What happens if you drink grapefruit juice with Lipitor?

What happens if you drink grapefruit juice with Lipitor?

Grapefruit contains substances called furanocoumarins, which interfere with liver enzymes that break down the medication. As a result, blood levels of the drug’s active ingredient become dangerously elevated, which can lead to a serious muscle disorder or liver damage.

Does Lipitor weaken muscles?

The side effects most commonly associated with statin use involve muscle cramping, soreness, fatigue, weakness, and, in rare cases, rapid muscle breakdown that can lead to death. Often, these side effects can become apparent during or after strenuous bouts of exercise.

Does grapefruit juice affect atorvastatin?

Grapefruit juice increases the level of simvastatin in your blood and makes side effects more likely. Atorvastatin interacts with grapefruit juice if you drink large quantities (more than 1.2 litres daily), but an occasional glass is thought to be safe.

What foods should you avoid when taking Lipitor?

While taking atorvastatin (Lipitor), avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol foods as part of your overall treatment. You should avoid large quantities of grapefruit or grapefruit juice, which can increase the risk of serious side effects. Also, avoid excess alcohol use, as this may cause serious liver problems.

What does grapefruit do to statins?

Why? A: Certain classes of drugs — most notably statins — are metabolized (broken down) in your intestines by an enzyme called CYP3A, which normally reduces the amount of drug that enters your bloodstream. Grapefruit juice contains compounds called furanocoumarins that stop CYP3A from doing its job.

Is statin muscle damage reversible?

The damage is typically reversible once the person stops taking the statin. More rarely still, a severe type of muscle damage called rhabdomyolysis may occur, in an estimated 2–3 in 100,000 people taking this type of drug per year.

Do statins make it hard to build muscle?

The conclusion: The findings of the STOMP trial provide a degree of reassurance to patients and doctors. Although high-dose statin therapy may increase the incidence of muscle complaints or cause slight rises in muscle enzymes, these drugs do not reduce muscle strength or endurance.

Can I drink orange juice while taking atorvastatin?

Orange juice is safe to drink with Atorvastatin. Contact your prescriber immediately if you experience unexplained muscle aches, muscle pain or tenderness, general weakness or fatigue, side or back pain, or decreased urination while taking Atorvastatin.

Why do statins cause muscle pain?

The researchers suggest that in most people, muscle cells can tolerate this calcium leak. However, in people already susceptible due to their genes or lifestyle, the leak caused by statins may overwhelm the muscle cells, giving rise to muscle pain and weakness.

How do you know if you have muscle damage from statins?

Rhabdomyolysis or milder forms of muscle inflammation from statins can be diagnosed with a blood test measuring levels of the enzyme creatinine kinase. If you notice moderate or severe muscle aches after starting to take a statin, contact your doctor.

How do you know if statins are affecting your muscles?

One of the most common complaints of people taking statins is muscle pain. You may feel this pain as a soreness, tiredness or weakness in your muscles. The pain can be a mild discomfort, or it can be severe enough to make your daily activities difficult.