Rosuvastatin is used together with lifestyle changes (diet, weight-loss, exercise) to reduce the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance) and other fatty substances in your blood. Rosuvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body.
Directions
Rosuvastatin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take rosuvastatin at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take rosuvastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of rosuvastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 2-4 weeks.
Continue to take rosuvastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking rosuvastatin without talking to your doctor.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Precautions
Before taking rosuvastatin,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to rosuvastatin or any other medications.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); cimetidine (Tagamet); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); ketoconazole (Nizoral); other medications for high cholesterol such as clofibrate (Atromid-S), fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and niacin (Niaspan, Niacor); and spironolactone (Aldactone). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- if you are taking aluminum and magnesium hydroxide antacids (Mylanta, Maalox), take them at least 2 hours after rosuvastatin.
- tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take pravastatin.
- tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol and if you have ever had liver disease or if you have or have ever had kidney or thyroid disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking rosuvastatin, call your doctor immediately. Rosuvastatin may harm the fetus.
Do not breastfeed while taking rosuvastatin.
If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking rosuvastatin.
Ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking rosuvastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.
Special Dietary Considerations
Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet. This kind of diet includes cottage cheese, fat-free milk, fish (not canned in oil), vegetables, poultry, egg whites, and polyunsaturated oils and margarines (corn, safflower, canola, and soybean oils). Avoid foods with excess fat in them such as meat (especially liver and fatty meat), egg yolks, whole milk, cream, butter, shortening, lard, pastries, cakes, cookies, gravy, peanut butter, chocolate, olives, potato chips, coconut, cheese (other than cottage cheese), coconut oil, palm oil, and fried foods.
Side Effects
Rosuvastatin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- constipation
- heartburn
- dizziness
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- depression
- joint pain
- cough
Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:
- muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
- lack of energy
- fever
- chest pain
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- nausea
- extreme tiredness
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- loss of appetite
- flu-like symptoms
- sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
- rash
- hives
- itching
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- hoarseness
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
Rosuvastatin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services.
Storage
Store this medication below 25°C (77°F), protected from moisture.
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