Drug interactions
Colchicine + Simvastatin
Severity: Moderate
Colchicine and Simvastatin: 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, including severe cases. Simvastatin is a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate, and risk rises with renal impairment and age.
What this interaction means in plain words
Colchicine and Simvastatin 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; Simvastatin 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 holding simvastatin during colchicine courses 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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Colchicine and Simvastatin, 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 Colchicine
- Clarithromycin + Colchicine Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Colchicine Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Cyclosporine Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Ensitrelvir Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Levoketoconazole Contraindicated
- Colchicine + Nirmatrelvir Contraindicated
Other interactions of Simvastatin
- Atazanavir + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporin + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Danazol + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Darunavir + Simvastatin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Colchicine with Simvastatin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Colchicine and Simvastatin 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, including severe cases. Simvastatin is a sensitive CYP3A4 substrate, and risk rises with renal impairment and age.
How serious is the interaction between Colchicine and Simvastatin?
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 holding simvastatin during colchicine courses 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.
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.
