Pharmacy Times Ð June 2006
Drug Interactions: Insights and
Observations
Be on the Alert for Increasing Drug Interactions with
Statins
John R. Horn, PharmD, FCCP and Philip D. Hansten, PharmD
References
- Zocor package insert. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck
& Co; 2005.
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with statins as monotherapy or combination therapy with interacting drugs
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- Neuvonen PJ, et al. Itraconazole drastically
increases plasma concentrations of lovastatin and lovastatin acid. Clin
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- Kantola T, et al. Erythromycin and verapamil
considerably increase simvastatin and simvastatin acid concentrations. Clin
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- Graham DJ, et al. Incidence of hospitalized
rhabdomyolysis in patients treated with lipid-lowering drugs. JAMA. 2004;292:2585-2590.
- Rogers JD, et al. Grapefruit juice has minimal
effects on plasma concentrations of lovastatin-derived 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl
coenzyme A reductase inhibitors. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1999;66:358-366.
- Hansen K,
et al. Outcomes in 45 patients with statin-associated myopathy. Arch
Intern Med. 2005;165:2671-2676.
- Hansten PD, Horn JR. The Top 100 Drug
Interactions: A Guide to Patient Management. 2006 ed. Freeland, WA: H&H Publications LLP: 161-173.