Statins typically are very similar to one another, but rosuvastatin is a bit of an outlier. Rosuvastatin, aside from Lipitor (atorvastatin), is the most potent statin for lowering LDL. It's different than simvastatin and many other statins in several important ways.
Differences between individual statins have been found in their potency to reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and achieve lipid-lowering goals in both randomized trials23–25 and observational studies. Rosuvastatin is known to induce a more marked reduction in LDL-C than other statins.
Rosuvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.
Evidence suggests that rosuvastatin has the most potent per milligram LDL lowering effect but with appropriate dosage adjustments different statins can provide equivalent LDL reductions. Data suggests similar effects on HDL, TG and CRP with rosuvastatin compared with other statins.
Abstract. Rosuvastatin, a new statin, has been shown to possess a number of advantageous pharmacological properties, including enhanced HMG-CoA reductase binding characteristics, relative hydrophilicity, and selective uptake into/activity in hepatic cells.
As you are aware, on March 4th of this year, we petitioned the FDA to ban the recently-marketed cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin (Crestor/AstraZeneca) because of seven post-marketing cases of life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and nine cases of renal failure or renal insufficiency, both of which problems had also ...
CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin) may cause serious side effects, including: Muscle pain, tenderness, and weakness (myopathy). Muscle problems, including muscle breakdown, can be serious in some people and rarely cause kidney damage that can lead to death.
Overall, statins are safe as a class of drugs. Serious adverse events are very rare. Among the individual medications, studies have shown that simvastatin (Zocor®) and pravastatin (Pravachol®) seem to be safer and better tolerated than the other statins.
Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or rosuvastatin will not be as effective. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. Some antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb rosuvastatin.
Weight gain and weight loss are not known side effects of rosuvastatin. People taking the drug in clinical trials did not report weight changes. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend taking rosuvastatin along with changes in diet, such as limiting saturated fat.
If you've made lifestyle changes through diet and exercise that have lowered your cholesterol levels, you may not need to continue taking a statin. These changes can help reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, or blocked arteries while allowing you to take one less medication.
Statins all work in the same way, but they differ in how well they lower cholesterol. When used at a higher dose, rosuvastatin and atorvastatin produce a bigger reduction in cholesterol than the other statins. If you have a side effect with one statin, it may not happen with another.
The most common side effects of Crestor include headaches, abdominal pain and nausea.
Specifically, lipophilic statins (those that dissolve more readily in lipids such as oils and fats) may be more effective for preventing liver cancer than hydrophilic statins (those that dissolve more readily in water).
You'll usually take rosuvastatin once a day. You can take it at any time, but it's best to take it at the same time every day. Rosuvastatin will not usually upset your stomach, so you can take it with or without food.
Statins: Don't eat grapefruit
Grapefruit and other citrus fruits can interfere with how your body metabolizes these medications.
Niacin (Niacor) is a B vitamin — also known as vitamin B3 — that's sometimes taken to help lower cholesterol. However, it can interact with rosuvastatin. This is especially true if you're taking more than 1,000 mg of niacin daily. Taking these medications together can raise your risk of muscle pain or weakness.
Rosuvastatin reduces ambulatory blood pressure and increases nocturnal blood pressure decline when administered at bedtime apart from its lipid lowering effects. This blood pressure lowering effect may be related to improved endothelium dysfunction that use to be common at dyslipidemic subjects.
While statins are highly effective and safe for most people, they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people. Rarely, they may cause liver damage. If you think you're experiencing side effects from taking statins, don't just stop taking the pills.
There are many non-statin medications your doctor might prescribe: Bile acid-binding resins, like cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colesevelam (WelChol), and colestipol (Colestid) stick to cholesterol-rich bile acids in your intestines and lower your LDL levels.
Apotex discontinued production of all rosuvastatin presentations.
Anyone who wants to stop taking a statin should talk to a doctor. In some cases, coming off these drugs can be dangerous. The doctor may suggest reducing the dosage, combining the statin with another cholesterol lowering drug, or switching to another drug entirely.
Rosuvastatin is a medication that treats high cholesterol. It also reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. It decreases bad cholesterol and fats and increases good cholesterol in your blood. A healthcare provider may recommend adding changes to your diet and exercise when taking this medication.