Does Atorvastatin Calcium Interact with Erythromycin?
Atorvastatin Calcium and Erythromycin have a major drug interaction according to U.S. FDA drug labeling data. 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Drug Interactions that may Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with atorvastatin ( 2.6 , 5.1 , 7.1 , 12.3 ) Interacting Agents Prescribing Recommendations Cyclosporine, tipranavir plus ritonavir, glecaprevir plus pibrentasvir Avoid atorvastatin Clarithromycin, itraconazole, saquinavir plus ritonavir, darunavir plus ritonavir, fosamprenavir, fosamprenavir plus ritonavir, elbasvir plus grazoprevir, letermovir Do not exceed 20 mg atorvastatin daily Nelfinavir Do not exceed 40 mg atorvastatin daily Lopinavir plus ritonavir, simeprevir, fibric acid derivatives, erythromycin, azole antifungals, lipid-modifying doses of niacin, colchicine Consider the risk/benefit of concomitant use with atorvastatin • Other Lipid-Lowering Medications: Use with fibrate products or lipid-modifying doses (≥1 g/day) of niacin increases the risk of adverse skeletal muscle effects. Examples: Erythromycin, clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole. Patients taking both medications should consult their healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing the dosage of either drug. This information is based on official FDA drug labeling sourced from OpenFDA and the NIH National Library of Medicine.
- Severity
- Major
- Atorvastatin Calcium Class
- HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor
- Erythromycin Class
- Macrolide
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Atorvastatin Calcium and your doctor is considering prescribing Erythromycin (or vice versa), make sure to:
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist of all current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements
- Ask whether the benefits of combining these medications outweigh the risks for your specific situation
- Ask what symptoms to watch for that would indicate the interaction is causing problems
- Ask how frequently you should be monitored while these are co-prescribed
- Ask whether any dosage adjustments are needed
- Never stop or change either medication without first consulting your healthcare provider