Acute rhabdomyolysis caused by combination therapy with atorvastatin and warfarin.

Atorvastatin and warfarin are commonly prescribed in combination. Acute rhabdomyolysis is a rare but recognized side effect of atorvastatin occurring within a few weeks of initiation. This article presents a case of a 69-year-old man, on stable atorvastatin therapy, who developed acute rhabdomyolysis following initiation of warfarin. Rising international normalized ratio is a well-recognized feature of interaction between warfarin and various statins (fluvastatin, lovastatin and simva-statin). There has only been one previous similar case of acute rhabdomyolysis following the commencement of warfarin, reported in a patient on stable simvastatin therapy. To the authors' knowledge, no similar case has been reported with atorvastatin.