Pitavastatin and Colchicine: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 2, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Pitavastatin
Colchicine
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 pitavastatin (a cholesterol medicine) and colchicine (used for gout) can, on their own, sometimes irritate your muscles. When you take them together, that muscle risk can add up. In rare cases this can lead to a serious muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis, where muscle tissue breaks down.
Watch for muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially any that comes on for no clear reason. If you notice this (or dark-colored urine), let your care team know right away. The good news is this is manageable. Your doctor and pharmacist can watch you closely and adjust your medicines if needed, so keep taking both exactly as prescribed unless they tell you otherwise.
Effect: Additive risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis with concurrent pitavastatin and colchicine. Both agents independently carry myotoxic potential; colchicine-induced neuromuscular toxicity is well described with chronic therapeutic dosing, so the combination may be potentiating.
- Mechanism: Not established (both are inherently myotoxic; not a clear PK/CYP interaction).
- Evidence: Probable. Severity: Major. Onset: Unspecified.
- Risk factors: Renal dysfunction and advanced age (even with normal renal/hepatic function).
- Management: Reasonable when clinically indicated. Monitor for muscle pain/tenderness/weakness, particularly early. Consider colchicine dose reduction in renal impairment. Withhold/discontinue pitavastatin if myopathy/rhabdomyolysis is suspected or CK rises markedly. Note CK monitoring does not reliably prevent severe myopathy.
What happens
An increased risk of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis
Interaction Deep Dive
Neuromuscular toxicity and rhabdomyolysis attributed to colchicine have been documented at long-term, therapeutic dosing. The risk is elevated in individuals with impaired renal function and in older patients, including those whose renal and hepatic function is normal. Taking colchicine together with pitavastatin can heighten the likelihood of myopathy developing1. While caution is recommended for concurrent administration, doing so is acceptable when clinically warranted, provided patients are watched for indications of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis; colchicine dose reductions may be worth considering in patients with renal impairment 2. Pitavastatin should be temporarily held or stopped if myopathy or rhabdomyolysis is diagnosed or suspected, or if creatine kinase (CK) values rise substantially 3. After colchicine is stopped, symptoms typically clear within a period ranging from one week to several months. Clinicians should balance the possible benefits against the risks and monitor patients closely for signs or symptoms of muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially at the start of treatment; monitoring CK will not necessarily avert the development of severe myopathy 1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Unknown
How to manage this interaction
This combination can be used when clinically appropriate, with attention from your care team.
- Keep taking both as prescribed unless your doctor or pharmacist directs otherwise.
- Your team may monitor you more closely for muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially when you first start.
- If you have kidney problems or are older, your risk is higher, and your colchicine dose may need to be adjusted and individualized by your care team.
- Report any unexplained muscle symptoms or dark urine promptly. Your team may check a muscle enzyme (CK) or temporarily pause the statin if a muscle problem is suspected.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Literature reports
1 report — tap to read
a) According to the American Heart Association, using pitavastatin together with colchicine is reasonable when there is a clinical indication for it. For patients with renal impairment, reductions in the colchicine dose may be considered. It is advised to monitor for muscle-related signs and symptoms of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis 2.
Common questions
Can I take Pitavastatin and Colchicine together?
Taking pitavastatin and colchicine together can add up your risk of serious muscle injury, so keep both as prescribed but promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or dark urine to your pharmacist or doctor. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Pitavastatin and Colchicine 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 Pitavastatin and Colchicine interaction managed?
This combination can be used when clinically appropriate, with attention from your care team. Keep taking both as prescribed unless your doctor or pharmacist directs otherwise. Your team may monitor you more closely for muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially when you first start. If you have kidney problems or are older, your risk is higher, and your colchicine dose may need to be adjust… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "probable". Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Pitavastatin or Colchicine 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 (3)
- Product Information: COLCRYS oral tablets, colchicine oral tablets. Takeda Pharmaceuticals America Inc (per FDA), Deerfield, IL, 2020. DailyMed
- Wiggins BS, Saseen JJ, Page RL, et al: Recommendations for management of clinically significant drug-drug interactions with statins and select agents used in patients with cardiovascular disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2016; 134(21):e468-e495. PubMed
- Product Information: LIVALO(R) oral film coated tablets, pitavastatin oral film coated tablets. Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. (per FDA), Montgomery, AL, 2013. DailyMed
Keep reading about Pitavastatin
Keep reading about Colchicine
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