Clofibrate 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
Clofibrate
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.
Both of these medicines can affect your muscles. Simvastatin (Zocor) is a cholesterol medicine, and clofibrate is a different kind of cholesterol-lowering drug. When taken together, the small chance each one has of causing muscle problems can add up. That means a slightly higher risk of muscle pain, weakness, or, rarely, a more serious muscle breakdown.
Please watch for new muscle aches, tenderness, or unusual weakness, and dark or cola-colored urine. This is something your care team can manage well by keeping an eye on you, especially when starting or increasing either drug. Keep taking both as prescribed, and tell your pharmacist or doctor if you notice any muscle symptoms.
Additive myotoxicity. Simvastatin and clofibrate can each independently cause myopathy; combined use raises the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. This is a pharmacodynamic (additive), not a pharmacokinetic, interaction. Neither is a prodrug relevant here, so the direction is straightforward: increased muscle toxicity risk.
- Severity: major; Evidence: theoretical; Onset: unspecified.
- Management: weigh benefit vs risk; use caution if combined.
- Monitor for muscle pain, weakness, and elevated CK, especially at initiation and dose titration of either agent.
- Discontinue if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected.
What happens
An increased risk of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis
Interaction Deep Dive
Because both simvastatin and clofibrate can independently produce myopathy, taking them together may raise the likelihood of this condition developing. Clinicians should carefully balance the anticipated benefit of this combination against its potential hazards in individual patients, and exercise caution whenever these drugs are prescribed concurrently. When coadministration cannot be avoided, watch the patient for indications of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, especially at the start of treatment and while the dose of either medication is being increased. If myopathy is confirmed or suspected, stop the therapy1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Additive risk of myopathy
How to manage this interaction
This combination can be used with care and monitoring. Because both drugs can affect muscle, your care team will weigh the benefits against the risks and watch you more closely if you take them together.
- Keep taking both medicines exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise.
- Report new or unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness right away, especially when starting or when a dose of either drug is increased.
- Also report dark or cola-colored urine.
- Your team may check on you more often, and doses may be adjusted and individualized to keep you safe.
Talk with your pharmacist or doctor about any concerns.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Clofibrate and Simvastatin together?
Simvastatin and clofibrate can each cause muscle problems, so together they add up to a higher risk of myopathy; take both as prescribed but report any new muscle pain or weakness to your care team promptly. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Clofibrate 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 Clofibrate and Simvastatin interaction managed?
This combination can be used with care and monitoring. Because both drugs can affect muscle, your care team will weigh the benefits against the risks and watch you more closely if you take them together. Keep taking both medicines exactly as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Report new or unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness right away, especially when starting or… 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 Clofibrate 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: ZOCOR(R) oral tablets, simvastatin oral tablets. Organon & Co (per FDA), Jersey City, NJ, 2022. DailyMed
Keep reading about Simvastatin
Keep reading about Clofibrate
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