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Statin interaction — GPhC CRA MCQ

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EasyCardiovascular TherapeuticsStatin interactionGPhC CRA

A patient taking simvastatin 40mg at night presents a new prescription for clarithromycin 500mg twice daily for 7 days. The patient asks whether they can take both medicines together. What is the most appropriate action?

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Correct answer: C — Clarithromycin can increase simvastatin exposure and myopathy risk

Clarithromycin is a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4 and can markedly increase simvastatin levels. This increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, so the prescriber should be contacted and simvastatin withheld or changed as appropriate. The other options do not describe the clinically important issue.

Reference: BNF