Amlodipine can modestly increase atorvastatin blood levels, which may slightly raise the risk of statin-related side effects. However, this combination is very commonly prescribed together for patients with both high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and is generally well-tolerated.
How This Interaction Works (Mechanism)
Amlodipine is a weak inhibitor of CYP3A4, the primary enzyme responsible for atorvastatin metabolism. Co-administration can increase atorvastatin area under the curve (AUC) by approximately 18 percent. While this is a measurable pharmacokinetic interaction, it is not clinically significant for most patients at standard doses. A fixed-dose combination product (Caduet) containing both drugs is FDA-approved.
Source: Caduet (Amlodipine/Atorvastatin) Prescribing Information, Pfizer, 2024
This combination is generally safe and is commonly used in clinical practice. The FDA recommends limiting atorvastatin to 20 mg daily when used with amlodipine in some situations, though many patients tolerate higher doses. Report any muscle pain, weakness, or dark-colored urine to your doctor. Regular liver function and cholesterol monitoring should continue as usual.
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Sources and standards behind this page
What a drug interaction does, and how strongly it is supported, is documented in public labeling and federal safety references rather than in any one summary, and the sources below are the primary ones. They are linked so a reader can check a claim without taking this page's word for it.
- DailyMed carries the current FDA labeling for every marketed drug product, including the warnings and drug interaction sections.
- Drugs@FDA is the federal database of approved drug products and their approval documents.
- FDA: Drug interactions, what you should know explains how drug-drug, drug-food and drug-condition interactions are described on labels.
- FDA Drug Safety Communications publishes the agency's safety alerts and label changes as they are issued.
- FDA MedWatch is the program for reporting and reviewing adverse events, including suspected interactions.
- openFDA provides public access to FDA labeling and adverse event data.
- MedlinePlus drug information is the National Library of Medicine's consumer reference for what a medicine is and how it is taken.
- NIAAA: Harmful interactions documents which medicines interact with alcohol and how.
- NCCIH: Herb-drug interactions summarises the evidence on interactions between herbal products and medicines.
- National Library of Medicine maintains the drug and health databases the sources above draw on.
This page describes how this interaction works and where it is documented. It is not medical advice: a prescriber or pharmacist decides what applies to a particular patient and medication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Atorvastatin and Amlodipine have a mild interaction. In most cases, they can be taken together with appropriate precautions, but you should discuss the combination with your doctor or pharmacist to ensure safety based on your individual health profile.
Amlodipine can modestly increase atorvastatin blood levels, which may slightly raise the risk of statin-related side effects. However, this combination is very commonly prescribed together for patients with both high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and is generally well-tolerated.
Yes. Anytime you are taking multiple medications, supplements, or substances, you should inform your doctor and pharmacist. They can evaluate your specific risk factors (age, kidney function, other medications, medical conditions) and determine whether the Atorvastatin and Amlodipine combination is safe for you, or whether adjustments are needed.
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