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Drug interactions

Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Lovastatin

Severity: Contraindicated

Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df and Lovastatin: contraindicated interaction.

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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

The cobicistat in this fixed-dose regimen is a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor that greatly raises lovastatin levels. This substantially increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, so the combination is contraindicated.

What this interaction means in plain words

Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df 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.

Evidence level: High

Why it happens

Cobicistat inhibits CYP3A4, preventing lovastatin metabolism.

What to do

Do not use together. Use pravastatin or rosuvastatin at the lowest effective dose and monitor for muscle symptoms.

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 Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df with Lovastatin?

MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df 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. The cobicistat in this fixed-dose regimen is a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor that greatly raises lovastatin levels. This substantially increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, so the combination is contraindicated.

How serious is the interaction between Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df 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 use together. Use pravastatin or rosuvastatin at the lowest effective dose and monitor for muscle symptoms.

What other medicines interact with Lovastatin?

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

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