💊 Rosuvastatin (Rosuvastatin)
Rosuvastatin is a statin medicine used to lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults at increased risk. It is taken by mouth, is available by prescription, and is used together with diet and exercise.
In Arabic: روزوفاستاتين
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Packages shown are US-market (DailyMed). Brands available in Palestine are in the price section below.
Crestor🏭 AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP
Rosuvastatin🏭 Quallent Pharmaceuticals Health LLC
Rosuvastatin🏭 Accord Healthcare Inc.
Rosuvastatin🏭 Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.✅ What it is used for
- Reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or arterial revascularization) in adults at increased risk
- Lower LDL-C, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, in adults with hypercholesterolemia
- Slow the progression of atherosclerosis in adults
- Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in adults and pediatric patients aged 8 years and older
- Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) in adults and pediatric patients aged 7 years and older
- Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia and hypertriglyceridemia in adults, as an adjunct to diet
🧪 Active ingredient
The active ingredient is rosuvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. It blocks the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol production, which increases the liver's uptake of LDL-C from the blood and lowers LDL-C and total cholesterol.
🌿 Benefits
- Lowers LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol
- Reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events in people at increased risk
- Slows the progression of atherosclerosis
- Lowers very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels
📝 How to use
- Take by mouth once daily at any time of day, with or without food
- Swallow the tablets whole
- The dose is set by your doctor or pharmacist for your condition; do not change it on your own
- Your doctor may check LDL-C as early as 4 weeks after starting and adjust the dose if needed
- If you take an aluminum and magnesium hydroxide antacid, take rosuvastatin at least 2 hours before the antacid
💊 Dosage forms
- Film-coated tablets 5 mg (pink, oval)
- Film-coated tablets 10 mg (pink, round)
- Film-coated tablets 20 mg (pink, round)
- Film-coated tablets 40 mg (pink, oval)
⚠️ Common side effects
- Headache
- Nausea
- Muscle pain (myalgia)
- Weakness (asthenia)
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain and dizziness
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Myopathy and rhabdomyolysis (unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with malaise or fever), which can lead to kidney injury
- Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (rare)
- Liver problems: raised liver enzymes; rare reports of hepatic failure
- Hypersensitivity reactions (rash, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema)
- Pancreatitis
- Protein or blood in the urine
- Increases in HbA1c and fasting blood glucose
⛔ Do not use if
- Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis
- Hypersensitivity to rosuvastatin or any ingredient in the tablets
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Promptly report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with malaise or fever
- Risk factors for myopathy: age 65 or older, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, renal impairment, certain concomitant drugs, and higher doses
- Asian patients may be at higher risk for myopathy and start at a lower dose
- Your doctor may test liver enzymes before treatment and as clinically indicated
- Stop promptly if serious liver injury with symptoms or jaundice occurs
- Therapy is temporarily stopped in acute or serious conditions with high risk of renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis
- Do not use if you have had an allergic reaction to the drug
🔄 Drug interactions
- Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir or ledipasvir/sofosbuvir: avoid concomitant use
- Gemfibrozil: avoid; if unavoidable, start rosuvastatin at 5 mg daily and do not exceed 10 mg daily
- Tafamidis: avoid; if unavoidable, start at 5 mg daily and do not exceed 20 mg daily, monitoring for myopathy
- Aluminum/magnesium hydroxide antacids: take rosuvastatin at least 2 hours before
- Warfarin: check INR before starting and monitor frequently on initiation, dose change, or discontinuation
- Other lipid-lowering drugs and inhibitors of CYP2C9 or transporters may raise rosuvastatin levels and increase myopathy risk
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you take
🤰 Pregnancy
Rosuvastatin may cause fetal harm based on its mechanism of action. It should be discontinued when pregnancy is recognized, or the doctor may weigh the patient's ongoing therapeutic needs. Treatment of hypercholesterolemia is generally not necessary during pregnancy. Consult your doctor.
🍼 Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with rosuvastatin.
🧒 Children
Safety and effectiveness are established in pediatric patients 8 years and older with HeFH and 7 years and older with HoFH. They have not been established in younger children or in other types of hypercholesterolemia. The dose is determined by the doctor.
👴 Older adults
No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were seen between older and younger patients, but age 65 or older is a risk factor for myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Dose selection should be cautious and patients monitored for myopathy.
🌡️ Storage
Store at controlled room temperature, 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C. Protect from moisture.
