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leflunomide vs simvastatin

Side-by-side comparison of leflunomide and simvastatin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

For other substrates of BCRP (e.g., mitoxantrone) and drugs in the OATP family (e.g., methotrexate, rifampin), especially HMG-Co reductase inhibitors (e.g., atorvastatin, nateglinide, pravastatin, repaglinide, and simvastatin), consider reducing the dose of these drugs and monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of increased exposures to the drugs while patients are taking leflunomide [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Recommendation: Your doctor may consider lowering your simvastatin dose and should monitor you closely for any side effects.

Drug Class
leflunomide Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD)
simvastatin HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
Type
leflunomide Prescription
simvastatin Prescription
Summary
leflunomide

Leflunomide is a drug that can help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It works by slowing down the body's immune system.

simvastatin

No summary available.

What It Treats
leflunomide

Leflunomide treats active rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. This medicine can help reduce these symptoms.

simvastatin

Information not available.

How It Works
leflunomide

Leflunomide is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor. This means it blocks a certain process in your body. By blocking this process, it can reduce inflammation and slow down the damage to your joints.

simvastatin

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
leflunomide
  • Diarrhea
  • Respiratory infection
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Rash
simvastatin
  • Headache
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Muscle pain
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
leflunomide
  • Rheumatoid arthritis 24,921
  • Pain 20,055
  • Joint pain 16,943
  • Swollen joint 15,567
  • Tiredness 15,384
simvastatin
  • Tiredness 13,573
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 12,944
  • Shortness of breath 12,429
  • Diarrhea 11,813
  • Feeling lightheaded 10,971
Serious Warnings
leflunomide

This drug can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, you should not take this medicine. This drug can also cause serious liver problems. If you have liver problems, you should not take this medicine. Your doctor will monitor your liver with blood tests.

simvastatin

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
leflunomide

Do not take leflunomide if you are pregnant. It can cause birth defects. If you are breastfeeding, you should stop while taking this medicine.

simvastatin

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This leflunomide vs simvastatin Comparison

leflunomide is classified in the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) drug class, while simvastatin sits within the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, leflunomide has 92,870 submissions while simvastatin has 61,730. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to leflunomide can block the proteins that help your body get rid of simvastatin, which may cause the drug to reach higher levels than normal.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between leflunomide and simvastatin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.