A patient taking gemfibrozil [Lopid] and rosuvastatin [Crestor] concurrently begins to complain of muscle aches, fatigue, and weakness. What should the nurse monitor?
a. For tendon tenderness
b. For a lupus-like syndrome
c. The patient's liver function test results
d. The patient's creatinine kinase levels
D
Creatinine kinase levels are the best laboratory indicator of myopathy and/or rhabdomyolysis, which may lead to renal failure. As with the statins, gemfibrozil and other fibrates can cause myopathy. Fibrates must be used with caution in patients taking statins. Concurrent use of gem-fibrozil and rosuvastatin does not cause tendon tenderness or a lupus-like syndrome. Liver func-tion levels should be determined at the start of statin therapy and every 6 months thereafter in patients who do not have liver disease.
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