Rosuvastatin Sandoz Drug Interactions

Effect of co-administered medicinal products on rosuvastatin: Transporter protein inhibitors: Rosuvastatin is a substrate for certain transporter proteins including the hepatic uptake transporter OATP1B1 and efflux transporter BCRP. Concomitant administration of rosuvastatin with medicinal products that are inhibitors of these transporter proteins may result in increased rosuvastatin plasma concentrations and an increased risk of myopathy (see Dosage & Administration, Precautions, and Table 2 as follows).
Ciclosporin: During concomitant treatment with rosuvastatin and ciclosporin, rosuvastatin AUC values were on average 7 times higher than those observed in healthy volunteers (see Table 2). Rosuvastatin is contraindicated in patients receiving concomitant ciclosporin (see Contraindications).
Concomitant administration did not affect plasma concentrations of ciclosporin.
Protease inhibitors: Although the exact mechanism of interaction is unknown, concomitant protease inhibitor use may strongly increase rosuvastatin exposure (see Table 2). For instance, in a pharmacokinetic study, co-administration of 10 mg rosuvastatin and a combination product of two protease inhibitors (300 mg atazanavir/100 mg ritonavir) in healthy volunteers was associated with an approximately three-fold and seven-fold increase in rosuvastatin AUC and C_max respectively. The concomitant use of rosuvastatin and some protease inhibitor combinations may be considered after careful consideration of rosuvastatin dose adjustments based on the expected increase in rosuvastatin exposure (see Dosage & Administration, Precautions, and Table 2 as follows).
Gemfibrozil and other lipid-lowering products: Concomitant use of rosuvastatin and gemfibrozil resulted in a 2-fold increase in rosuvastatin C_max and AUC (see Precautions).
Based on data from specific interaction studies no pharmacokinetic relevant interaction with fenofibrate is expected, however a pharmacodynamic interaction may occur. Gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, other fibrates and lipid lowering doses (> or equal to 1g/day) of niacin (nicotinic acid) increase the risk of myopathy when given concomitantly with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, probably because they can produce myopathy when given alone. The 40 mg dose is contraindicated with concomitant use of a fibrate (see Contraindications and Precautions). These patients should also start with the 5 mg dose.
Ezetimibe: Concomitant use of 10 mg rosuvastatin and 10 mg ezetimibe resulted in a 1.2-fold increase in AUC of rosuvastatin in hypercholesterolaemic subjects (Table 2). A pharmacodynamic interaction, in terms of adverse effects, between rosuvastatin and ezetimibe cannot be ruled out (see Precautions).
Antacid: The simultaneous dosing of rosuvastatin with an antacid suspension containing aluminium and magnesium hydroxide resulted in a decrease in rosuvastatin plasma concentration of approximately 50%. This effect was mitigated when the antacid was dosed 2 hours after rosuvastatin. The clinical relevance of this interaction has not been studied.
Erythromycin: Concomitant use of rosuvastatin and erythromycin resulted in a 20% decrease in AUC and a 30% decrease in Cmax of rosuvastatin. This interaction may be caused by the increase in gut motility caused by erythromycin.
Cytochrome P450 enzymes: Results from in vitro and in vivo studies show that rosuvastatin is neither an inhibitor nor an inducer of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. In addition, rosuvastatin is a poor substrate for these isoenzymes. Therefore, medicinal product interactions resulting from cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism are not expected. No clinically relevant interactions have been observed between rosuvastatin and either fluconazole (an inhibitor of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4) or ketoconazole (an inhibitor of CYP2A6 and CYP3A4).
Ticagrelor: Ticagrelor can cause renal insufficiency and may affect renal excretion of rosuvastatin, increasing the risk for rosuvastatin accumulation. In some cases, co-administered ticagrelor and rosuvastatin led to renal function decrease, increased CPK level and rhabdomyolysis. Renal function and CPK control is recommended while using ticagrelor and rosuvastatin concomitantly.
Interactions requiring rosuvastatin dose adjustments (see also Table 2): When it is necessary to co-administer rosuvastatin with other medicinal products known to increase exposure to rosuvastatin, doses of rosuvastatin should be adjusted. Start with a 5 mg once daily dose of rosuvastatin if the expected increase in exposure (AUC) is approximately 2-fold or higher. The maximum daily dose of rosuvastatin should be adjusted so that the expected rosuvastatin exposure would not likely exceed that of a 40 mg daily dose of rosuvastatin taken without interacting medicinal products, for example a 20 mg dose of rosuvastatin with gemfibrozil (1.9-fold increase), and a 10 mg dose of rosuvastatin with combination atazanavir/ritonavir (3.1-fold increase).
If a medicine has been observed to increase the AUC of rosuvastatin by less than two-fold, the starting dose does not need to be decreased, but caution is advised if the rosuvastatin dose is higher than 20 mg. (See Table 2.)

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The following medicinal products/combinations had no clinically significant effect on the AUC ratio of rosuvastatin when administered concomitantly: Aleglitazar 0.3 mg 7 days dose; Fenofibrate 67 mg 7 days three times daily dose; Fluconazole 200 mg 11 days once a day dose; Fosamprenavir 700 mg/ritonavir 100 mg 8 days twice daily dose; Ketoconazole 200 mg 7 days twice daily dose; Rifampin 450 mg 7 days once a day; Silymarin 140 mg 5 days three times daily dose.
Effect of rosuvastatin on co-administered medicinal products: Vitamin K antagonists: As with other HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, the initiation of treatment or dose up-titration of rosuvastatin in patients treated concomitantly with vitamin K antagonists (e.g. warfarin or another coumarin anticoagulant) may result in an increase in International Normalised Ratio (INR). Discontinuation or down-titration of rosuvastatin may result in a decrease in INR. In such situations, appropriate monitoring of INR is desirable.
Oral contraceptive/hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Concomitant use of rosuvastatin and an oral contraceptive resulted in an increase in ethinyl estradiol and norgestrel AUC of 26% and 34%, respectively. These increased plasma levels should be considered when selecting oral contraceptive doses. There are no pharmacokinetic data available in subjects taking concomitant rosuvastatin and HRT; therefore, a similar effect cannot be excluded. However, the combination has been extensively used in women in clinical trials and was well tolerated.
Other medicinal products: Digoxin: Based on data from specific interaction studies no clinically relevant interaction with digoxin is expected.
Fusidic acid: The risk of myopathy including rhabdomyolysis may be increased by the concomitant administration of systemic fusidic acid with statins. The mechanism of this interaction (whether it is pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic, or both) is yet unknown. There have been reports of rhabdomyolysis (including some fatalities) in patients receiving this combination.
If treatment with systemic fusidic acid is necessary, rosuvastatin treatment should be discontinued throughout the duration of the fusidic acid treatment. Also see Precautions.
Paediatric population: Interaction studies have only been performed in adults. The extent of interactions in the paediatric population is not known.