Pharmacy Times – 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

1. Zocor package insert. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck & Co; 2005.
2. Shanahan RL, et al. Low myopathy rates associated with statins as monotherapy or combination therapy with interacting drugs in a group model health maintenance organization. Pharmacotherapy. 2005;25:345-351.
3. Neuvonen PJ, et al. Itraconazole drastically increases plasma concentrations of lovastatin and lovastatin acid. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1996;60:54-61.
4. Kantola T, et al. Erythromycin and verapamil considerably increase simvastatin and simvastatin acid concentrations. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1998;64:177-182.
5. Graham DJ, et al. Incidence of hospitalized rhabdomyolysis in patients treated with lipid-lowering drugs. JAMA. 2004;292:2585-2590.
6. 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.
7. Hansen K, et al. Outcomes in 45 patients with statin-associated myopathy. Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:2671-2676.
8. Hansten PD, Horn JR. The Top 100 Drug Interactions: A Guide to Patient Management. 2006 ed. Freeland, WA: H&H Publications LLP: 161-173.