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7 Interactions found for:

Symbicort and atorvastatin
Interactions Summary
  • 4 Major
  • 2 Moderate
  • 1 Minor
  • Symbicort
  • atorvastatin

Drug Interactions

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

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.

Moderate
Symbicort + Food

The following applies to the ingredients: Budesonide (found in Symbicort)

You should avoid the regular consumption of large amounts of grapefruits and grapefruit juice while taking budesonide. Grapefruit can raise the levels of budesonide in your body and lead to increased side effects. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Drug and Pregnancy Interactions

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

The following applies to the ingredients: Budesonide (found in Symbicort)

Professional Content

Benefit should outweigh risk

AU TGA pregnancy category: A (inhalation); B3 (oral)
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned

Comments:
-The possibility of fetal ham with inhaled corticosteroids appears remote; but data are insufficient with oral and rectal administration to inform a drug-associated risk for major birth defects and miscarriage.
-Hypoadrenalism may occur in neonates exposed to glucocorticosteroids in utero; carefully observe neonates for signs and symptoms of hypoadrenalism.

Teratogenicity and embryocidal effects have been observed in rabbits and rats administered subcutaneous doses that represent 0.05 and 0.5 times the maximum recommended human doses, respectively. These effects have been reported as increased fetal loss, decreased pup weights, and skeletal abnormalities. Higher doses administered by inhalation to rats have not shown to be teratogenic. Experience with oral corticosteroids at pharmacologic doses suggests rodents are more prone to teratogenic effect than humans.

Results from a large population-based prospective cohort epidemiological study reviewing data from 3 Swedish registries covering approximately 99% of the pregnancies from 1995-1997 indicate no increased risk for congenital malformations from the use of inhaled drug during early pregnancy. These same data were used in a second study bringing the total to 2,534 infants whose mothers were exposed to inhaled budesonide. In this study, the rate of congenital malformations among infants whose mother were exposed to inhaled budesonide during early pregnancy was not different from the rate for all newborn babies during the same period (3.6%).

There are few data on pregnancy outcomes after oral or rectal administration in humans. The maximal concentration of budesonide in plasma is expected to be higher with oral compared to inhaled use. Prolonged or repeated exposure may increase the risk of intra-uterine growth retardation. When considering use, risk benefit analysis should take into consideration disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risks. Inhaled glucocorticosteroids offer lower systemic effects compared to oral glucocorticosteroids and achieve similar pulmonary responses. There are no adequate and well controlled studies in pregnant women. 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 A: Drugs which have been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age without any proven increase in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the fetus having been observed.

AU TGA pregnancy category B3: 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 shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage, the significance of which is considered uncertain in humans.

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. Pulmicort Respules (budesonide)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. "Product Information. Uceris (budesonide)." Santarus Inc (2013):
  5. "Product Information. Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide)." A-S Medication Solutions (2016):
  6. "Product Information. Entocort EC (budesonide)." Perrigo, L. Company (2016):

The following applies to the ingredients: Formoterol (found in Symbicort)

Professional Content

This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus.

AU TGA pregnancy category: B3
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned

Comment:
-Beta-agonists, including this drug, may potentially interfere with uterine contractility due to a relaxant effect on uterine smooth muscle; use during labor and delivery only if benefits outweigh risks.

Animal reproduction studies showed teratogenicity, including increased fetal malformations, decreased fetal weights, and increased neonatal mortality at oral doses approximately 730 to 29000 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD); no effects were seen with the inhalation route at 300 times the MRHD. Doses approximately 50 times the MRHD administered during organogenesis caused delayed ossification, and decreased fetal weight was seen at approximately 1500 times the MRHD. Animals given 1500 times the MRHD during late pregnancy had increased stillbirths and neonatal mortality, however no effects were seen at approximately 50 times the MRHD. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy.

AU TGA pregnancy category B3: 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 shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage, the significance of which is considered uncertain in humans.

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. Foradil (formoterol)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. "Product Information. Perforomist (formoterol)." Dey Laboratories (2016):

The following applies to the ingredients: Budesonide-Formoterol (found in Symbicort)

Professional Content

This drug should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the potential risks.

AU TGA pregnancy category: B3
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned.

Risk Summary:
-There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of this drug or one of its individual components, formoterol, in pregnant women.
-Disease-Associated Maternal and/or Embryo/Fetal risk: In women with poorly or moderately controlled asthma, there is an increased risk of several perinatal adverse outcomes such as preeclampsia in the mother and prematurity, low birth weight, and small for gestational age in the neonate. Pregnant women with asthma should be closely monitored and medication adjusted as necessary to maintain optimal asthma control.
-Labor or Delivery: There are no well-controlled human studies that have investigated the effects of this drug during labor and delivery. Due to the potential for beta-agonist interference with uterine contractility, this drug should be used during labor only if the benefits clearly outweigh the risk.

