Skip to Content
Looking to save on your medications?  Find out how 

5 Interactions found for:

atorvastatin and Fish Oil
Interactions Summary
  • 3 Major
  • 1 Moderate
  • 1 Minor
  • atorvastatin
  • Fish Oil

Drug Interactions

No drug interactions were found for selected drugs: atorvastatin, Fish Oil.

This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Drug and Food Interactions

Moderate
Atorvastatin + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Atorvastatin

Grapefruit juice can increase the blood levels of atorvastatin. This can increase the risk of side effects such as liver damage and a rare but serious condition called rhabdomyolysis that involves the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. In some cases, rhabdomyolysis can cause kidney damage and even death. You should limit your consumption of grapefruit juice to no more than 1 quart per day during treatment with atorvastatin. Let your doctor know immediately if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness during treatment, especially if these symptoms are accompanied by fever or dark colored urine. You should also seek immediate medical attention if you develop fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash, itching, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark colored urine, and/or yellowing of the skin or eyes, as these may be signs and symptoms of liver damage. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Pregnancy Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (found in Fish Oil)

Professional Content

Use is recommended only if clearly needed.

AU TGA pregnancy category: B1
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned

Comments:
-There is insufficient data on use in pregnancy to identify drug-associate risks for major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse fetal or maternal outcomes.
-Animal studies of dams given oral omega-3-acid ethyl esters from mating through lactation did not show adverse reproductive or developmental effects at 5 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD).
-Animal studies of oral dosing at clinically relevant doses during organogenesis did not show teratogenicity.
-There is no official RDA for omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy, but the US Institute of Medicine and the Food and Nutrition Board suggest that 1400 mg per day should be adequate during lactation.
-Pregnant women may not consume adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from their diet due to recommendations to limit fish consumption to no more than twice weekly (due to mercury content of fish).

Animal studies of oral administration from 2 weeks prior to mating through lactation showed no adverse effects at 5 times the recommended human dose (MRHD). A dose ranging study of oral administration from 2 weeks prior to mating to postpartum day 7 showed a 20% reduction in live births and a 40% reduction in pup survival to postnatal day 4 at or above 3000 mg/kg/day (7 times the MRHD). Oral doses up to 14 times the MRHD (a maternotoxic dose) administered during organogenesis showed no fetal adverse effects. Animals given oral doses up to 5 times the MRHD from gestation day 14 through lactation day 21 showed no adverse effects. Skeletal malformations and reduced fetal growth were seen at maternally toxic doses (4 times the MRHD) and embryolethality occurred at 7 times the MRHD in rabbits. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Adequate omega-3 fatty acid intake during pregnancy may reduce preterm birth, increase birth length, weight, and head circumference, improve cognitive and visual development, and reduce risk of allergies. The background birth defect and miscarriage risk for the indicated population is not known. In the US general population, the estimated major birth defect risk is 2 to 4% and the miscarriage risk is 15 to 20%.


AU TGA pregnancy category B1: Drugs which have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals have not shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

References

  1. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  3. "Product Information. Lovaza (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)." GlaxoSmithKline (2012):
  4. Briggs GG, Freeman RK. "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation." Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health (2015):
  5. "Product Information. Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)." Apotex Corporation (2017):
  6. "Product Information. Omega-3 D-3 Wellness Pack (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)." TMIG Inc (2017):

The following applies to the ingredients: Atorvastatin

Professional Content

Contraindicated

AU TGA pregnancy category: D
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned

Risk Summary: Limited data on the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are insufficient to determine a drug-associated risk of major congenital malformations or miscarriage; this drug may cause fetal harm during pregnancy because HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors decrease cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol.

Comments:
-This drug is contraindicated in pregnant women since the safety in pregnant women has not been established and there is no apparent benefit.
-If the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, therapy should be discontinued and the patient should be apprised of the potential harm to the fetus.
-Women of reproductive potential should use effective contraception during therapy.

This drug crosses the rat placenta and reaches levels in the fetal liver equivalent to that of maternal plasma. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of embryofetal toxicity or congenital malformations. Rats administered doses 6 times the maximum recommended human dose from gestation day 7 through day 21 of weaning showed decreased postnatal growth and development. Limited published data have not shown an increased risk of major congenital malformations or miscarriages. Rare cases of congenital anomalies following intrauterine exposure to other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

Serum cholesterol and triglycerides increase during normal pregnancy, and cholesterol products are essential for fetal development. Since atherosclerosis is a chronic process, discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy should have little impact on long term outcomes of primary hypercholesterolemia therapy.

AU TGA pregnancy category D: Drugs which have caused, are suspected to have caused or may be expected to cause, an increased incidence of human fetal malformations or irreversible damage. These drugs may also have adverse pharmacological effects. Accompanying texts should be consulted for further details.

US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.

References

  1. "Product Information. Lipitor (atorvastatin)." Parke-Davis PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

Drug and Breastfeeding Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Atorvastatin

Professional Content

Use is contraindicated.

Excreted into human milk: Unknown
Excreted into animal milk: Yes

Comments:
-A similar drug of this class has been detected in human milk.
-This drug should not be used during breastfeeding due to the potential for serious adverse events in nursing infants and the concern over disruption of infant lipid metabolism.

References

  1. "Product Information. Lipitor (atorvastatin)." Parke-Davis PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. United States National Library of Medicine "Toxnet. Toxicology Data Network. http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT" (2013):

The following applies to the ingredients: Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (found in Fish Oil)

Professional Content

Safety has not been established; use is not recommended.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comments:
-There is no information regarding this drug on the effects on a breastfed infant, or effects on milk production.
-Consider the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding along with the mother's clinical need for this medication as well as any potential adverse effects from this drug or the underlying maternal condition.
-Higher omega-3 fatty acid levels have been seen in lactating patients receiving oral omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.
-Infant needs for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is approximately 70 to 80 mg per day.
-There is no official RDA for omega-3 fatty acids during lactation, but the US Institute of Medicine and the Food and Nutrition Board suggest that 1300 mg per day should be adequate during lactation.

References

  1. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  2. Briggs GG, Freeman RK. "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation." Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health (2015):
  3. "Product Information. Omega-3-Acid Ethyl Esters (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)." Apotex Corporation (2017):
  4. "Product Information. Omega-3 D-3 Wellness Pack (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids)." TMIG Inc (2017):

Therapeutic Duplication Warnings

No warnings were found for your selected drugs.

Therapeutic duplication warnings are only returned when drugs within the same group exceed the recommended therapeutic duplication maximum.

Switch to: Professional Interactions

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.

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.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Disclaimer: This content should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a call or visit to a healthcare professional. Use of this content is subject to our terms of use & medical disclaimer.