Comments on: What is the effect of eating eggs, bacon and grapefruit juice on someone who is on lipitor?

By: Clint

Clint — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:38:43 +0000

Thank you for the question.

Bottom-line: your husband has NO BUSINESS WHATSOEVER maintaining a diet such as that, unless he is willing to suffer the medical consequences thereof.

My dear, does your husband know WHY his doctor is treating him with Lipitor? Does his doctor know about this diet, because if he did, he would be as furious as I am. If I were his doctor, I’d seriously consider firing him from my practice, which I personally have done many times in my career.

Beyond the obvious culprits in his diet, the grape fruit juice is hazardous, because it interacts with the Lipitor by increasing the blood levels of the drug, which can lead to potentially dangerous side effects on his liver and muscles.

Please, do your husband a favor, and haul his ignorant and gluttonous rear-end into his doctor’s office for a heart-to-heart (pun definitely intended), before your husband finds himself on a cardiac catheterization table (if he hasn’t already).

By: Brandon S

Brandon S — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:38:43 +0000

Well, simply put, grapefruit juice is almost dangerous with any medicine, in general. Because it inhibits a certain enzyme, then makes your medicine dissolve more in your blood stream. You could actually overdose if you drank to much grapefruit juice.

By: Ban Lip Avatars

Ban Lip Avatars — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:38:43 +0000

Get a copy of DANDR (Dr. Atkin’s New Diet Revolution) and read up on cholesterol, how it’s the carbs that do it, not fats and proteins. If you can get him to give up starches, his bacon & eggs won’t hurt him a bit, and he may even be able to go off the Lipitor.
The fats only cling to the walls of the arteries when combined with starch, making the fats thick and sticky.

By: dragonbooster

dragonbooster — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:38:43 +0000

People using atorvastatin/ lipitor should avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Atorvastatin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with atorvastatin and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Interactions can occur between grapefruit and Lipitor, resulting in an increased level of medication in the blood. If you are taking Lipitor, you should not eat or drink any grapefruit products, including supplements. The combination of the two can increase your chances of developing serious muscle problems, which can potentially lead to kidney failure or other life-threatening complications. Grapefruit products are believed to interfere with an enzyme your body uses to break down Lipitor. This means that the drug stays in your body longer when it interacts with grapefruit. In fact, clinical studies have shown that grapefruit can significantly increase the levels of Lipitor in a person’s blood.

In one study, drug levels increased by 83 percent in those who drank grapefruit juice three times a day compared to the people who only drank water.

Less than 2 percent of people taking Lipitor experience weight gain. Because this problem is so infrequent, it is often difficult to determine if the gain in weight is the result of Lipitor or caused by another factor. If you notice weight gain, try eating a low-cholesterol diet, limiting your alcohol intake, and engaging in regular physical activity. If you are noticing a weight gain with Lipitor, there are some things that you can do. Some suggestions include:

Eating a low cholesterol diet. This diet should include:
Lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Limiting foods with saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars. So bacon has more fats that contribute a high cholesterol.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:38:43 +0000

My mother and I have both been eating two eggs a day, every day, for years (she sometimes eats just one egg with bacon, but you get the point), and our cholesterol numbers are beautiful. Grant you, I’m younger, but she’s definitely not. Eggs are not as dangerous as once thought. I’d be more concerned with the grapefruit juice that hubby is drinking. Grapefruit juice, as mentioned before in other comments, can be very dangerous with some medications. Get him in to a doctor ASAP if he won’t listen to you.

By: Tracey

Tracey — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:38:43 +0000

First off you can stop what he eats if you do the shopping. Second I would call his physician if you are concerned about his diet and meds. If he is 65, which is around the same age as my dad, they get to the point where they want what they want when they want it. Regardless of their health history and regardless of what their spouses say. My dad: triple bipass, diabetes, depression, carotid blocked 80% on L and 90% on R. So, they figure they aren’t going to live forever why deprive themselves of the things that make them happy. My mom stopped fighting with him and just makes sure now that he takes his handful cocktails each day and that he drinks plenty of fluids. He might eat one meal a day, two meals on a good day. Best of luck to you in trying to educate your spouse.

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