Question: I developed a terrible skin rash due to taking the statin drugs Crestor and Vytorin to lower my cholesterol. The rash went away with high doses of prednisone but it comes back as soon as I stop the prednisone. I’m taking Allegra for the itch but it really doesn't help. Any advice?

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

Crestor and Vytorin should not be taken together. Crestor is a statin, and Vytorin is a combination of a statin (same as Zocor) mixed with a cholesterol absorption inhibitor (same as Zetia). There is no indication to ever combine different statin medications. You are in danger of major liver toxicity, and may be the cause of your rash. These drugs are not intended to be used together, and they have not been tested or cleared for safety in combination.

Stop this combination now. Fortunately your rash is corrected by prednisone. Have your liver parameters, which include blood tests such as AST, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), etc., evaluated immediately.

The drugs should be out of your system after seven days and I would not expect recurrence as long as you have not resumed your lipid treatment. If so, you should be investigated for other causes. Remember that your Lipid treatment is part of a long-term treatment strategy. You should not suffer any consequences of remaining off all lipid treatment until this situation is controlled. The use of single statin drugs does not usually cause rashes.