Rosuvastatin
About
Rosuvastatin belongs to the class of medicines known as statins, which reduces bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein-LDL) and glyceride level, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in the future. High cholesterol, known as hyperlipidemia or dyslipidemia, occurs when there is an excess of the unhealthy balance of cholesterol in the blood. When there is a high cholesterol level in the blood, your arteries get narrowed and clogged, finally contributing to heart diseases like stroke and heart attack.
Rosuvastatin works by blocking liver enzymes, causing the liver to make less cholesterol. Rosuvastatin increases the uptake and breakdown by the liver of cholesterol already in the blood. Thus, Rosuvastatin lowers the levels of lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when lifestyle changes (like a low-fat diet) on their own have failed. Rosuvastatin reduces the ‘bad’ cholesterol and increases the ‘good’ cholesterol by blocking our body’s production of ‘bad’ cholesterol. It also improves your body’s ability to remove it from your blood.
The possible side effects of Rosuvastatin may include myalgia (muscle pain), asthenia (lack of energy), nausea, headache, abdominal pain, muscle pain, weakness, and daytime drowsiness. Most of these side effects of Rosuvastatin do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor. It is important to have your lipid profile checked regularly.
This medicine is only one part of a treatment program that should include a healthy low-fat diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation, moderation of alcohol intake and weight reduction. You can normally eat while taking this medicine but avoid high-fat foods. Before starting the dose of Rosuvastatin, tell your doctor if you have kidney problems, are pregnant or breastfeeding, diabetes, severe lung disease, or musculoskeletal disorder (like myopathy and rhabdomyolysis). You should avoid taking Rosuvastatin with immune system affecting medicine (cyclosporine) or anti-HIV medicines (lopinavir, ritonavir, or atazanavir) as it might have a serious effect.
Uses of Rosuvastatin
Medicinal Benefits
Rosuvastatin lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary events like heart attack, stroke, and heart-related chest pain (angina). Rosuvastatin is beneficial in patients who are at high risk of these events. It is also prescribed in children (aged eight years or more) suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic disease resulting in high cholesterol) along with lipid-lowering pills and other dietary measures. Rosuvastatin plays a vital role in slowing atherosclerosis progress (blocked artery walls of heart due to fat/lipid deposition leading to heart attack and stroke) in adult patients.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Rosuvastatin
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- Asthenia (lack of energy)
- Nausea
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Daytime drowsiness
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
A prolonged intake of Rosuvastatin may cause muscular disorders like myopathy and rhabdomyolysis with kidney damage. A person taking excess alcohol and affected with liver disease should consult a doctor before its intake. Caution should be exercised if you are taking any blood thinner or anticoagulants like warfarin or coumarin. At least 2 hours gap should be maintained between intake of Rosuvastatin and antacids like magnesium hydroxide and aluminium hydroxide. Increases in HbA1c and fasting glucose levels can be observed if a person regularly takes Rosuvastatin. So you should tell the doctor before having these diabetes tests. Patients with proteinuria (protein in urine) or haematuria (blood in urine) should tell the doctor before taking the Rosuvastatin, as it might require dose adjustment. It is recommended that you should have a liver enzyme test regularly if you are regularly taking Rosuvastatin.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Rosuvastatin is known to contra-indicate when taken along with cyclosporine (organ transplants medicine), warfarin or clopidogrel (blood thinner), fibrates (gemfibrozil, fenofibrate), a medicine used to lower cholesterol (ezetimibe), antacid (aluminium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide), antibiotics (erythromycin, fusidic acid), oral contraceptive pills, regorafenib (anti-cancer), anti-viral or anti-HIV drug (ritonavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, simeprevir, ombitasvir, paritaprevir, dasabuvir, velpatasvir, grazoprevir, elbasvir, glecaprevir, and pibrentsavir).
