Drugs and food that interact with statins

Grapefruit juice contains a chemical that can interfere with the enzymes that break down (metabolize) the statins in your digestive system. While you won't need to eliminate grapefruit entirely from your diet, ask your doctor about how much grapefruit you can have.

Some drugs that may interact with statins and increase your risk of side effects include:

• Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), a medication for irregular heart rhythms
• Gemfibrozil (Lopid), another variety of cholesterol drug
• HIV treatments called protease inhibitors such as saquinavir (Invirase) and ritonavir (Norvir)
• Some antibiotic and antifungal medications, such as clarithromycin and itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox)
• Some immunosuppressant medications, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)

There are many drugs that may interact with statins, so be sure your doctor is aware of all the medicines you take when being prescribed with statins.