Uses
Rosuvastatin is used together with diet, weight-loss, and exercise to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke and to decrease the chance that heart surgery will be needed in people who have heart disease or who are at risk of developing heart disease. Rosuvastatin is also used to decrease the amount of cholesterol such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (‘bad cholesterol’) and triglycerides in the blood and to increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (‘good cholesterol’) in the blood. Rosuvastatin may also be used together with diet to decrease the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood in children and teenagers 8 to 17 years of age who have familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia (an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally). Rosuvastatin is used together with diet, and alone or in combination with other medications, to decrease the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood in adults and children, and teenagers 7 to 17 years of age who have familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia (an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally). Rosuvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.
Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats with rosuvastatin has been shown to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.
Side Effects Of Rosuvastatin
Rosuvastatin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- constipation
- stomach pain
- dizziness
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- depression
- joint pain
- headache
- memory loss or forgetfulness
- confusion
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical help:
- muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
- lack of energy
- fever
- chest pain
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- dark-colored urine
- pain in the upper right part of the abdomen
- nausea
- extreme tiredness
- weakness
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- loss of appetite
- flu-like symptoms
- rash
- hives
- itching
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- hoarseness
Rosuvastatin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before taking rosuvastatin:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to rosuvastatin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in rosuvastatin tablets or capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin); colchicine (Colcrys); cimetidine (Tagamet); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); eltrombopag (Promacta); ketoconazole (Nizoral); other medications for high cholesterol such as fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and niacin (Niaspan, Niacor); certain HIV protease inhibitors including atazanavir (Reyataz) taken with ritonavir (Norvir), and lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra); and spironolactone (Aldactone). Many other medications may also interact with rosuvastatin, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- if you are taking aluminum and magnesium hydroxide antacids (Mylanta, Maalox), take them at least 2 hours after rosuvastatin.
- tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Your doctor will order laboratory tests to see how well your liver is working even if you do not think you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take rosuvastatin if you have liver disease or if the tests show that you may be developing liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are Asian, if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily, if you are 65 years of age or older, if you have ever had liver disease, or if you have or have ever had seizures, muscle aches, or weakness, low blood pressure, or kidney or thyroid disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while you are taking rosuvastatin. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that you can use during your treatment. If you become pregnant while taking rosuvastatin, call your doctor immediately. Rosuvastatin may harm the fetus.
- do not breastfeed while taking rosuvastatin.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking rosuvastatin. If you are hospitalized due to serious injury or infection, tell the doctor who treats you that you are taking rosuvastatin.
- ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking rosuvastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.
Rosuvastatin Dosage
Rosuvastatin comes as a tablet (Crestor) to take by mouth. Rosuvastatin also comes as a capsule (Ezallor) to take by mouth or to open, mix with water, and give through a feeding tube. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take rosuvastatin at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take rosuvastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of rosuvastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 2 to 4 weeks.
Swallow the capsules (Ezallor) whole; do not chew or crush them. If you cannot swallow the capsule, open the capsule and carefully sprinkle the contents onto 1 teaspoonful of applesauce. Swallow the entire mixture immediately without chewing. Do not save the applesauce mixture for later use.
Continue to take rosuvastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking rosuvastatin without talking to your doctor.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order lab tests during your treatment, especially if you develop symptoms of liver damage.
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking rosuvastatin.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
