Drug interactions
Nelfinavir + Simvastatin
Severity: Contraindicated
Nelfinavir 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
Nelfinavir increases simvastatin exposure and raises the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The combination is contraindicated.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nelfinavir 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.
Nelfinavir belongs to Anti Virals; Simvastatin belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Nelfinavir inhibits CYP3A4 and may inhibit OATP1B1, reducing the clearance of simvastatin.
What to do
Do not co-administer; use pravastatin or low-dose atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and monitor for muscle toxicity.
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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Nelfinavir 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 Simvastatin
- Atazanavir + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Clarithromycin + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cobicistat + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporine + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporin + Simvastatin Contraindicated
- Danazol + Simvastatin Contraindicated
Other interactions of Nelfinavir
- Alfuzosin + Nelfinavir Contraindicated
- Avanafil + Nelfinavir Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Nelfinavir Contraindicated
- Eletriptan + Nelfinavir Contraindicated
- Ergotamine + Nelfinavir Contraindicated
- Flibanserin + Nelfinavir Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Nelfinavir with Simvastatin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Nelfinavir 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. Nelfinavir increases simvastatin exposure and raises the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. The combination is contraindicated.
How serious is the interaction between Nelfinavir 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 co-administer; use pravastatin or low-dose atorvastatin or rosuvastatin and monitor for muscle toxicity.
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.
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.
