Drug interactions
Azithromycin + Lovastatin
Severity: Moderate
Azithromycin and Lovastatin: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Azithromycin may modestly raise lovastatin exposure and the risk of myopathy, although it is a much weaker CYP3A4 inhibitor than clarithromycin or erythromycin. Cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported with macrolides and statins.
What this interaction means in plain words
Azithromycin and Lovastatin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Azithromycin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Lovastatin belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Possible weak inhibition of CYP3A4 and intestinal P-glycoprotein, which may raise lovastatin concentrations.
What to do
Counsel the patient to report unexplained muscle pain, weakness or dark urine. Consider holding lovastatin during a short azithromycin course in high-risk patients and check creatine kinase if symptoms occur.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Azithromycin and Lovastatin, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Azithromycin
- Azithromycin + Cisapride Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Domperidone Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Dronedarone Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Piperaquine Contraindicated
- Azithromycin + Thioridazine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Lovastatin
- Atazanavir + Lovastatin Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Lovastatin Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Lovastatin Contraindicated
- Conivaptan + Lovastatin Contraindicated
- Darunavir + Lovastatin Contraindicated
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Lovastatin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Azithromycin with Lovastatin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Azithromycin and Lovastatin can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Azithromycin may modestly raise lovastatin exposure and the risk of myopathy, although it is a much weaker CYP3A4 inhibitor than clarithromycin or erythromycin. Cases of rhabdomyolysis have been reported with macrolides and statins.
How serious is the interaction between Azithromycin and Lovastatin?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Counsel the patient to report unexplained muscle pain, weakness or dark urine. Consider holding lovastatin during a short azithromycin course in high-risk patients and check creatine kinase if symptoms occur.
What other medicines interact with Azithromycin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Azithromycin with, for example, Cisapride, Domperidone, Dronedarone. The full list is on the Azithromycin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
