Drug Interactions With Simvastatin

Certain drug interactions with Simvastatin can cause your body to metabolize the medicines differently than intended, which can increase your risk of developing serious muscle problems (including myopathy and rhabdomyolysis), among other things. A few of the drugs that can potentially interact with Simvastatin include gemfibrozil, danazol, amiodarone, and digoxin. Also, taking Simvastatin along with grapefruit, grapefruit juice, or grapefruit supplements can increase the level of Simvastatin in your blood.

 

Drug Interactions With Simvastatin: An Introduction

Simvastatin tablets (Zocor®) can potentially interact with a number of other medicines. Some possible Simvastatin interactions can include:
 
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
  • Danazol (Danacrine®)
  • Warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®)
  • Gemfibrozil (Lopid®)
  • Fibrates (Lopid®, Tricor®, Triglide®, Antara®, Lofibra®, LipofenTM)
  • Niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor®, Nicolar®)
  • Antifungals, such as ketoconazole (Nizoral®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), and itraconazole (Sporanox®)
  • Erythromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin
  • HIV protease inhibitors
  • Nefazodone (Serzone®)
  • Amiodarone (Cordarone®)
  • Verapamil (Calan®, Calan® SR, Verelan®, Verelan®-PM, Isoptin®, Covera-HS®)
  • Digoxin (Digitek®, Lanoxicaps®, Lanoxin®)
  • Grapefruit juice and grapefruit products, including supplements.
 
(Drug Interactions With Simvastatin Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;