HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/Digoxin
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:
How this interaction occurs is not known.
What might happen:
Digoxin may increase the amount of your cholesterol medicine in your blood, which can cause muscle problems.Some cholesterol medicines (atorvastatin and simvastatin) may increase the amount of digoxin in your blood and cause side 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 aches, tenderness, weakness, flu-like symptoms, or have dark colored urine.If you are taking atorvastatin or simvastatin, your doctor may want to check the amount of digoxin in your blood and change the dose of your digoxin. Let your doctor know if you have any nausea, vomiting, headaches, fatigue, drowsiness, weakness, disorientation, hallucinations, changes in vision, or a slow/irregular heartbeat.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.Bellosta S, Paoletti R, Corsini A. Safety of statins: focus on clinical pharmacokinetics and drug interactions. Circulation 2004 Jun 15;109(23 Suppl 1):III50-7.
2.Lipitor (atorvastatin) US prescribing information. Pfizer Inc. October, 2012.
3.Zocor (simvastatin) US prescribing information. Merck & Co., Inc. October, 2011.
4.Omar MA, Wilson JP. FDA adverse event reports on statin-associated rhabdomyolysis. Ann Pharmacother 2002 Feb;36(2):288-95.
5.Lescol (fluvastatin sodium) US prescribing information. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation October, 2012.
6.Mevacor (lovastatin) US prescribing information. Merck & Co., Inc. February, 2012.
7.Pravachol (pravastatin sodium) US prescribing information. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company October, 2012.
8.Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) US prescribing information. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP December, 2012.
