Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is one of the statin drugs used to treat hypercholesterolemia – a high blood cholesterol level. It helps keep your blood cholesterol under control, preventing life-threatening cardiovascular events.
The drug is recommended along with dietary changes, exercise, and weight loss regimen. Rosuvastatin is also used to decrease the amount of cholesterol, such as LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.
Rosuvastatin belongs to a class of drugs called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, aka statins. It acts by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body, reducing the accumulation of cholesterol or fat on the walls of the blood vessels.
Dosage
For adults with high blood cholesterol, doctors advise rosuvastatin 5 to 40 mg orally once daily. The initial starting dose is 10 to 20 mg once daily. Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia are advised rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily. The drug can be administered as a single dose at any time of day, with or without food, according to RX List. For pediatric dosage, check with your doctor.
Interactions
It is important to inform about the treatments you are undergoing before your doctor advises rosuvastatin. That’s because some medicines may interact adversely with this statin drug. Medications that may interact with rosuvastatin include daptomycin, gemfibrozil, and blood thinners such as warfarin. Other drugs that may affect how rosuvastatin works include fostamatinib, ledipasvir, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir, among others, according to WebMD.
Side Effects
Muscle pain is one of the commonly reported side effects of rosuvastatin, while some may experience mild confusion or memory impairment. Statins may also worsen blood sugar levels, especially in people with diabetes. Some patients who used rosuvastatin have also reported foamy urine. Muscle weakness or tenderness, fatigue, and urinary changes are a few other side effects of rosuvastatin.
Precautions
Before taking rosuvastatin, you must tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drug; if you have any other medical condition; if you are undergoing any treatments. Make sure you tell your doctor about your liver or kidney disease, or alcohol use. Limit your alcohol intake while you are on this statin drug. Daily alcohol intake while using rosuvastatin may increase your risk for liver problems.
Older individuals may be more sensitive to the side effects of rosuvastatin, especially muscle problems. As far as using the drug during pregnancy or breasting is concerned, you must check with your doctor first. Typically, rosuvastatin is not advised during pregnancy, as the drug may harm the unborn baby.
Rosuvastatin vs. Atorvastatin
Both rosuvastatin and atorvastatin (Lipitor) belong to the same class of drugs. They both are statin and are used to treat high cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and to increase HDL (good) cholesterol. However, studies have found that rosuvastatin reduced LDL cholesterol levels significantly more than atorvastatin, according to NIH. Also, in patients with type 2 diabetes, the start dose of rosuvastatin was significantly more effective than atorvastatin at reducing bad cholesterol.
Side effects of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin that are similar include diarrhea and headache, according to Medicine Net. As far as the starting dose is concerned, doctors advise rosuvastatin 5 mg once daily and atorvastatin is 10 mg once daily.