⏰ Missed dose
If a dose is missed, do not take an extra dose. Resume treatment with the next scheduled dose.
🆘 Overdose
No specific antidote is known, and hemodialysis does not significantly enhance clearance. In case of overdose, contact a poison control center or seek medical help immediately.
💰 Price & brands in your area
🏛️ Official price in Palestine — Ministry of Health price list:
| Product | Company | Pack | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROSUVASTATIN TEVA 10MG - 30 TAB Rosuvastatin | Teva | 30 TAB | 36 ₪ |
| ROSUVASTATIN TEVA 20MG - 30 TAB Rosuvastatin | Teva | 30 TAB | 52 ₪ |
| ROVATIN 10MG TABLETS Rosuvastatin Calcium | Jepharm Co. | 30 Tab | 60 ₪ |
| NOVASTST 10 Rosuvastatin as calcium 10 mg/tab. | Beit Jala | 30 tab | 64 ₪ |
| ROXARDIO 10 mg Tab Rosuvastatin | MASROUJI CO. | 28 Tab | 67 ₪ |
| LIPOROSE 10 TABLETS (30 TAB) Rosuvastatin 10mg | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 67 ₪ |
| ROVATIN 20MG TABLETS Rosuvastatin Calcium | Jepharm Co. | 30 Tab | 85 ₪ |
| ROXARDIO 20 mg Tab Rosuvastatin | MASROUJI CO. | 28 Tab | 97 ₪ |
| LIPOROSE 20 TABLETS (30 TAB) Rosuvastatin 20mg | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 99 ₪ |
| ROXARDIO 40 mg Tab Rosuvastatin | MASROUJI CO. | 28 Tab | 164 ₪ |
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Mechanism of action
Inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a cholesterol precursor. It upregulates LDL receptors, increasing hepatic uptake of LDL-C from blood and lowering plasma LDL-C, total cholesterol, and VLDL. Maximum LDL-C reduction is usually reached by 4 weeks and maintained thereafter.
Labeled dosing
Adults: 5 mg to 40 mg orally once daily, depending on indication, LDL-C, and CV risk. Pediatric HeFH: 5–10 mg daily at ages 8 to <10 years; 5–20 mg daily at 10 years and older. Pediatric HoFH, age 7 and older: 20 mg daily. Asian patients: start 5 mg daily. Severe renal impairment (CLcr <30 mL/min/1.73 m² not on hemodialysis): start 5 mg, do not exceed 10 mg; no adjustment for mild/moderate impairment. Assess LDL-C as early as 4 weeks. The dose is set by the prescriber.
- AUC is unaffected by food or time of day (morning vs. evening)
- Absolute bioavailability about 20%; 88% plasma protein bound
- Excreted mainly in feces (90%); not extensively metabolized (~10%); major metabolite N-desmethyl rosuvastatin via CYP2C9
- Hemodialysis does not significantly enhance clearance
- In JUPITER, diabetes was reported more often with rosuvastatin (2.8% vs 2.3%) and mean HbA1c rose by 0.1%
🎓 Key points for students
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor: reduces cholesterol synthesis and upregulates hepatic LDL receptors
- Key serious effects: myopathy/rhabdomyolysis and hepatic dysfunction
- Myopathy risk factors: age ≥65, hypothyroidism, renal impairment, high dose, interacting drugs, Asian ancestry
- Important interactions: gemfibrozil, tafamidis, HCV antivirals, warfarin (monitor INR), antacids (2-hour separation)
- Contraindicated in acute liver failure, decompensated cirrhosis, and hypersensitivity
- Discontinue in pregnancy; breastfeeding not recommended
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What is rosuvastatin used for?
It lowers LDL cholesterol, reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events, slows atherosclerosis, and treats familial hypercholesterolemia and high triglycerides, together with diet and exercise.
Can I take it with food or at any time of day?
Yes. It is taken once daily at any time of day, with or without food, and the tablets are swallowed whole.
What are the most common side effects?
Headache, nausea, muscle pain, weakness, and constipation. Report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your doctor promptly.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
Do not take an extra dose. Take the next dose at its usual time.
Can I use it during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
It may harm the fetus and is stopped when pregnancy is recognized, as directed by your doctor. Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment.
Can I adjust the dose myself?
No. The dose is set by your doctor or pharmacist based on your condition and test results.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2026-09), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-11.