Ceftobiprole Medocaril and Simvastatin: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 4, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Simvastatin
Ceftobiprole Medocaril
No brand names on record
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
What's going on: Simvastatin (Zocor) is your cholesterol pill. Ceftobiprole is an antibiotic. Your liver normally pulls simvastatin out of your blood using little "gateways" called transporters. Ceftobiprole can partly block those gateways, so more simvastatin may stay in your blood than usual.
When statin levels run high, the main worry is muscle problems, like aches, tenderness, or weakness. This is based on lab-type reasoning rather than lots of patient reports, so it is a caution, not a crisis. Please don't stop either medicine on your own. Let your pharmacist or doctor know you take both, and watch for new muscle pain or dark urine. Your care team can adjust things and keep you safe.
Mechanism: Ceftobiprole medocaril inhibits OATP1B1/OATP1B3-mediated hepatic uptake. Simvastatin (and its acid) is an OATP1B1/1B3 substrate, so inhibition reduces hepatic uptake and raises systemic exposure (increased AUC/Cmax).
- Direction: Increased simvastatin exposure, raising risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis.
- Evidence: Theoretical (transporter-based); magnitude not quantified.
- Onset: Unspecified.
- Management: Concomitant use is not recommended per labeling. If unavoidable, monitor for muscle symptoms and CK; the statin dose may need to be individualized, or an alternative agent considered by the care team during the antibiotic course.
What happens
Increased OATP1B1 substrate exposure and an increased OATP1B3 substrate exposure
Interaction Deep Dive
It is not advisable to give ceftobiprole medocaril sodium together with a substrate of OATP1B1/OATP1B3, since doing so could raise the plasma levels of such OATP1B1/OATP1B3 substrates1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Inhibition of OATP1B1-mediated efflux transport by ceftobiprole medocaril sodium; inhibition of OATP1B3-mediated efflux transport by ceftobiprole medocaril sodium
How to manage this interaction
What your care team may do:
- Because this combination is generally not recommended, your prescriber may hold or switch one medicine during the short antibiotic course, or individualize the statin dose.
- They may monitor you more closely for muscle-related side effects while you are on both.
What you can do:
- Keep taking both exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise.
- Tell your pharmacist and doctor you take simvastatin before starting ceftobiprole.
- Report new muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or dark-colored urine promptly.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Ceftobiprole Medocaril and Simvastatin together?
Ceftobiprole can raise simvastatin levels by blocking its liver uptake transporters, which may increase muscle-related side effects; this pairing is generally not recommended, so let your care team know and watch for muscle pain. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Ceftobiprole Medocaril and Simvastatin interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Ceftobiprole Medocaril and Simvastatin interaction managed?
What your care team may do: Because this combination is generally not recommended, your prescriber may hold or switch one medicine during the short antibiotic course, or individualize the statin dose. They may monitor you more closely for muscle-related side effects while you are on both. What you can do: Keep taking both exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Tell your… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Ceftobiprole Medocaril or Simvastatin need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (1)
- Product Information: ZEVTERA intravenous injection, ceftobiprole medocaril sodium intravenous injection. Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd (per FDA), Allschwil, Switzerland, 2024. DailyMed
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