In animal reproduction studies, administration of budesonide-formoterol by the inhalation route, was teratogenic, embryocidal, and reduced fetal weights in rats at less than the maximum recommended human daily inhalation dose (MRHDID) on a mcg/m2 basis.

Budesonide alone, administered by the subcutaneous route, was teratogenic, embryocidal, and reduced fetal weights in rats and rabbits at less than the MRHDID, but these effects were not seen in rats that received inhaled doses up to 4 times the MRHDID. Studies of pregnant women have not shown that inhaled budesonide alone increases the risk of abnormalities when administered during pregnancy. Experience with oral corticosteroids suggests that rodents are more prone to teratogenic effects from corticosteroid exposure than humans.

Formoterol alone, administered by the oral route, was teratogenic in rats and rabbits at 1600 and 65,000 times the MRHDID, respectively. Formoterol was also embryocidal, increased pup loss at birth and during lactation, and decreased pup weight in rats at 110 times the MRHDID. These adverse effects generally occurred at large multiples of the MRHDID when formoterol was administered by the oral route to achieve high systemic exposures. No teratogenic, embryocidal, or developmental effects were seen in rats that received inhalation doses up to 375 times the MRHDID.

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. "Product Information. Symbicort (budesonide-formoterol)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (2006):
  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: Budesonide (found in Symbicort)

Professional Content

The manufacturer makes no recommendation regarding use during lactation.

Excreted into human milk: Yes

Comment:
-The breastfed infant is exposed to approximately 0.3 to 1% of the dose received via a dry powder inhaler by the patient.
-Extrapolating from inhaled drug exposure, data suggest therapeutic oral doses could expose a breastfeeding infant to drug levels 10 times higher than those from inhalation.
-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.

Most experts consider inhaled corticosteroids acceptable during breastfeeding as the presence in breast milk is expected to be low and infant exposure negligible. A fully breastfed infant is expected to receive a maximum 0.3% to 1% of the weight-adjusted maternal dosage; a milk to plasma ratio between 0.4 and 0.5. Drug levels have not been detected in breastfed infants following maternal use of the inhaled drug. Oral drug at the recommended daily dose is expected to produce plasma concentrations up to 10 times higher than the inhaled drug. Due to lack of specific data with the oral or rectal formulations, some manufacturers recommend therapy be avoided.

References

  1. "Product Information. Pulmicort Respules (budesonide)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals 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):
  5. "Product Information. Uceris (budesonide)." Santarus Inc (2013):
  6. "Product Information. Pulmicort Flexhaler (budesonide)." A-S Medication Solutions (2016):
  7. "Product Information. Entocort EC (budesonide)." Perrigo, L. Company (2016):

The following applies to the ingredients: Budesonide-Formoterol (found in Symbicort)

Professional Content

A decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Excreted into human milk: Yes (budesonide); Unknown (formoterol)
Excreted into animal milk: Yes (formoterol); Data not available (budesonide)

Comments:
-The effects in the nursing infant are unknown.

Budesonide:
Human data with dry powder inhaler indicates that the total daily oral dose available in breast milk to the infant is approximately 0.3% to 1% of the dose inhaled by the mother.

Formoterol:
In the fertility and reproduction study in rats, the maximum plasma concentration that the pups received from the maternal animal after nursing was estimated at 4.4%.

References

  1. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  2. "Product Information. Symbicort (budesonide-formoterol)." Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (2006):
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0

The following applies to the ingredients: Formoterol (found in Symbicort)

Professional Content

Caution is recommended. Benefit should outweigh risk.

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

Comments:
-Women should contact their physician if they are nursing while taking the inhalation solution.
-The effects in the nursing infant and on milk production are unknown.
-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 on the child from the medication or the underlying maternal condition.

This drug and its metabolites was excreted in the breast milk of lactating rats given oral doses of 50 mcg/kg, and growth and survival of the pups were decreased when lactating rats were given oral doses greater than 1 mg/kg/day. A study in rats showed increased postnatal mortality at maternal oral doses of 0.2 mg/kg/day or greater, and retardation of pup growth at 15 mg/kg/day. The amount of drug found in animal milk was less than 2% of that in maternal plasma.

References

  1. "Product Information. Foradil (formoterol)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals PROD (2001):
  2. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
  4. "Product Information. Perforomist (formoterol)." Dey Laboratories (2016):

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.

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