Drug Interactions With Ezetimibe/Simvastatin

Several medications can cause drug interactions with ezetimibe/simvastatin, including fibrates, protease inhibitors, and certain antibiotics or antifungals. Some interactions may increase your risk of developing serious muscle problems, such as myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, while others can affect drug levels in your blood. Tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you are taking to help prevent these and other interactions.

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Interactions: An Overview

Ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin®) can potentially interact with a number of other medicines. Medications that can cause drug interactions with ezetimibe/simvastatin include:
 
 
 
  • Certain antibiotics or antifungals, such as:
 
    • Erythromycin (Ery-Tab®)
    • Clarithromycin (Biaxin®)
    • Fluconazole (Diflucan®)
    • Itraconazole (Sporanox®)
    • Ketoconazole (Nizoral®)
    • Miconazole
    • Posaconazole (Noxafil®)
    • Telithromycin (Ketek®)
    • Voriconazole (VFEND®)
 
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
  • Danazol (Danocrine®)
  • Digoxin (Digitek®, Lanoxicaps®, Lanoxin®)
  • Fibrates, such as:
 
 
  • Grapefruit juice and grapefruit products, including supplements.
  • Niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor®, Nicolar®)
  • Protease inhibitors, such as:
 
 
Some of these ezetimibe/simvastatin drug interactions may increase your risk for developing serious muscle problems (see Vytorin and Muscle Pain). If you are taking ezetimibe/simvastatin and experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, (especially if accompanied by a fever or you feel ill), it is important to contact your healthcare provider right away.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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