Pravachol is a member of a group of drugs collectively known as the statins. All of the statins, including Pravachol, Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor and others work to reduce total cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). The drugs work by preventing an enzyme in the liver from producing cholesterol. All of the statins, including Pravachol, have the potential to produce liver damage, however. That is why your doctor probably had you go for blood tests when you started taking the drug to make certain this wasn't happening, and hopefully is doing blood tests once a year while you are on the drug.

Although we don't have good studies, we assume that the liver damage from the statins may happen more often in people who have existing liver disease. So there is some risk. The risk is not directly related to the combination of alcohol and statin but because of the risk of liver damage from either. People who already have liver damage from drinking should be watched very carefully and have their blood tests done frequently if started on one of the statins.

Moderate alcohol consumption (five to seven drinks a week) may protect people from heart attack and stroke. A group of researchers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital published a study last year that looked at blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in people who drank different amounts of alcohol. Those who consumed five to seven drinks a week had the lowest blood levels of CRP. CRP is thought to be an important marker in blood for people who are at risk of heart attack and stroke. Although we still need a bit more information to be sure, the lower the level of CRP in the blood, the lower the risk. So there is some evidence that moderate drinking may reduce risk of heart attack. But it is very important to make certain the blood tests are done at least annually to make sure there is no liver damage caused by the statin alone or in combination with alcohol.