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Drug interactions

Cobicistat + Lovastatin

Severity: Contraindicated

Cobicistat and Lovastatin: contraindicated 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

Cobicistat is a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor and greatly increases lovastatin exposure, creating a high risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The combination is contraindicated.

What this interaction means in plain words

Cobicistat and Lovastatin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.

Cobicistat belongs to Miscellaneous; Lovastatin belongs to Cardiovascular.

Evidence level: High

Why it happens

Cobicistat inhibits CYP3A4, blocking lovastatin metabolism.

What to do

Do not coadminister. Switch to pravastatin or rosuvastatin and titrate carefully.

What to ask your pharmacist

  • Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
  • If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
  • Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?

Bring a full list of your medicines, including over-the-counter products, supplements and herbal remedies, to every pharmacy visit.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I take Cobicistat with Lovastatin?

MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Cobicistat and Lovastatin are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Cobicistat is a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor and greatly increases lovastatin exposure, creating a high risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The combination is contraindicated.

How serious is the interaction between Cobicistat and Lovastatin?

MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not coadminister. Switch to pravastatin or rosuvastatin and titrate carefully.

What other medicines interact with Lovastatin?

MediHelp also lists interactions of Lovastatin with, for example, Atazanavir, Clarithromycin, Conivaptan. The full list is on the Lovastatin 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.

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