{"id":5920,"date":"2019-09-20T10:00:13","date_gmt":"2019-09-20T14:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=5920"},"modified":"2026-06-11T14:35:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:35:30","slug":"statins-and-alcohol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/statins-and-alcohol\/","title":{"rendered":"Do statins and alcohol consumption mix?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You’ve already given up burgers, pizza, doughnuts, and ice cream in an attempt to lower cholesterol levels. Now your healthcare provider is recommending that you join the 25% of people over the age of 40 who are on statin therapy to lower their cholesterol and reduce their cardiovascular risk. Does taking statins for high cholesterol mean you are going to need to give up your favorite adult beverages, too?<\/span><\/p>\n

We’ve got good news! Probably not, at least not for the sake of your <\/span>Lipitor (atorvastatin) or Crestor (rosuvastatin) prescription<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/b> Is drinking bad for your cholesterol?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Is it safe to mix statins and alcohol?<\/b><\/h2>\n

“Statins in general are safe with alcohol consumption,” says Eugene Yang, MD, medical director of the University of Washington Medicine Eastside Specialty Center in Bellevue, Washington.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, just as with many rules, there are exceptions to this one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Liver inflammation<\/b><\/h3>\n

“In some cases, statins can lead to mild inflammation of the liver as a potential side effect, so if people consume alcohol in excess and they have the statins causing some mild liver inflammation, then that could make it worse,” <\/span>Dr. Yang<\/span><\/a> says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the risk of liver inflammation as a statin side effect is so low that the <\/span>Food and Drug Administration<\/span><\/a> removed the recommendation of periodic monitoring of liver enzymes back in 2012.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>What happens when you mix Lipitor with alcohol?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Liver disease<\/b><\/h3>\n

The concern, experts say, is most applicable to those who have some sort of underlying liver-related problem, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, previously known as <\/span>nonalcoholic fatty liver disease<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Statins are processed in the liver, so if your liver is impaired in any way, it might not be able to process the medication in the same way a healthy liver could,” says <\/span>Jennifer Bacci, Pharm.D., <\/span><\/a>an assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Bacci recommends that anyone with chronic liver disease or liver damage completely avoid alcohol while taking statins, as mixing the two can lead to severe liver enzyme elevation and potential long-term damage. Furthermore, alcohol consumption on its own accelerates the progression of liver disease and significantly increases the risk of cirrhosis. For these reasons, strict abstinence from alcohol is strongly recommended for all patients with chronic liver conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: Can you drink while taking lisinopril?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Excessive alcohol use<\/b><\/h3>\n

And if you don’t have liver issues? You <\/span>still<\/span><\/i> need to have an honest conversation about alcohol use with your healthcare provider before starting statin therapy. You also need to make sure you are not exceeding the <\/span>recommended daily guidelines for alcohol use<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n