Lovastatin/Azithromycin
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:
If you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or discoloration of urine, contact your healthcare professional (e.g doctor or pharmacist). Your doctor may want to adjust the dose of 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.Mevacor (lovastatin) US prescribing information. Merck & Co., Inc. February, 2012.
2.Ayanian JZ, Fuchs CS, Stone RM. Lovastatin and rhabdomyolysis. Ann Intern Med 1988 Oct 15;109(8):682-3.
3.Spach DH, Bauwens JE, Clark CD, Burke WG. Rhabdomyolysis associated with lovastatin and erythromycin use. West J Med 1991 Feb;154(2):213-5.
4.Corpier CL, Jones PH, Suki WN, Lederer ED, Quinones MA, Schmidt SW, Young JB. Rhabdomyolysis and renal injury with lovastatin use. Report of two cases in cardiac transplant recipients. JAMA 1988 Jul 8;260(2):239-41.
5.Lilley LL, Guanci R. Drug interaction triggers weakness. Am J Nurs 1998 Apr;98(4):10.
6.Wong PW, Dillard TA, Kroenke K. Multiple organ toxicity from addition of erythromycin to long-term lovastatin therapy. South Med J 1998 Feb; 91(2):202-5.
7.Grunden JW, Fisher KA. Lovastatin-induced rhabdomyolysis possibly associated with clarithromycin and azithromycin. Ann Pharmacother 1997 Jul-Aug;31(7-8):859-63.
