Rosuvastatin prevents the formation of cholesterol in the liver and is used to treat high cholesterol and for the prevention of heart and blood vessels disease. It is sometimes used after organ transplantation, as a cholesterol lowering agent. Studies have shown that this drug can lower blood cholesterol by 25-35% and to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular complications by 25%1
It is also suitable for use in elderly as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Safety precaution:
Rosuvastatin is generally well tolerated and rarely cause side effects.
It should be avoided in the following conditions:
In patients who have liver damage
In patients who have or have had muscle damage/disorders
In patients with kidney disease
In patients with decreased secretion of thyroid hormones
In pregnant women
In nursing mothers
Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience unexplained/unexpected muscle cramps, pain in the muscles or a sore muscles. These symptoms may be a sign of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is muscle damage with possible lethal outcome!
If you are diabetic, it is necessary to carefully monitor blood sugar levels while on treatment with this drug.
FDA strictly prohibits the use of this drug during pregnancy, placing it in the group X (drugs that are likely to be teratogenic). FDA recommends to stop using this drug during pregnancy because the risk of teratogenic effects on the fetus outweighs the risk of cardiovascular complications in the mother.
Use of Rosavastatin is contraindicated during breastfeeding.
Dosage:
Rosuvastatin comes into several different dosage forms (5, 10, 20and 40 mg).
The dose range for Rosuvastatin calcium tablet in adults is 5 to 40 mg orally once daily. The usual starting dose is 10 to 20 mg once daily. The usual dose in adult patient with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is 20 mg once daily.
The maximum Rosuvastatin calcium tablets dose of 40 mg should be used only for those patients who have not achieved their LD L-C goal utilizing the 20 mg dose.
Rosuvastatin calcium tablets can be administrated as a single dose at any time of day, with or without food. The tablet should be swallowed whole.
When initiating Rosuvastatin therapy or switching from another HMG-COA reductase inhibitor therapy, the appropriate Rosuvastatin starting dose should first be utilized, and only then titrated according to the patient ‘s response and individualized goal of therapy.
After initiation or upon titration of Rosuvastatin, lipid levels should be analyzed within 2 to 4 weeks and the dosage adjusted accordingly.
The maximum daily dose is 40 mg and may be exceeded only in patients with extremely high levels of cholesterol, and only if recommended by experienced doctor. Careful monitoring of the patient taking larger doses is necessary.
Rosuvastatin can be applied in children with familial hypercholesterolemia.
In patients who have impaired kidney function, the starting dose should be minimal (5 mg daily).
In Asian patients, consider initial of Rsuvastatin therapy with 5 mg once daily due to increased Rosuvastatin plasma concentrations. The increased systemic exposure should be taken into consideration when treating Asian patients not adequately controlled at doses up to 20mg/day/see use in specific populations
This drug must be taken regularly, even if you feel better. Duration of therapy is usually long-term.
Interactions:
Rosuvastatin may interact with the following medications:
Drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment (leflunomide, lenalidomide and teriflunomide). These drugs can damage the liver, just like Rosavastatin, and because of that concomitant use is contraindicated.
Other drugs that lower cholesterol and triglycerides such as:
Fenfibrate, gemfibrozil, lovastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, niacin, lomitapid, mipomersen and others). Concomitant use increases the risk of myopathy and liver damage.
Cyclosporine - a drug used to prevent rejection of the organ transplants, or for the treatment of psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Cyclosporine increases the concentration of the Pravastatin in the blood, which increase the risk of side effects.
Drugs used to treat hepatitis C (paritaprevir). This drug significantly increases the level of Rosavastatin in the blood.
Tell your doctor if you are using any other medicines.
Side effect:
Occasional side effects of Rosavastatin are the following:
Eye problems, Pain or discomfort in the abdomen, Insomnia, Pain in the joints and muscles, the appearance of acne,
Skin rash, Gas and bloating, Painful and frequent urination, Problems with the bladder
Very rare side effects of Rosuvastatin are the following:, Syndrome similar to lupus erythematous
Inflammation of the liver and / or pancreas
Fulminant hepatic necrosis (the phenomenon that liver cells are dying at very high speed)
Myositis and polymyositis
Inflammation of the joints
Rupture of the joints
Pain in the muscles or muscle weakness
Other side effects of pravastatin are:
Depression
Memory loss
Nightmares
If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.