Rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin is a prescription medication that lowers cholesterol levels in your blood. It belongs to a group of medicines called statins. Statins work by blocking an enzyme your liver uses to make cholesterol. Doctors prescribe rosuvastatin to reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious heart problems.

High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but it damages your arteries over time. This medication helps lower bad cholesterol, which is called LDL cholesterol. It also raises good cholesterol, known as HDL cholesterol. Rosuvastatin can lower triglycerides too. Triglycerides are another type of fat in your blood.

This medicine works best when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Taking rosuvastatin does not replace lifestyle changes. Your doctor will monitor your cholesterol levels with regular blood tests. These tests help determine if the medication is working properly.

• Lowering high LDL cholesterol in adults and children over age 8
• Reducing triglycerides in people with high blood fat levels
• Raising HDL cholesterol to protect your heart
• Preventing heart attacks in people at high risk for heart disease
• Reducing stroke risk in adults with multiple heart disease risk factors
• Slowing plaque buildup in arteries for people with existing heart disease

Rosuvastatin works by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase in your liver. This enzyme helps your body make cholesterol. When the enzyme is blocked, your liver produces less cholesterol. Your liver then pulls cholesterol from your blood to make the bile it needs. This process lowers the amount of cholesterol circulating in your bloodstream.

The medication affects different types of cholesterol in different ways. It significantly lowers LDL cholesterol, which sticks to artery walls and causes blockages. It also lowers triglycerides and raises HDL cholesterol. HDL cholesterol acts like a cleanup crew, removing bad cholesterol from your arteries. These combined effects reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Rosuvastatin comes in tablet strengths of 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg. Most adults start with 10 mg to 20 mg once daily. Some people may start with 5 mg if they have certain risk factors. The maximum dose is 40 mg per day. Children ages 8 to 17 typically start with 5 mg to 10 mg once daily. Your doctor determines your exact dose based on your cholesterol levels, other health conditions, and how you respond to treatment. You can take this medication with or without food. Take it at the same time each day for best results.

• Headache
• Muscle aches or pain
• Stomach pain or nausea
• Weakness or fatigue
• Constipation
• Dizziness

Serious side effects are rare but require immediate medical attention. Contact your doctor right away if you experience severe muscle pain, dark urine, yellowing of skin or eyes, or unusual tiredness. These may be signs of muscle breakdown or liver problems. Stop taking rosuvastatin and seek emergency care if you have signs of an allergic reaction.

• Other cholesterol medications, especially gemfibrozil and fenofibrate, increase muscle damage risk
• Cyclosporine and certain HIV medications can raise rosuvastatin levels dangerously
• Blood thinners like warfarin may work differently when combined with statins
• Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium should be taken 2 hours after rosuvastatin
• Grapefruit juice does not significantly affect rosuvastatin, unlike some other statins
• Pregnant or nursing women should not take this medication
• People with active liver disease should not use rosuvastatin

Your doctor will order blood tests to check your cholesterol levels before starting rosuvastatin and regularly during treatment. These tests measure LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides to see if the medication is working. Liver function tests are also important because statins can occasionally affect the liver. Your doctor typically checks liver enzymes called ALT and AST before treatment and as needed during treatment. Most people need cholesterol testing every 3 to 12 months once their levels are stable. Blood tests help your doctor adjust your dose or catch any problems early.