Rosuvastatin Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Rosuvastatin Tablet is a prescription statin medicine used to treat high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. It works by lowering cholesterol production in the liver and is often used together with diet and exercise changes. It is taken once daily by mouth and is available in several tablet strengths.

What is Rosuvastatin Tablet

Rosuvastatin is a prescription medicine used to treat high cholesterol and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. It belongs to a group of medicines called statins and is often used together with diet and exercise changes.

Rosuvastatin Tablet uses

• Reduce elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increase HDL cholesterol in adults with high cholesterol
• Reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and the need for procedures to improve blood flow to the heart in adults with risk factors for cardiovascular disease
• Slow the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in blood vessel walls
• Treat adults and certain children with inherited high cholesterol conditions (familial hypercholesterolemia)
• Treat adults with high cholesterol and high triglycerides due to rare inherited lipid disorders (dysbetalipoproteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia)

Benefits of Rosuvastatin Tablet

• Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides
• Raises HDL (good) cholesterol
• Reduces risk of heart attack, stroke, and procedures to restore blood flow to the heart
• Slows progression of plaque buildup in blood vessels

How Rosuvastatin Tablet works

Rosuvastatin blocks an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which the body needs to make cholesterol. This lowers the amount of cholesterol produced. In response, the liver increases the number of LDL receptors on its surface, which pulls more LDL (bad) cholesterol out of the blood, lowering LDL and total cholesterol levels.

Rosuvastatin Tablet dosage

Take by mouth once daily, with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole; do not crush, split, or chew it. Take it at the same time every day, either in the morning or evening. If it upsets your stomach, taking it with food may help. If you take an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium hydroxide, take it at least 2 hours after your rosuvastatin dose. Keep taking it even if you feel well; do not stop or change the dose without talking to your care team. Follow a cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise plan along with this medicine. This medicine may be prescribed for children as young as 7 to 8 years for certain conditions, under specialist supervision.

Available forms and strengths

• Oral tablets (5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg)

Side effects of Rosuvastatin Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Nausea
• Muscle aches and pains (myalgia)
• Weakness
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue
• Joint pain
• Dizziness
• Insomnia

Serious

• Muscle pain, tenderness, and weakness (myopathy), which can rarely progress to muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) and kidney damage
• Liver problems, including elevated liver enzymes and rare cases of liver failure
• Protein and blood in the urine
• Increase in blood sugar (glucose) levels, which may lead to diabetes
• Allergic reactions, including rash, itching, hives, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (a rare autoimmune muscle disease)
• Memory loss and confusion
• Serious skin reactions with blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

Warnings and precautions

• Rosuvastatin should not be used during pregnancy because it may harm the unborn baby. It should be stopped as soon as pregnancy is recognized.
• Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking rosuvastatin because the drug can pass into breast milk and may harm the baby.
• People with kidney problems may need a lower dose because rosuvastatin levels can build up in the blood, increasing the risk of muscle problems.
• Rosuvastatin should not be used in people with active liver disease, and liver function should be checked before and during treatment.
• Rosuvastatin should be used with caution in people who drink a lot of alcohol, since both alcohol and the medicine can affect the liver.
• Rosuvastatin can cause muscle problems, including rare but serious muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) that can lead to kidney damage. 
• Report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness right away.
• Rosuvastatin can cause liver problems, and doctors may check liver function with blood tests before and during treatment.
• Rosuvastatin may increase blood sugar levels, which can raise the risk of developing diabetes, especially in those already at risk.
• The 40 mg dose should not be used in people of Asian descent or those with risk factors for muscle problems.
• Rosuvastatin should not be taken with cyclosporine or the hepatitis C combination sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir due to serious drug interactions.
• Statins may rarely cause or worsen myasthenia gravis, a disease causing muscle weakness.

Storage

• Store at room temperature, between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C)
• Store in a dry place, protected from moisture
• Keep the container tightly closed
• Keep out of the reach of children and pets
• Get rid of any unused or expired medication safely; take it to a medication take-back program if possible, or follow label/package instructions for trash disposal

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or trouble breathing.
• Contact your doctor right away if you notice signs of liver injury, such as upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stools, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with fever or unusual tiredness.
• Seek care if you notice symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, or unusual weakness.
• If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact a poison control center or emergency room right away.
• Get help immediately if you develop signs of a severe skin reaction, such as blistering, peeling, or sores in the mouth.

Alternatives

• Atorvastatin
• Ezetimibe
• Pitavastatin
• Alirocumab
• Fluvastatin