What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Atorvastatin and erythromycin
Atorvastatin's FDA label of April 15, 2024 names erythromycin in its drug interactions section, and erythromycin's label names atorvastatin too. The atorvastatin label: “Atorvastatin plasma levels were significantly increased with concomitant administration of LIPITOR with select azole antifungals or macrolide antibiotics, due to inhibition of CYP3A4 and/or transporters.”
Check it at the source: the atorvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 15, 2024, Viatris Specialty LLC); the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.).
What does the atorvastatin label say about erythromycin?
Atorvastatin label, drug interactionsSelect Azole Antifungals or Macrolide Antibiotics Clinical Impact: Atorvastatin plasma levels were significantly increased with concomitant administration of LIPITOR with select azole antifungals or macrolide antibiotics, due to inhibition of CYP3A4 and/or transporters. … myopathy particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of either drug. Examples: Erythromycin, clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole.
Source: FDA drug label (Atorvaliq, NDA213260), CMP Pharma, Inc., effective April 27, 2024 (SPL set 41fca2d8-7f3f-45b9-8974-81b89accc211), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Lipitor), NDA020702 (Upjohn), as published by Viatris Specialty LLC, effective April 15, 2024 (SPL set a60cc18b-0631-4cf0-b021-9f52224ece65), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the erythromycin label say about atorvastatin?
Erythromycin label, warningsThese include colchicine toxicity with colchicine; rhabdomyolysis with simvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin; and hypotension with calcium channel blockers metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem) (see PRECAUTIONS - Drug Interactions ).
Source: FDA drug label (Erythromycin), Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., effective August 1, 2024 (SPL set 75a0bd5a-d09f-483b-bfd8-f8343b149eb2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Atorvastatin | Erythromycin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High cholesterol, Angina, High triglycerides, Heart attack and coronary artery disease | Bacterial infections, Acne |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.0228 per tablet 10 mg tablet | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once