Drug interactions between azithromycin and Lipitor
| Results for the following 2 drugs: |
|---|
| azithromycin |
| Lipitor (atorvastatin) |
Interactions between your selected drugs
azithromycin ↔ atorvastatin
Applies to:azithromycin and Lipitor (atorvastatin)
MONITOR: Azithromycin has been implicated in a single case of rhabdomyolysis during lovastatin treatment. The mechanism of interaction is unknown. Macrolide antibiotics that inhibit CYP450 3A4 may significantly increase the plasma concentrations of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; however, azithromycin is generally believed to have little, if any, effect on this isoenzyme. In 12 healthy patients treated with atorvastatin (10 mg once a day for 8 days), the pharmacokinetics of atorvastatin were not significantly changed following 3 days of azithromycin (500 mg once a day from days 6 through 8).
MANAGEMENT: Until further data are available, caution is advised if azithromycin is prescribed to patients treated with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or red yeast rice (which contains lovastatin). Patients should be advised to promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever. The HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor should be discontinued if creatine kinase is markedly elevated or if myopathy is suspected or diagnosed.
See also...
Drug Interaction Classification
The classifications below are a guideline only. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific patient is difficult to determine using this tool alone given the large number of variables that may apply.
| Major | Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit. |
| Moderate | Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances. |
| Minor | Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan. |
Do not stop taking any medications without consulting your healthcare provider.
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