Auritz Special Precautions

Skeletal Muscle Effects: Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors including rosuvastatin. These risks can occur at any dose level, but are increased at the highest dose (40 mg).
Rosuvastatin should be prescribed with caution in patients with predisposing factors for myopathy.
The risk of myopathy during treatment with rosuvastatin may be increased with concurrent administration of some other lipid-lowering therapies (fibrates or niacin), gemfibrozil, cyclosporine or lopinavir/ritonavir.
Rosuvastatin should be discontinued if markedly elevated creatinine kinase levels occur or myopathy is diagnosed or suspected. Rosuvastatin therapy should also be temporarily withheld in any patient with an acute, serious condition suggestive of myopathy or predisposing to the development of renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis (eg, sepsis, hypotension, dehydration, major surgery, trauma, severe metabolic, endocrine and electrolyte disorders or uncontrolled seizures). All patients should be advised to promptly report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever.
Liver Enzyme Abnormalities and Monitoring: It is recommended that liver enzyme tests be performed before and at 12 weeks following both the initiation of therapy and any elevation of dose, and periodically (eg, semiannually) thereafter.
Increases in serum transaminases [AST (SGOT) or ALT (SGPT)] have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including rosuvastatin.
Patients who develop increased transaminase levels should be monitored until the abnormalities have resolved. Should an increase in ALT or AST of >3 times ULN persist, reduction of dose or withdrawal of rosuvastatin is recommended.
Rosuvastatin should be used with caution in patients who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of chronic liver disease.
Proteinuria and Hematuria: Dipstick-positive proteinuria and microscopic hematuria were observed among rosuvastatin-treated patients. These findings were more frequent in patients taking rosuvastatin 40 mg, when compared to lower doses of rosuvastatin or comparator HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, though it was generally transient and was not associated with worsening renal function. Although the clinical significance of this finding is unknown, a dose reduction should be considered for patients on rosuvastatin therapy  with unexplained persistent proteinuria and/or hematuria during routine urinalysis testing.
Endocrine Effects: Rosuvastatin alone does not reduce basal plasma cortisol concentration or impair adrenal reserve, however, caution should be exercised if rosuvastatin is administered concomitantly with drugs that may decrease the levels or activity of endogenous steroid hormones eg, ketoconazole, spironolactone and cimetidine.
Renal Impairment: Rosuvastatin exposure is not influenced by mild to moderate renal impairment; however, exposure to rosuvastatin is increased to a clinically significant extent in patients with severe renal impairment who are not receiving hemodialysis. Rosuvastatin dosing should be adjusted in patients with severe renal impairment not requiring hemodialysis and clinical pharmacology.
Hepatic Impairment: Rosuvastatin is contraindicated in patients with active liver disease, which may include unexplained persistent elevations of hepatic transaminase levels. Chronic alcohol liver disease is known to increase rosuvastatin exposure; rosuvastatin should be used with caution in these patients.
Asian Patients: Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated an approximate 2-fold increase in median exposure to rosuvastatin in Asian subjects when compared with Caucasian controls. Rosuvastatin dosage should be adjusted in Asian patients.
Effects on the Ability to Drive or Operate Machinery: Studies to determine the effect of rosuvastatin on the ability to drive and use machines have not been conducted. However, based on its pharmacodynamic properties, rosuvastatin is unlikely to affect this ability. When driving vehicles or operating machines, it should be taken into account that dizziness may occur during treatment.
Use in children: Although not all adverse reactions identified in the adult population have been observed in clinical trials of children and adolescent patients, the same warnings and precautions for adults should be considered for children and adolescents. Doses of rosuvastatin >20 mg have not been studied in the pediatric population.
Use in the elderly: Elderly patients are at higher risk of myopathy and rosuvastatin should be prescribed with caution in the elderly use.