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Rosuvastatin

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tablets with 10 milligrams of rosuvastatin.

Rosuvastatin (also known by the brand names Crestor, Sandos (AU), Ezallor, and Rosuvastatin Calcium) is a statin drug. 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 or 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 (in hypercholesterolemia).[1] The drug is also used to prevent strokes and cardiovascular disease in people at high risk.[2]

Common side effects are abdominal pain, nausea and headaches. Serious side effects, though uncommon, are type 2 diabetes and liver conditions.

The drug was patented in 1991. It was approved for medical use in the United States twelve years later.[3][4] It is available as a generic medication.[3] In 2023, it was the twelfth most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 42 million prescriptions.[5][6] In Australia, it was the most prescribed medication in 2023.[7]

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 "About rosuvastatin". nhs.uk. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  2. ↑ "Rosuvastatin Calcium Monograph". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Rosuvastatin Calcium Monograph for Professionals". Drugs.com. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (AHFS). Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  4. ↑ Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 473. ISBN 978-3-527-60749-5. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Top 300 of 2023". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Rosuvastatin Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2014 - 2023". ClinCalc. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Medicines in the health system". Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
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