Atorvastatin/Selected Protease Inhibitors
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Protease inhibitors may slow down how quickly your liver processes atorvastatin.
What might happen:
The amount of atorvastatin in your blood may increase and cause harmful effects.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. Let your doctor know if you have any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or discoloration of your urine. Your doctor may want to change your cholesterol medicine.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Agenerase (amprenavir) Capsules US prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline May, 2005.
2.Reyataz (atazanavir sulfate) US prescribing information. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company January, 2013.
3.Crixivan (indinavir sulfate) US prescribing information. Merck & Co., Inc. February, 2011.
4.Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir tablets) US prescribing information. Abbott Laboratories January, 2013.
5.Norvir (ritonavir) US prescribing information. Abbott Laboratories November, 2012.
6.Fichtenbaum CJ, Gerber JG, Rosenkranz SL, Segal Y, Aberg JA, Blaschke T, Alston B, Fang F, Kosel B, Aweeka F. Pharmacokinetic interactions between protease inhibitors and statins in HIV seronegative volunteers: ACTG Study A5047. AIDS 2002 Mar 8;16(4):569-77.
7.Hsyu PH, Schultz-Smith MD, Lillibridge JH, Lewis RH, Kerr BM. Pharmacokinetic interactions between nelfinavir and 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors atorvastatin and simvastatin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2001 Dec;45(12):3445-50.
8.Lipitor (atorvastatin) US prescribing information. Pfizer Inc. October, 2012.
