Drug interactions
Pitavastatin + Rifampin
Severity: Moderate
Pitavastatin and Rifampin: 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
A single dose of rifampin raises pitavastatin exposure, mainly by blocking hepatic uptake. This may increase the risk of myopathy, although with chronic use induction effects may partly offset it.
What this interaction means in plain words
Pitavastatin and Rifampin 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.
Why it happens
Rifampin inhibits OATP1B1-mediated hepatic uptake of pitavastatin, increasing plasma levels.
What to do
Monitor for muscle symptoms and CK if indicated, and use the lowest effective pitavastatin dose. Check the lipid response during prolonged rifampin therapy.
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 Pitavastatin and Rifampin, 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 Pitavastatin
- Cyclosporine + Pitavastatin Contraindicated
- Cyclosporin + Pitavastatin Contraindicated
- Erythromycin base + Pitavastatin Major
- Erythromycin ethylsuccinate + Pitavastatin Major
- Erythromycin lactobionate + Pitavastatin Major
- Erythromycin stearate + Pitavastatin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Pitavastatin with Rifampin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Pitavastatin and Rifampin 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. A single dose of rifampin raises pitavastatin exposure, mainly by blocking hepatic uptake. This may increase the risk of myopathy, although with chronic use induction effects may partly offset it.
How serious is the interaction between Pitavastatin and Rifampin?
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 symptoms and CK if indicated, and use the lowest effective pitavastatin dose. Check the lipid response during prolonged rifampin therapy.
What other medicines interact with Pitavastatin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Pitavastatin with, for example, Cyclosporine, Cyclosporin, Erythromycin base. The full list is on the Pitavastatin 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.