Drug-Food Interactions: Alcoholic beverages should be avoided with Rosuvastatin.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Rosuvastatin may interact with disease conditions, including neuromuscular disorders (Myopathy, Myoneural Disorder), thyroid gland problems (Hypothyroidism), and Renal Dysfunction.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeYou are recommended not to consume alcohol along with Rosuvastatin to avoid unpleasant side-effects like drowsiness, dizziness, or sleepiness. It may also lead to a life-threatening condition like coma if taken with excessive alcohol.
Pregnancy
unsafeRosuvastatin can have some harmful effects on the baby (foetus), so your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you.
Breast Feeding
unsafeRosuvastatin is known to pass into the breast milk and may cause some degree of sedation in the baby. So, if you note any of the following signs in the baby let your doctor know about this.
Driving
safe if prescribedRosuvastatin does not usually affect your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionRosuvastatin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionRosuvastatin to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Children
safe if prescribedRosuvastatin can be prescribed in the children (aged 8 years or more) suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia (a genetic disease resulting in high cholesterol) along with lipid-lowering pills and other dietary measures.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Keep your weight under control with a BMI of 19.5-24.9.
- Do regular physical activity or exercise.
- Opt for a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- Quitting smoking is the best strategy to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Avoid chronic stress. Try to enjoy and spend time with your loved ones to cope with stress and practice mindfulness techniques.
- Including heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid-containing food drinks in your daily diet.
Special Advise
- Your doctor may advise on regular monitoring of liver function tests to monitor the liver enzymes.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
High cholesterol: There are two types of cholesterol found in our body, good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) and bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein). Good cholesterol is good for our heart and helps in reducing the bad cholesterol from our body. On the other hand, excess of bad cholesterol (LDL) leads to the risk of heart diseases like heart attack and stroke. High cholesterol known as hyperlipidaemia or dyslipidaemia occurs when there is an excess of the unhealthy balance of cholesterol in the blood. When there is a high level of cholesterol in the blood, your arteries get narrowed and clogged that finally contributes to heart diseases, like stroke and heart attack. Eating high-fat or high-cholesterol-containing food/drinks and genetic factors are the primary causes of high cholesterol.
FAQs
Rosuvastatin works by blocking liver enzymes, causing the liver to make less cholesterol. So, Rosuvastatin increases the uptake and breakdown by the liver of cholesterol already in the blood. Thus, Rosuvastatin lowers the levels of lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when lifestyle changes (like a low-fat diet) on their own have failed.
No, Rosuvastatin should not be stopped even if you feel better as it lead to worsening of your condition. Please consult your doctor if you feel better and do as advised.
Rosuvastatin can cause liver damage in very rare cases, specially when alcohol is consumed along with Rosuvastatin. Caution should be taken in patients who have any underlining liver problem or history of any liver impairment and also inform your doctor before taking Rosuvastatin so that dose is adjusted accordingly.
It's unlikely that Rosuvastatin affects fertility in men or women. However there's not enough evidence to say for certain. Rosuvastatin should be avoided if your pregnant or planning for pregnancy. For best advise, consult your doctor.
Yes, taking Rosuvastatin can cause muscle aches or pains especially if you feel unwell or have a fever. Also please tell your doctor if you have a muscle weakness that is constant.
Yes, Rosuvastatin can be taken at night or any other time with or without food. It is better to take it at fixed time.
Yes, Rosuvastatin can cause dizziness. It is advised to avoid driving or operate any heavy machinery while taking Rosuvastatin. In case you feel dizzy or lightheaded, it is advised to rest for some time until you feel better.
Before starting dose of Rosuvastatin tell your doctor if you have liver/kidney problems, under active thyroid (hypothyroidism), are pregnant or breastfeeding, diabetes, severe lung disease, blood in urine (haematuria) and protein in urine (proteinuria) or musculoskeletal disorder (like myopathy and rhabdomyolysis). You should avoid taking Rosuvastatin with immune system affecting medicine (cyclosporine) or anti HIV medicines (lopinavir, ritonavir, or atazanavir) as it might have serious effect.
Usually, it is not safe to take Rosuvastatin with fusidic acid as it may lead to muscle weakness, tenderness or pain. Please consult your doctor before taking Rosuvastatin along with fusidic acid.
