Related: Cholesterol Testing: What Do Your Results Mean? If you drink alcohol you should let your physician know. Smokers may have higher risk of brain aneurysm, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, Get trusted advice from the doctors at Harvard Medical School, Learn tips for living a healthy lifestyle, Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in health, Receive special offers on health books and reports. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.113754. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). UpToDate. 2017;71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014, Janicko M, Drazilova S, Pella D, Fedacko J, Jarcuska P. Pleiotropic effects of statins in the diseases of the liver. Studies have found that some people who use Lipitor have an elevation of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The conclusion of a 2017 study was that statins used for people with cirrhosis might actually reduce liver failure and complications of liver failure such as portal hypertension. Statins are currently being evaluated for their ability to reduce the worsening of liver disease in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. By activating your account, you will create a login and password. Although red wine has theoretical advantages for the heart, studies suggest that all forms of alcohol are equally protective as long as the dose is right. Rosenson RS. Read our, Medically reviewed by Jeffrey S. Lander, MD, Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD, Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI, Verywell Health uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Take time to learn about the treatment options for alcoholism whether you are concerned about yourself or a friend or family member. An Expert Panel Statement. Blood tests should be conducted regularly while you take statins (at least once a year) to look for any liver damage caused by the statin alone or in combination with alcohol. Statins and liver injury. Some side effects may be dangerous, so make sure you and others are aware of what may happen, and you are … The primary concern with alcohol in people using Lipitor, however, is likely the host of other problems that are found with alcohol alone. PCSK9 Inhibitors for Cholesterol—Are They Really Miracle Drugs? If you drink at all, take a moment and try a quiz to see if you may have an alcohol use problem. Since moderate to high alcohol intake can also increase liver function tests, the combination of heavy drinking and statins will increase the chances of an abnormality. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines drinking in moderation as one alcoholic drink each day for women and two drinks for men. Thankfully, you won't have to go very far to hear wonderful success stories from people who have been given a new lease on life after quitting. Did you know the most common forms of heart disease are largely preventable? 71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014, Athyros VG, et. Current recommendations are that liver function tests be completed before beginning statin therapy and only repeated if there is a clinical reason to do so. Clinically apparent liver injury—injury enough to causes symptoms rather than simply abnormal liver function tests alone—is very uncommon with statins, unlike the elevations in liver enzymes alone we just noted. Fortunately, the inflammation is usually mild; it resolves when statins are stopped, but many doctors believe it's … An Expert Panel Statement. Some men with an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH for short) eventually start to experience urinary incontinence, the involuntary discharge of urine. Statins have made a big difference with regard to heart disease. They stabilize and reduce the size of the coronary artery plaques that can lead to heart attacks, the leading cause of death in the U.S. before cancer. Muscle problems with statins are not uncommon, and alcohol can lead to damage as well. Alcohol may also interfere with the metabolism of many drugs, such as those that may be used along with Lipitor for heart disease. Can acupuncture help my menopause symptoms? The real question comes down to, "Do you have a problem with alcohol?" For those who consume large amounts of alcohol (more than two drinks per day for a man or more than one drink per day for women), there is likely much more to be concerned about than the effect on your liver of combining statins and alcohol. How dangerous is it to drink alcohol if I’m on a blood thinner? There are several different ways to explain how statins affect the liver, so let's look at changes in liver tests alone (no symptoms,) clinical liver disease (symptoms) related to statin use, severe liver disease, as well as how statins may actually reduce mortality in some people who already have liver disease. (In comparison, it's thought that at least 15,000 people die each year from gastrointestinal bleeding from Advil.) Our guide will show you what puts you at risk, and how to take control of your heart health. The use of statins alone, or in combination with pioglitazone and other drugs, for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and related cardiovascular risk. Please note: If you have a promotional code you'll be prompted to enter it prior to confirming your order. 2017. Consuming large volumes of alcohol with statins increases the risk of side effects greatly. And if you do that, you can have your wine and your statin, too. Get health information and advice from the experts at Harvard Medical School. Regarding wine, one drink is 5 ounces. And because high doses of alcohol can damage the liver, your question about statins is a good one since about 2% of people who take these drugs develop chemical evidence of liver inflammation.