Drug interactions
Colchicine + Lovastatin
Severity: Moderate
Colchicine 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
Both drugs can cause myopathy, and the combination has been linked to rhabdomyolysis. Lovastatin is a CYP3A4 substrate, and colchicine toxicity can be more severe in renal impairment.
What this interaction means in plain words
Colchicine 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.
Colchicine belongs to Genitourinary; Lovastatin belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive myotoxicity, with possible P-glycoprotein related pharmacokinetic effects.
What to do
Monitor for muscle pain, weakness and dark urine, and check creatine kinase if symptoms occur. Consider temporary statin interruption in high-risk patients.
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?
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Other interactions of Colchicine
- Clarithromycin + Colchicine Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Colchicine Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Cyclosporine Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Ensitrelvir Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Levoketoconazole Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Nirmatrelvir 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 Colchicine with Lovastatin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Colchicine 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. Both drugs can cause myopathy, and the combination has been linked to rhabdomyolysis. Lovastatin is a CYP3A4 substrate, and colchicine toxicity can be more severe in renal impairment.
How serious is the interaction between Colchicine 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: Monitor for muscle pain, weakness and dark urine, and check creatine kinase if symptoms occur. Consider temporary statin interruption in high-risk patients.
What other medicines interact with Colchicine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Colchicine with, for example, Clarithromycin, Cobicistat, Cyclosporine. The full list is on the Colchicine page.
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