What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Clarithromycin and simvastatin
Clarithromycin's FDA label of April 9, 2026 names simvastatin in its contraindications section, and simvastatin's label names clarithromycin too. The simvastatin label: “Simvastatin is a substrate of CYP3A4. Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors with ZOCOR increases simvastatin exposure and increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, particularly with higher ZOCOR dosages.”
Check it at the source: the clarithromycin FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 9, 2026, Solaris Pharma Corporation); the simvastatin FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 28, 2025, Organon LLC).
What does the clarithromycin label say about simvastatin?
Clarithromycin label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS Hypersensitivity to clarithromycin or any macrolide drug (4.1) Cisapride and pimozide (4.2) History of cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction with use of clarithromycin (4.3) Colchicine in renal or hepatic impairment (4.4) Lomitapide, lovastatin, and simvastatin (4.5) Ergot alkaloids (ergotamine or dihydroergotamine) (4.6) Lurasidone
Clarithromycin label, drug interactionsLomitapide Lovastatin Simvastatin; Contraindicated; Lomitapide, Lovastatin, Simvastatin: Clarithromycin may increase the exposure of these drugs by inhibition of CYP3A metabolism, thereby increasing the risk of toxicities from these drugs [See Contraindications and Warnings and Precautions ] Atorvastatin, Pravastatin, Fluvastatin: [See Warnings and Precautions ]
Clarithromycin label, warnings and precautionsThese include colchicine toxicity with colchicine; markedly increased transaminases with lomitapide; rhabdomyolysis with simvastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin; hypoglycemia and cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., torsades de pointes ) with disopyramide; and hypotension and acute kidney injury with calcium channel blockers metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem, nifedipine).
Source: FDA drug label (Clarithromycin), Solaris Pharma Corporation, effective April 9, 2026 (SPL set 4d42821d-ce7a-7d64-e063-6294a90a0875), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the simvastatin label say about clarithromycin?
Simvastatin label, drug interactionsStrong CYP3A4 inhibitors Clinical Impact: Simvastatin is a substrate of CYP3A4. Concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors with ZOCOR increases simvastatin exposure and increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, particularly with higher ZOCOR dosages. … itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole), select macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin and clarithromycin), select HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., nelfinavir, ritonavir, and darunavir/ritonavir), select HCV protease inhibitors (e.g., boceprevir and telaprevir), cobicistat-containing …
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.
Both medicines on the record
| Clarithromycin | Simvastatin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bacterial infections, Acid reflux and ulcers | Heart attack and coronary artery disease, High cholesterol, High triglycerides |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.466 per tablet 500 mg tablet | $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