What Foods to Avoid While Taking Atorvastatin?

We know medicines are interlinked with biological processes to produce their desired effect on the body. Some factors like what you eat and drink while taking Atorvastatin can affect the efficacy of the medicine by interfering with its absorption and function resulting in undesired effects. All food and drug interactions are not always serious but should be given importance. So, let’s see what foods should be avoided when you take Atorvastatin drug,

What is Atorvastatin Used For?

Atorvastatin is a medicine that is used by people with high cholesterol to lower cholesterol and fats in the blood by blocking the production of cholesterol. It protects against cardiovascular disease in people with increased cholesterol and fat levels in the body.  This medicine also protects against stroke and other heart complications. 

You can take Atorvastatin medicine at any time of the day. We know medicine interacts with some foods so let’s see what foods should be avoided when taking this medicine. 

What Foods To Avoid While Taking Atorvastatin?

When you are taking cholesterol-lowering medicine like Atorvastatin, you should avoid high-fat, high-cholesterol foods and grapefruit as they tend to interact with the medicine. 

1- Saturated Fat Foods

When you are taking Atorvastatin, you should try to limit and avoid foods high in saturated fats. This is because saturated fats increase the levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body by inhibiting the LDL receptor activity, which results in accumulating LDL cholesterol in the body. 

So, if you are taking Atorvastatin medicine to lower your cholesterol levels, you should avoid all foods that increase the cholesterol levels in the body. Examples are:

• Beef
• Mutton
• Lamb
• Processed meats
• Full-fat dairy products
• Fried foods
• Fast foods
• Butter
• Ghee
• Margarine
• Lard
• Biscuits
• Cakes
• Pies
• Pastries
• Cookies
• Ice-cream
• Coconut oil

2- Grapefruit And Grapefruit Juice

When you are taking atorvastatin, avoid taking grapefruit or grapefruit juice. There are some compounds like Furanocoumarins in grapefruit that interfere with the function of the medicine. These compounds block the action of the CYP3A4 enzyme that breaks down and metabolizes the drug in the body. Furanocoumarins work by deactivating this CYP3A4 enzyme which increases the concentration of the medicine in the body causing side effects. 

Some side effects of mixing grapefruit and atorvastatin include digestive problems, liver issues, muscle pain, muscle weakness, cramping, joint pain, fatigue, increased sugar levels, and muscle breakdown. 

3- Alcohol

It is suggested to avoid alcohol consumption when you are taking Atorvastatin. The reason is Atorvastatin drug may cause liver problems by impairing its function and alcohol is also known to affect the liver, so taking alcohol with this medicine increases the risk of liver damage and worsens liver health. 

Given below are the friendly foods that can be eaten with Atorvastatin. 

What Foods Can You Eat While Taking Atorvastatin?

It is important to maintain a healthy balanced diet to improve your health. When you are taking Atorvastatin, you should eat foods low in cholesterol and fats, like:

• Fruits 
• Vegetables
• Whole Grains
• Fish
• Lentils
• Beans
• Nuts
• Olive oil
• Seeds
• Oatmeal
• Avocados

Conclusion

When you are taking Atorvastatin, you should avoid grapefruit and its juice, all foods that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol, and should avoid alcohol consumption. These foods have a negative interaction with the drug and should be avoided. You should consume a healthy diet including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, lentils, beans, healthy oils, nuts, and seeds.