Your doctor knows your medical history best. Your doctor can make recommendations about safe alcohol use.

Can alcohol increase or decrease blood levels of statin medications?

We don't know if alcohol increases or decreases blood levels of statins. Discuss alcohol use with your doctor. Your doctor knows your medical history best. Your doctor can make recommendations about safe alcohol use.

Can alcohol react with statins in other ways?

Yes alcohol can react with statins in many other ways. You might not get these reactions but be aware these can happen.

First off, you need to take statin medication every day. You might forget to take statin medication after drinking. If you do not take your statin medication, the amount of medication in your system goes below effective range. That means the medication might not completely control your cholesterol level.

Statins can cause muscle problems such as weakness, tenderness, muscle pain. If you drink alcohol, you have more risk of muscle problems.

Statins can cause memory problems. You might feel foggy and forget things. Alcohol can make your memory problems worse. Older people need to be very careful (read more why older people have higher risk of medication-alcohol interactions).

Statins can cause liver problems. Regular drinking can also cause liver problems. If you keep drinking alcohol and keep taking statin medication, you might hurt your liver.

Statins can cause depression, headache, trouble sleeping, vision problems. Alcohol can make these worse.

Statins can lower your blood sugar. Alcohol can also can lower your blood sugar. When your blood sugar is low, you might feel tired and sleepy. You might have trouble focusing. Be careful if you want to drive or work on machines. Diabetes medications and insulin can also lower your blood sugar. Be very careful if you take statins and diabetes medications and drink alcohol.

Statins can irritate your esophagus and stomach. Alcohol can also can irritate your esophagus and stomach. You might feel heartburn, nausea, gas in tummy. People with heartburn, GERD, stomach acidity, ulcers need to be very careful. Fried and spicy food with alcohol can make heartburn worse.

Grapefruit juice can increase blood levels of some statin medications (atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin). More medication in your blood means more side effects. Some cocktails contain grapefruit juice. Avoid grapefruit juice and cocktails with grapefruit juice if you take atorvastatin, lovastatin, or simvastatin.

Special precautions

The risk of serious reaction can be even higher on days when you are tired, dehydrated, had a long day at work, didn't have enough sleep (read more about dangerous situations to avoid).

Did you just start taking a statin medication? Or did the doctor just change your dose? Your body still might be adjusting to the medication. Avoid alcohol till you know how the medication is affecting you.

Frequent questions

Can alcohol make statin medications ineffective?

No. Alcohol does not make statin medications ineffective.

Can alcohol make statin medications toxic?

No. Alcohol does not make statin medications toxic.

I want to drink a lot of alcohol. Can I skip my statin medication today?

Remember: Skipping your medication does not mean the effect of the medication is gone. Your body gets rid of medications slowly. If you have been regularly taking a medication and if you stop for one day, little bit of medication remains in your system. So even if you don't take your medication today, little bit of medication might still be in your system (or the effect of the medication might still be there). You can get a serious reaction with alcohol. Do not skip your medications and do not drink too much. Read more why skipping medications is a bad idea.

I have been drinking for several months (or years). My doctor just prescribed statin medication. What precautions I should take?

Regular drinking hurts your liver. Statins also can hurt your liver. If you keep drinking alcohol and keep taking statin medication, you might hurt your liver.

It is also possible that your liver might have become weaker due to regular drinking. That means your liver might not be able to metabolize (get rid of) statin medications. You can get more side effects from statin medications.

Tell your doctor about your drinking. Your doctor can test your liver. Then your doctor can choose the best statin medication for you. Or your doctor might give you a lower dose of statin medication.

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Page last updated: 30-August-2019