Cholesterol Medications and Alcohol Interactions
Introduction
Can you drink alcohol while taking cholesterol medication? HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, also called statins, are a widely prescribed group of medications used to lower high cholesterol and other lipids (hyperlipidemia) in addition to diet. Statins are used to help protect the heart and blood vessel system and lower the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Related: Cholesterol Testing: What Do Your Results Mean?
Statins or other cholesterol medications work by lowering LDL (low density lipoproteins, or “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides, or by raising HDL (high density lipoprotein, or “good” cholesterol). Statins are oral medicines that are available as single agents or in combination with other medicines.
- Alcohol and cholesterol medications known as statins: you may consider moderating your alcohol intake because statins mixed with alcohol may elevate triglyceride levels and possibly lead to liver damage. Talk to your doctor if you drink more than 1 to 2 glasses of alcohol daily.
- Alcohol abuse is a common risk factor for statin-related myopathy. Myopathy can include muscle weakness, muscle pain or tenderness, and muscle toxicity.
- Patients using cholesterol medications and alcohol who have liver disease due to excessive alcohol use (for example, cirrhosis) or who consume large quantities of alcohol should alert their doctor to this issue. Statins can lead to liver disease in roughly 2% of patients, and ongoing monitoring of liver function may be needed. You should NOT use statins if you have active liver disease or elevated liver enzymes. Your doctor will check your liver enzymes and assess you for liver disease before starting a statin.
- High cholesterol and alcohol use can be linked if alcohol is consumed long-term and excessively.
Related: List of Medicines for High Cholesterol
Niacin, a B vitamin, may be used to lower cholesterol in addition to diet. Niacin may lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and raise HDL levels.
- Avoid alcohol at the time of niacin administration due to an increased risk of flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin), itching, nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
- Tell your doctor if you have liver disease or consume large amounts of alcohol on a regular basis. Niacin should not be used if you have a history of or current liver disease.
Juxtapid (lomitapide) is a medication used in patients with an inherited (genetic) type of high cholesterol known as homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
- There is a risk of liver toxicity with these drugs. Drinking alcohol with these drugs may increase your chance of having liver problems or make your liver problems worse.
- It is important you limit alcohol consumption to no more than one alcohol-containing drink per day.
- If you have symptoms of liver injury (nausea, vomiting, dark-colored urine, light-colored stools, stomach pain, fever, yellow skin or whites of the eyes, extreme tiredness, flu-like symptoms) contact your doctor immediately.
The manufacturer's labeling for Praluent (alirocumab) and Repatha (evolocumab) do not list alcohol (ethanol) as a possible drug-drug interaction. However, these agents work in the liver and Praluent has been linked with elevated liver enzymes, which may signal liver toxicity. If you have alcohol-related liver disease or other diseases of the liver, be sure to discuss this with your doctor.
Learn more: See alcohol (ethanol) drug interactions with your medication
Common Cholesterol Medications
| Generic Name | Brand Name |
|---|---|
| alirocumab | Praluent |
| atorvastatin | Lipitor |
| evolocumab | Repatha |
| fluvastatin | Lescol, Lescol XL |
| lomitapide | Juxtapid |
| lovastatin | Mevacor |
| niacin (vitamin B3) | Niacor, Niaspan ER, Slo-Niacin |
| pitavastatin | Livalo, Zypitamag |
| pravastatin | Pravachol |
| simvastatin | Zocor |
| rosuvastatin | Crestor |
*Note: This is not a complete list; always check with your pharmacist for possible drug-alcohol interactions. Tell your healthcare providers about all the other medications you use, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements and herbal products.
Types of Drug Interactions With Alcohol
- ADHD Medications and Alcohol
- Allergies, Cough/Cold Medications and Alcohol
- Antibiotic Medications and Alcohol
- Antidepressant Medications and Alcohol Interactions
- Antipsychotic Medications and Alcohol
- Anxiety Medications and Alcohol
- Bipolar Medications and Alcohol
- Birth Control Pills and Alcohol
- Blood Thinners and Alcohol: A Dangerous Mix?
- Caffeine, Energy Drinks and Alcohol
- Can You Mix Weight Loss Drugs and Alcohol?
- Diabetes Medications and Alcohol
- Enlarged Prostate (BPH) Medications and Alcohol Interactions
- Erectile Dysfunction Medications and Alcohol
- Heart Medications and Alcohol
- Herbal Supplements and Alcohol
- Illicit Drugs and Alcohol Interactions
- Is it safe to drink alcohol with acne medicines?
- Motion Sickness Drugs and Alcohol Interactions
- Pain / Fever Drugs and Alcohol Interactions
- Seizure Medications and Alcohol Interactions
- Should you mix muscle relaxants with alcohol?
- Stomach / Heartburn Medications and Alcohol
- What are the dangers of mixing sleeping pills with alcohol?
Learn more
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor): Top 12 Drug Facts You Need to Know
- FDA-Approved Weight Loss Drugs: Can They Help You?
- Statins for high cholesterol: Are the benefits worth the risk?
- Which Drugs Cause Weight Gain?
Treatment options
- Medications for High Cholesterol
- Medications for High Cholesterol, Familial Heterozygous
- Medications for High Cholesterol, Familial Homozygous
Care guides
Symptoms and treatments
Medicine.com guides (external)
Sources
- Ramkumar S, Raghunath A, and Raghunath A. Statin Therapy: Review of Safety and Potential Side Effects. Acta Cardiol Sin. 2016 Nov; 32(6): 631–639. Accessed Dec. 10, 2019 at doi: 10.6515/ACS20160611A
- HDL cholesterol: How to boost your 'good' cholesterol. Mayo Clinic. Accessed Dec. 10, 2019 at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/hdl-cholesterol/art-20046388
- Product Information. Praluent Pen (alirocumab). Sanofi-Aventis, Bridgewater, NJ.
- On call: Do alcohol and statins mix?. Harvard Health. Accessed Dec. 10, 2019 at https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/do-alcohol-and-statins-mix
- Product Information. Repatha (evolocumab). Amgen USA, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
