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3 Interactions found for:

atorvastatin
Interactions Summary
  • 2 Major
  • 1 Moderate
  • 0 Minor
  • atorvastatin

Drug Interactions

A total of 375 medications are known to interact with atorvastatin. Add another medication to view potential interactions with this medication.

Common Interactions Checks

Drug and Food Interactions

Moderate
Atorvastatin + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Atorvastatin

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with grapefruit juice may increase the plasma concentrations of atorvastatin. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated first-pass metabolism in the gut wall by certain compounds present in grapefruit. When a single 40 mg dose of atorvastatin was coadministered with 240 mL of grapefruit juice, atorvastatin peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) increased by 16% and 37%, respectively. Greater increases in Cmax (up to 71%) and/or AUC (up to 2.5 fold) have been reported with excessive consumption of grapefruit juice (>=750 mL to 1.2 liters per day). Clinically, high levels of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity in plasma is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal toxicity. Myopathy manifested as muscle pain and/or weakness associated with grossly elevated creatine kinase exceeding ten times the upper limit of normal has been reported occasionally. Rhabdomyolysis has also occurred rarely, which may be accompanied by acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria and may result in death.

ADJUST DOSING INTERVAL: Fibres such as oat bran and pectin may diminish the pharmacologic effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors by interfering with their absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving therapy with atorvastatin should limit their consumption of grapefruit juice to no more than 1 liter per day. Patients should be advised to promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, particularly if accompanied by fever, malaise and/or dark colored urine. Therapy should be discontinued if creatine kinase is markedly elevated in the absence of strenuous exercise or if myopathy is otherwise suspected or diagnosed. In addition, patients should either refrain from the use of oat bran and pectin or, if concurrent use cannot be avoided, to separate the administration times by at least 2 to 4 hours.

References

  1. Richter WO, Jacob BG, Schwandt P "Interaction between fibre and lovastatin." Lancet 338 (1991): 706
  2. McMillan K "Considerations in the formulary selection of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase inhibitors." Am J Health Syst Pharm 53 (1996): 2206-14
  3. "Product Information. Lipitor (atorvastatin)." Parke-Davis PROD (2001):
  4. Boberg M, Angerbauer R, Fey P, Kanhai WK, Karl W, Kern A, Ploschke J, Radtke M "Metabolism of cerivastatin by human liver microsomes in vitro. Characterization of primary metabolic pathways and of cytochrome P45 isozymes involved." Drug Metab Dispos 25 (1997): 321-31
  5. Bailey DG, Malcolm J, Arnold O, Spence JD "Grapefruit juice-drug interactions." Br J Clin Pharmacol 46 (1998): 101-10
  6. Lilja JJ, Kivisto KT, Neuvonen PJ "Grapefruit juice increases serum concentrations of atorvastatin and has no effect on pravastatin." Clin Pharmacol Ther 66 (1999): 118-27
  7. Neuvonen PJ, Backman JT, Niemi M "Pharmacokinetic comparison of the potential over-the-counter statins simvastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin and pravastatin." Clin Pharmacokinet 47 (2008): 463-74

Drug and Pregnancy Interactions

The following applies to the ingredients: Atorvastatin

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

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):

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.

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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.

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