Lipitor Drug Interactions (Cont.)

Lipitor Interactions Explained

The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when Lipitor is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
 
Birth Control Pills
Taking birth control pills with Lipitor can increase your level of the hormones in the birth control pills, perhaps increasing your risk of side effects. Be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider if you are currently using birth control pills.
 
Certain Antifungal Medications
Some antifungal medications may increase the level of Lipitor in your blood, increasing your risk of muscle problems (see Lipitor and Muscle Pain). Check with your healthcare provider before taking Lipitor with any of these medications.
 
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Clarithromycin may increase the level of Lipitor in your blood, increasing your risk of muscle problems (see Lipitor and Muscle Pain). Check with your healthcare provider before taking Lipitor with clarithromycin.
 
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Theoretically, Lipitor may decrease the level of steroid hormones in the body. Since cimetidine can also lower these hormone levels, taking these medications together may increase your risk of problems due to low hormones. Talk to your healthcare provider before combining cimetidine with Lipitor.
 
Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
Taking cyclosporine and Lipitor simultaneously may greatly increase the level of Lipitor in your blood. This can increase your risk of Lipitor side effects, including serious muscle problems, such as myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (see Lipitor and Muscle Pain). For people who take cyclosporine, the maximum recommended Lipitor dosage is 10 mg per day.
(Lipitor Drug Interactions Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;