Drug interactions
Indinavir + Simvastatin
Severity: Contraindicated
Indinavir and Simvastatin: 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
Indinavir increases simvastatin exposure, creating a high risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The labeling contraindicates the combination.
What this interaction means in plain words
Indinavir and Simvastatin 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.
Why it happens
Indinavir inhibits CYP3A4, and may inhibit OATP1B1, reducing the clearance of simvastatin.
What to do
Do not use together; choose pravastatin or low-dose atorvastatin or rosuvastatin 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?
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Other interactions of Simvastatin
- Atazanavir + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporine + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporin + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Danazol + Simvastatin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Indinavir with Simvastatin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Indinavir and Simvastatin 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. Indinavir increases simvastatin exposure, creating a high risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The labeling contraindicates the combination.
How serious is the interaction between Indinavir and Simvastatin?
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; choose pravastatin or low-dose atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and monitor for muscle symptoms.
What other medicines interact with Simvastatin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Simvastatin with, for example, Atazanavir, Clarithromycin, Cobicistat. The full list is on the Simvastatin page.
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