Does Cyclosporine Interact With Lovastatin?

Name: Does Cyclosporine Interact With Lovastatin?
Creator: OmniRx Health

Cyclosporine: The use of lovastatin with cyclosporine should be avoided.

Reviewed by the OmniRx Health clinical team•Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026

Severity: Major

Severity basis: warnings section (keywords: avoid). Combining Cyclosporine (Calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant) and Lovastatin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)) is classified as a major interaction.

What to Do

The label advises avoiding this combination or using it only under close medical supervision. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before combining them.

How This Interaction Works

Interactions like this one can happen when two medicines have overlapping effects, or when one changes how the other is absorbed, broken down, or cleared from the body. Cyclosporine is a calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant and Lovastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor (statin); together they are documented as a major interaction. How much this matters depends on your dose, your other medications, and your overall health.

If You Take Both Medications

If you have been prescribed both Cyclosporine and Lovastatin, do not start, stop, or change either medication on your own — some medicines are unsafe to stop suddenly. Tell your prescriber and pharmacist that you take both so they can decide whether the combination is right for you, adjust the dose, monitor you more closely, or suggest an alternative.

From the FDA Label

Cyclosporine: The use of lovastatin with cyclosporine should be avoided.

Source: FDA structured product labeling (set_id 027bd594-6a0a-4e6d-bd3c-4f33fdb4166a).

Cyclosporine

Calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant

Brands: Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf

View Cyclosporine safety profile

Lovastatin

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)

Brands: Mevacor, Altoprev

View Lovastatin safety profile

Check these against your full medication list in our free Interaction Checker

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you take Cyclosporine and Lovastatin together?

Cyclosporine and Lovastatin have a documented major interaction. The label advises avoiding this combination or using it only under close medical supervision. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before combining them.

How serious is the Cyclosporine and Lovastatin interaction?

It is classified as a major interaction, based on the FDA label's warnings section (keywords: avoid). A major interaction can cause serious harm and often calls for a change in therapy or close monitoring.

What should I do if I'm taking both Cyclosporine and Lovastatin?

This information is educational — not medical advice.

This page is provided for general educational purposes and summarizes publicly available data from sources such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is not a substitute for the judgment of a licensed clinician and should not be used to start, stop, or change any medication. It may be incomplete or out of date, and individual circumstances vary. Always talk with your prescriber or pharmacist about your specific medications and health conditions. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.

Questions About Your Medications?

A licensed OmniRx provider can review your full medication list and help you understand what's safe for you — no office visit required.

Other Cyclosporine Interactions

Other Lovastatin Interactions

Sources & References

Learn more about where our data comes from and how we write and review medical content.