Cautions with other medicines
Some medicines can affect the way atorvastatin works and can increase the chances of you having serious side effects, such as muscle damage.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- antibioticssuch aserythromycin,clarithromycin, rifampicin orfusidic acid
- antifungalssuch asketoconazole, voriconazole orfluconazole
- some HIV medicines
- some hepatitis C medicines
- warfarin, a medicine to help prevent blood clots
- ciclosporin, a medicine forpsoriasisandrheumatoid arthritis
- colchicine, a medicine forgout
- contraceptive pills, such as thecombined pill
- verapamil,diltiazemoramlodipine, medicines forhigh blood pressureand heart problems
- amiodarone, a medicine that helps if you have anirregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
If you're taking atorvastatin and need to take one of these medicines, your doctor may:
- prescribe a lower dose of atorvastatin
- prescribe a different statin medicine
- recommend that you stop taking atorvastatin for a while
These are not all the medicines that can affect the way atorvastatin works. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet or check with your pharmacist.
Mixing atorvastatin with herbal remedies and supplements
St John's wort, a herbal remedy taken for depression, reduces the amount of atorvastatin in your blood, so it does not work as well.
Talk to your doctor if you're thinking about starting St John's wort, as it will change how well atorvastatin works.
Sometimes, people take a supplement called CoQ10 with statins. There's no clear evidence that taking it at the same time as atorvastatin benefits your health.
If you decide to take a CoQ10 supplement, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Supplements can affect the way other medicines you're taking work.
There's not enough information to say that otherherbal remediesand supplements are safe to take with atorvastatin. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines.
Important:Medicine safety
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.