Rosuvastatin is an oral drug for lowering blood cholesterol levels. It belongs to a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, more commonly referred to as "statins". Other drugs in this class include simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin and fluvastatin. These drugs reduce cholesterol levels by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that produces cholesterol in the liver.
Rosuvastatin and other statins lower total blood cholesterol as well as blood low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is the "bad" type of cholesterol that increases the risk of coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) and heart attacks. Lowering LDL cholesterol levels slows the progression of coronary artery disease and may even reverse it. Statins also increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" type of cholesterol, and reduce triglycerides.
Scientists have discovered that in addition to atherosclerosis, inflammation of the coronary arteries may also contribute to the development of heart attacks. The presence of inflammation can be determined by measuring a chemical in the blood called highly sensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP). Moreover, Hs-CRP can be used to predict the occurrence of heart attacks, strokes and death. Hs-CRP is, in fact, a better predictor of the risk for heart attacks than LDL cholesterol. Scientists have found that statins reduce the level of Hs-CRP in the body, presumably by reducing inflammation in the coronary arteries, and this may be another mechanism through which statins prevent heart attacks, strokes and death. More research needs to be conducted, however, to confirm the importance of inflammation and the mechanisms through which statins work.
For the reduction of total blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and to increase of HDL cholesterol levels.
Adults: Starting Dose: 5 mg once daily. Maximum Dose: 40 mg daily, and this dose should be reserved for patients who do not adequately respond to a 20-mg dose.
Use in pregnancy & lactation: Statins should not be used by pregnant women because there is a high risk of harm to the fetus.
There is no information on whether rosuvastatin is excreted in breast milk.
Use in pregnancy & lactation: Statins should not be used by pregnant women because there is a high risk of harm to the fetus.
There is no information on whether rosuvastatin is excreted in breast milk.
Statins should not be used by pregnant women because there is a high risk of harm to the fetus.
There is no information on whether rosuvastatin is excreted in breast milk.
The most common side effects of rosuvastatin are headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and muscle pain. The most serious side effects are liver failure, muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) and kidney failure. Liver failure caused by statins is very rare. More often, statins cause increases in liver tests due to injury to the liver. The test levels usually return to normal with continued therapy, but if the level is >3 times the upper limit of normal or baseline, practitioners usually stop the statin. Periodic measurement of liver tests is recommended for all statins. For rosuvastatin, these tests should be obtained before therapy is started, 12 weeks after therapy is started, when the dose is increased, if there is a medical concern, and periodically during prolonged treatment.
Rhabdomyolysis is a very rare but serious side effect of statin therapy. When used alone, the frequency of rhabdomyolysis due to statins is <1%. Rhabdomyolysis is a process in which there is severe injury to muscles leading to severe pain and the release of muscle protein (myoglobin) into the blood. Myoglobin may cause kidney failure. To prevent the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis, patients taking statins who develop unexplained muscle pain, weakness or tenderness should report the symptoms to the physician.
Rosuvastatin may cause reversible increases in the amount of protein excreted by the kidneys, and in some patients kidney failure has occurred as a result. This effect depends on the dose and occurs more often at the 40-mg dose.
When administered with cyclosporine, the blood level of rosuvastatin increases 7-fold, and this could increase the side effects of rosuvastatin.
Rosuvastatin increases the action of the blood thinner warfarin and could increase the risk of bleeding from warfarin. Antacids reduce the absorption of rosuvastatin and should be administered 2 hrs after administration of rosuvastatin. The use of rosuvastatin with nicotinic acid, gemfibrozil or other drugs that may cause liver or muscle injury may increase the incidence of the muscle injury.
Store at room temperature between 2-25°C (36-77°F).
C10AA07 - rosuvastatin ; Belongs to the class of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. Used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.
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