What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Erythromycin and lovastatin
Erythromycin's FDA label of August 1, 2024 names lovastatin in its contraindications section, and lovastatin's label names erythromycin too. The lovastatin label: “Concomitant administration with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.”
Check it at the source: the erythromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 1, 2024, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.); the lovastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 6, 2026, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.).
What does the erythromycin label say about lovastatin?
Erythromycin label, contraindicationsDo not use erythromycin concomitantly with HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) that are extensively metabolized by CYP 3A4 (lovastatin or simvastatin), due to the increased risk of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis.
Erythromycin label, drug interactionsHMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors Erythromycin has been reported to increase concentrations of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (e.g., lovastatin and simvastatin).
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 ).
Ery-Ped label (Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly Arbor Pharmaceuticals), December 16, 2023), contraindicationsErythromycin is contraindicated in patients taking terfenadine, astemizole, pimozide, or cisapride. (See PRECAUTIONS - Drug Interactions .) Do not use erythromycin concomitantly with HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) that are extensively metabolized by CYP 3A4 (lovastatin or simvastatin), due to the increased risk of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis.
Source: FDA drug label (Erythrocin Lactobionate, NDA050609), Hospira, Inc., effective October 30, 2025 (SPL set a96c405f-bd70-4bb4-719e-ac6a79dcc213), via openFDA
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
What does the lovastatin label say about erythromycin?
Lovastatin label, contraindicationsConcomitant administration with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, HIV protease inhibitors, boceprevir, telaprevir, erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, nefazodone, and cobicistat-containing products) (see WARNINGS, Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis ).
Lovastatin label, warningsThese include itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, the macrolide antibiotics erythromycin and clarithromycin, the ketolide antibiotic telithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, boceprevir, telaprevir, the antidepressant nefazodone, or cobicistat-containing products.
Source: FDA drug label (Lovastatin), Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective May 6, 2026 (SPL set df7ddf4f-d569-431e-81f1-9129d7043150), 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
| Erythromycin | Lovastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acne | High cholesterol, Heart attack and coronary artery disease |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $1.96 per tablet 250 mg tablet | $0.0436 per tablet 20 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