Atorvastatin; Pitavastatin (<=1mg); Pravastatin/Erythromycin
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:
When these two medicines are taken together, your body may not process your cholesterol medicine properly.
What might happen:
The blood levels of your cholesterol medicine may increase and cause toxic 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. Your doctor may want to adjust the dose of your cholesterol medicine while you are taking your antibiotic. If you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or discoloration of urine, contact your healthcare professional (e.g doctor or pharmacist).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.Livalo (pitavastatin) US prescribing information. Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. October, 2012.
2.Lipitor (atorvastatin) US prescribing information. Pfizer Inc. October, 2012.
3.Amsden GW, Kuye O, Wei GC. A study of the interaction potential of azithromycin and clarithromycin with atorvastatin in healthy volunteers. J Clin Pharmacol 2002 Apr;42(4):444-9.
4.Siedlik PH, Olson SC, Yang BB, Stern RH. Erythromycin coadministration increases plasma atorvastatin concentrations. J Clin Pharmacol 1999 May; 39(5):501-4.
