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Medicine Highlights
| Uses | 1- To treat atherosclerosis 2- To treat hypercholesterolemia |
| Common Side Effects | 1- Difficulty in moving 2- Joint pain or swelling 3- Muscle pain, cramps, spasms, or stiffness |
| Additional Information | Rosuvastatin can induce diabetes. |
| Storage | 1- The medicine should be stored at room temperature 2- Keep away from sunlight and moisture 3- Keep away from the reach of children |
| How to Take This Medicine | The medicine should be taken orally |
Rosuvastatin Summary
Rosuvastatin works by protecting the heart from bad cholesterol that builds around the cardiovascular arteries. It works by blocking an enzyme your body uses to make cholesterol, helping your liver break it down instead. Take this medication as directed by your doctor, and don’t stop if you start to feel better. Like all medicines, it can have side effects. Common ones include muscle or joint pain. Less common ones include like liver issues or allergic reactions. Avoid if you’re pregnant, have liver problems, or are allergic to it. Do not take more than 40 mg of rosuvastatin in a day. Rosuvastatin works best with a healthy lifestyle. Eat smart, think almonds, garlic, green tea, fruits, and lentils. Cook with olive or mustard oil. Get moving for at least 30 minutes a day. And yep, ditch smoking and cut down on booze. Store it in a cool and dry place, away from kids.
Rosuvastatin Uses
Rosuvastatin 20 mg is an oral medicine belonging to the class of lipid lowering medicines. It is used for the following indications:
- Plaque buildup in heart arteries (atherosclerosis)
- Genetic disorders causing high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia)
Directions for use
- Take rosuvastatin exactly as prescribed by your doctor, regularly at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking rosuvastatin without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you forget to take the medicine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s almost time for the next one, then just skip it.
Rosuvastatin side effects
More Common
- Difficulty in moving
- Joint pain or swelling
- Muscle pain, cramps, spasms, or stiffness
Less Common
- Blurred vision
- Chest pain, discomfort, tightness, or heaviness
- Difficult, burning, or painful urination
- Dry mouth
- Fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
- Flushed, dry skin
- Fruit-like breath odor
- Increased hunger
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle tension or tightness
- Nausea
- Slow heartbeat
- Stomachache
- Sweating
- Trouble breathing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unusual tiredness or weakness
- Vomiting
How Rosuvastatin works
Rosuvastatin works inhibiting the formation of bad cholesterol by blocking an enzyme called 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. By stopping this enzyme from producing cholesterol, the level of bad cholesterol increases in the liver, where it gets broken down, resulting in lower cholesterol levels in the body.
Safety Measures and Warning
📌 1- Allergy/Hypersensitivity
If you have an allergy to rosuvastatin, inform your doctor immediately to avoid or prevent any complications.
📌 2- Pregnancy
Women should avoid taking rosuvastatin during pregnancy, as this medicine may result in a child being born with abnormalities.
📌 3- Liver disease
Patients with liver disease should avoid taking this medicine, as it can worsen liver function.
Rosuvastatin Interaction with Other Medicines
Avoid taking rosuvastatin 20 mg with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Rosuvastatin Interaction with Food Product
Rosuvastatin does not interact with any food products, but alcohol should be avoided before and after taking the medicine, as it can increase or decrease the effect of the medicine.
Rosuvastatin chemical structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name-
(3R,5S,6E)-7-{4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-isopropyl-2-[methyl(methylsulfonyl)amino]pyrimidin-5-yl}-3,5-dihydroxyhept-6-enoic acid
Storage
- The medicine should be stored at room temperature
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture
- Keep away from the reach of children
Intake routine/cycle
📌 Daily Dose
Take rosuvastatin as suggested by your doctor. Your dose can vary depending on the severity of the condition and how you respond to the medication. Do not exceed the prescribed dose without consulting your doctor.
📌 Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
📌 Overdose
Rosuvastatin should not exceed more than 40 mg per day. If you take more than the recommended dose rosuvastatin, it can cause serious problems like stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and weakness.
Dietary and Lifestyle Management
Medicine can help lower your blood cholesterol levels, but maintaining a healthy diet and exercising can enhance its effect. Following are the food items you should consume to improve the level of cholesterol in your blood:
FAQ’s
1. How long should I take rosuvastatin?
➡️ You may need to take rosuvastatin for life; however, the dose can be lowered if you stop consuming unhealthy foods and engage in at least 30 minutes of physical exercise daily. If you experience side effects, inform your doctor immediately. Do not stop taking the medication unless advised by your doctor.
2. Can I stop taking rosuvastatin?
➡️ Yes, you can stop taking rosuvastatin if advised by your doctor or if you experience any side effects. However, stopping rosuvastatin on your own can be dangerous as it may cause your cholesterol levels to rise.
3. Can rosuvastatin cause diabetes?
➡️ Yes, since rosuvastatin is a high-intensity statin, taking it in higher amounts may increase the likelihood of developing diabetes. Additionally, in diabetic patients, rosuvastatin may raise blood sugar levels. Although the exact mechanism is not yet known, it is hypothesized that rosuvastatin may impair insulin secretion.
4. Which is better rosuvastatin or atorvastatin?
➡️ Our body tries to eliminate atorvastatin more quickly, which means it may not achieve its full effects. In contrast, rosuvastatin remains in the body for a longer duration, making it more effective for achieving its desired benefits.
5. Will rosuvastatin cause weight loss?
➡️ To date, there is no established direct link between rosuvastatin and weight loss; however, an unexplained side effect of rosuvastatin may include weight loss.
6. Will rosuvastatin cause weight gain?
➡️ Rosuvastatin is not known to cause weight gain or weight loss as side effects.
7. When to take rosuvastatin?
➡️ Since statins work by blocking cholesterol production, which mainly occurs at night, it’s recommended to take this medicine in the evening to improve its effectiveness.
8. Can rosuvastatin cause constipation?
➡️ Rosuvastatin can sometimes cause constipation as a side effect, but this is very uncommon.
Reference
- The Health Site. How to lower cholesterol in one week: 10 Indian foods to lower cholesterol naturally at home. TheHealthSite.com. 2024 [cited 2024 Nov 2]. Available from.
- Hoogwerf BJ. Statins may increase diabetes, but benefit still outweighs risk. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2023 Jan 3;90(1):53-62. Available from.
- BuzzRx. Rosuvastatin vs Atorvastatin: Which is Better? [Internet]. [cited 2024 Nov 2]. Available from.
- Yashoda Hospitals. Can Rosuvastatin Cause Weight Loss? [Internet]. [cited 2024 Nov 2]. Available from.
- Medical News Today. Rosuvastatin tablet: Side effects [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 Nov 2]. Available from.
- Cleveland Clinic. Rosuvastatin Tablets: High Cholesterol Treatment [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic; 2023 [cited 2024 Nov 2]. Available from.