Does Avacopan Interact with Simvastatin?
Avacopan and Simvastatin have a major drug interaction according to U.S. FDA drug labeling data. Avacopan increases simvastatin systemic exposure. Limit simvastatin to 10 mg daily (or 20 mg daily if previously tolerated 80 mg daily). The mechanism involves avacopan is a moderate cyp3a4 inhibitor. 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
- Avacopan Class
- Complement 5a Receptor Antagonist
- Simvastatin Class
- HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor
- Management
- Close medical supervision required
- Data Source
- U.S. FDA via OpenFDA
How This Interaction Works
The interaction between Avacopan and Simvastatin occurs because avacopan is a moderate cyp3a4 inhibitor. Clinically, this means avacopan increases simvastatin systemic exposure. limit simvastatin to 10 mg daily (or 20 mg daily if previously tolerated 80 mg daily). This is classified as a major interaction, meaning it could cause serious harm if not properly managed. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust dosages, substitute one medication, or increase monitoring frequency.
What To Tell Your Doctor or Pharmacist
If you are taking Avacopan and your doctor is considering prescribing Simvastatin (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