Rosuvastatin
Rosuvastatin (brand names Crestor, or Sandos (AU), Ezallor, Rosuvastatin Calcium) is a statin drug.
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It acts by working on the liver to stop it making cholesterol. It starts to work within a week to reduce cholesterol, but it can take up to a month to achieve its full effect[1].
A doctor may prescribe rosuvastatin for diabetes, kidney disease, or if there is family history of rheumatoid arthritis or heart disease.[1] These factors, and having too much cholesterol (such as high LDL), increase risk of heart problems. Rosuvastatin is used to lower high blood cholesterol[1]. The drug is also used to prevent strokes and cardiovascular disease in people with high risk[2].
Rosuvastatin is not recommended in pregnancy (US[3]: X, UK[1]: X, AU: D). Someone taking this medicine should seek advice from their doctor or pharmacist[4] if they try to become pregnant or if pregnancy occurs. They can help balance the risks and the benefits of this medicine during pregnancy.
The drug was patented in 1991. It was approved for medical use in the United States twelve years later.
Side effects[change | change source]
The common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people[1]. These are abdominal pain, headaches, feeling dizzy, and nausea. It might also cause constipation and protein in the urine.
Less than 1 in 1,000 people have serious side effects to the drug[1]. These are type 2 diabetes and liver conditions.
In rare cases, its possible to experience a severe (serious) allergic reaction to the drug.
Interactions with other drugs and conditions[1][5][change | change source]
Rosuvastatin is not suitable for use if there is a history of allergic reactions to the drug, or other statins. Adverse reactions might include muscle pain while taking the statin.[1] Drinking large amounts of alcohol interacts with the drug negatively. In these cases, there might be better treatment options.
The doctor who prescribed the drug should know about occuring pregnancy and breastfeeding, and other drug interactions or ongoing conditions.
Ongoing conditions[change | change source]
There are many conditions that make rosuvastatin dangerous to take[1]. These are:
- liver disease
- underactive thyroid
- lung disease
- muscle disorder or family history of muscle disorders
- muscle pain (including fibromyalgia)
- a history of myasthenia gravis or ocular myasthenia
Other drug interactions[change | change source]
Some medicines can affect the way that rosuvastatin works, and increase the chances of side effects:
- antibiotics, such as erythromycin or fusidic acid
- some antiviral medicines used to treat infections such as HIV and hepatitis
- medicine for indigestion, such as Gaviscon
- medicines that help to prevent blood clots, such as clopidogrel or warfarin
- ciclosporin, used to treat psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis
- contraceptive pills, such as the combined pill
- hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- other medicines, called fibrates, used to lower cholesterol
References[change | change source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "About rosuvastatin". nhs.uk. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
- ↑ "Rosuvastatin Calcium Monograph". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ↑ "CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) - accessdata.fda.gov" (PDF). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ↑ "Healthdirect Rosuvastatin (Sandoz)". Hethdirect.au.gov.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 13 (help) - ↑ "DailyMed - CRESTOR- rosuvastatin calcium tablet, film coated". dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-15.
