What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and simvastatin
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir's FDA label of February 19, 2026 names simvastatin in its contraindications section; the simvastatin label PlainMeds reads does not name nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. The nirmatrelvir/ritonavir label: “… PAXLOVID is considered medically necessary, discontinue use of lovastatin and simvastatin at least 12 hours prior to initiation of PAXLOVID, during the 5 days of PAXLOVID treatment, and for 5 days after completing …”
Check it at the source: the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 19, 2026, Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc); the simvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 28, 2025, Organon LLC).
What does the nirmatrelvir/ritonavir label say about simvastatin?
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir label, contraindicationsHMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: lovastatin, simvastatin (these drugs can be temporarily discontinued to allow PAXLOVID use [see Table 2 , Drug Interactions (7.3) ] )
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir label, drug interactionsDrug Class: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; Drugs within Class: lovastatin, simvastatin; Effect on Concentration: ↑ lovastatin ↑ simvastatin; Clinical Comments: Co-administration contraindicated due to potential for myopathy including rhabdomyolysis [see ]. If treatment with PAXLOVID is considered medically necessary, discontinue use of lovastatin and simvastatin at least 12 hours prior to initiation of PAXLOVID, during the 5 days of PAXLOVID treatment, and for 5 days after completing PAXLOVID.
Source: FDA drug label (Paxlovid), Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc, effective February 19, 2026 (SPL set 8a99d6d6-fd9e-45bb-b1bf-48c7f761232a), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the simvastatin label say about nirmatrelvir/ritonavir?
Simvastatin's label (effective March 28, 2025) does not name nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (ZOCOR), Organon LLC, effective March 28, 2025 (SPL set 8f55d5de-5a4f-4a39-8c84-c53976dd6af9), 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.
These are the ingredient's own label sentences, repeated in a combination product's or a biosimilar's label. The ingredient pair sets them out with both labels side by side.
Both medicines on the record
| Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir | Simvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | COVID-19 | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High cholesterol, High triglycerides |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $49.24 per unit 300-100 mg dose pack | $0.0321 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