Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLabel WarningEffect on the LiverTalk to Your Doctor
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Label Warning
Effect on the Liver
Talk to Your Doctor
If you are taking Lipitor (atorvastatin) or otherstatinsto control your cholesterol levels, it’s best to avoid drinking more than a moderate amount of alcohol. Lipitor and alcohol both affect the liver, and people who drink excessively may need to be extra cautious while taking this medication.
That said, having the occasional drink while on Lipitor should not cause harm in people who do not have liver problems and are generally healthy.
Dulin / Getty Images
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.
Combining Alcohol and Lipitor
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.
According to the CDC, one standard drink is equal to:12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).1.5 ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).
According to the CDC, one standard drink is equal to:
The Effect of Statins on the Liver
It’s not uncommon to have abnormalliver function testswhen taking Lipitor, but there are other considerations when looking at the effects of statins on the liver.
There are changes in liver tests alone (no symptoms,) clinical liver disease (symptoms) related to statin use, and severe liver disease. Statins may actually reduce mortality in some people who already have liver disease.
Liver Enzymes and Statins
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. Studies have found that some people who use Lipitor have an elevation of the liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT).
An increase of in these values occurs in roughly 3% of people.However, most of the time these elevations are only temporary and not usually dangerous.
Since moderate to high alcohol intake can also elevate liver enzymes, the combination of heavy drinking and statins will increase the chances of abnormal test results.
Liver Function Tests
Liver Injury and Statins
Clinically apparent liver injury—injury enough to cause symptoms rather than simply abnormal liver function tests alone—is very uncommon with statins.
Serious liver injury is possible on statins, but this is quite rare. As of 2017, there were approximately 50 case reports of liver injury in people taking statins that led to death or the need for liver transplantation.
Looking at these numbers, however, it’s important to note that, as of 2019, Lipitor has been the most prescribed drug worldwide.
Drug-induced liver disease is usually an autoimmune condition, in which the drug prompts some people’s bodies to make antibodies that attack their own liver tissue.This is considered an “idiosyncratic” reaction, something that isn’t well understood and can’t be predicted.
Statins May Be Helpful in Liver Disease
Despite the recommendation to monitor liver tests, and the uncommon risk of severe liver injury, statins may be helpful for some people with liver disease.
In one study looking at people with severealcoholic liver disease, the use of statins cut the risk of death from alcoholiccirrhosisin half.
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 asportal hypertension.Statins are being evaluated for their ability to reduce the worsening of liver disease in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
In addition, those who have liver disease due to chronichepatitis C infectionsmay respond better to medications (interferon) when they are given statins.However, it’s important to note that alcohol worsens hepatitis C, and should be avoided in general in patients with the disease.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
If you drink alcohol and are taking Lipitor, let your healthcare provider know. Many people underestimate their alcohol intake, but being honest with your healthcare provider will ultimately help them take care of you as well as possible. Your healthcare provider knows your medical history and current health status and can advise you on whether or not it is safe to drink while on Lipitor.
Summary
Lipitor is the most commonly prescribed prescription medication worldwide. It is used to lower cholesterol levels, thus guarding against heart attack and stroke. Lipitor and alcohol consumption each affect the health of the liver and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while on this medication can potentially increase the likelihood of liver problems. In general, though, drinking low to moderate amounts of alcohol has not been shown to be harmful.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Lipitor prescribing information.Rosenson RS.Statins: Actions, side effects, and administration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol use and your health.Thapar M, Russo MW, Bonkovsky HL.Statins and liver injury.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(9):605–606.Bjornsson E.Hepatotoxicity of statins and other lipid-lowering agents.Liver International. 2017. 37(2):173-178. doi:10.1111/liv.13308Lippi G, Mattiuzzi C, Cervellin G.Statins popularity: A global picture.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jul;85(7):1614-1615. doi:10.1111/bcp.13944Athyros V, Alexandrides T, Bilianou H, et al.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. An Expert Panel Statement.Metabolism. 2017. 71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014Athyros VG, et. al.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. An Expert Panel Statement. Metabolism. 2017;71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014Janicko M, Drazilova S, Pella D, Fedacko J, Jarcuska P.Pleiotropic effects of statins in the diseases of the liver.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(27):6201–6213. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i27.6201Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.About moderate alcohol use.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Lipitor prescribing information.Rosenson RS.Statins: Actions, side effects, and administration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol use and your health.Thapar M, Russo MW, Bonkovsky HL.Statins and liver injury.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(9):605–606.Bjornsson E.Hepatotoxicity of statins and other lipid-lowering agents.Liver International. 2017. 37(2):173-178. doi:10.1111/liv.13308Lippi G, Mattiuzzi C, Cervellin G.Statins popularity: A global picture.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jul;85(7):1614-1615. doi:10.1111/bcp.13944Athyros V, Alexandrides T, Bilianou H, et al.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. An Expert Panel Statement.Metabolism. 2017. 71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014Athyros VG, et. al.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. An Expert Panel Statement. Metabolism. 2017;71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014Janicko M, Drazilova S, Pella D, Fedacko J, Jarcuska P.Pleiotropic effects of statins in the diseases of the liver.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(27):6201–6213. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i27.6201Additional ReadingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.About moderate alcohol use.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Lipitor prescribing information.Rosenson RS.Statins: Actions, side effects, and administration.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol use and your health.Thapar M, Russo MW, Bonkovsky HL.Statins and liver injury.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(9):605–606.Bjornsson E.Hepatotoxicity of statins and other lipid-lowering agents.Liver International. 2017. 37(2):173-178. doi:10.1111/liv.13308Lippi G, Mattiuzzi C, Cervellin G.Statins popularity: A global picture.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jul;85(7):1614-1615. doi:10.1111/bcp.13944Athyros V, Alexandrides T, Bilianou H, et al.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. An Expert Panel Statement.Metabolism. 2017. 71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014Athyros VG, et. al.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. An Expert Panel Statement. Metabolism. 2017;71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014Janicko M, Drazilova S, Pella D, Fedacko J, Jarcuska P.Pleiotropic effects of statins in the diseases of the liver.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(27):6201–6213. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i27.6201
DailyMed.Lipitor prescribing information.
Rosenson RS.Statins: Actions, side effects, and administration.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Alcohol use and your health.
Thapar M, Russo MW, Bonkovsky HL.Statins and liver injury.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(9):605–606.
Bjornsson E.Hepatotoxicity of statins and other lipid-lowering agents.Liver International. 2017. 37(2):173-178. doi:10.1111/liv.13308
Lippi G, Mattiuzzi C, Cervellin G.Statins popularity: A global picture.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jul;85(7):1614-1615. doi:10.1111/bcp.13944
Athyros V, Alexandrides T, Bilianou H, et al.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. An Expert Panel Statement.Metabolism. 2017. 71:17-32. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2017.02.014
Athyros VG, et. al.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. An Expert Panel Statement. Metabolism. 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.World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22(27):6201–6213. doi:10.3748/wjg.v22.i27.6201
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About moderate alcohol use.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
