Rosuvastatin
Rosuvastatin is a high-potency statin used to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk in appropriately selected patients. Treatment is combined with management of smoking, blood pressure, diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors.
At a glance
Quick facts
- Drug class
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)
- Main uses
- Reduction of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides; treatment of selected inherited dyslipidaemias; cardiovascular risk reduction in appropriate patients
- Route
- Oral
- WHO ATC
- C10AA07
- Key safety
- Muscle injury, rare rhabdomyolysis and liver-enzyme abnormalities; risk rises with higher exposure and selected interacting medicines.
- Monitoring
- Lipid response, muscle symptoms, liver context, kidney function for higher-risk dosing and interactions.
Names & terminology
How this medicine may be named or searched
- Canonical page name
- Rosuvastatin
- INN / generic name
- Rosuvastatin
- Aliases / salts
- rosuvastatin · rosuvastatin calcium
- Russian support entity
- rosuvastatin.ru — entity relationship only, not a clinical source
Structured drug profile
Drug profile
What is Rosuvastatin?
Rosuvastatin is a high-potency statin used to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk in appropriately selected patients. Treatment is combined with management of smoking, blood pressure, diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors.
What is Rosuvastatin used for?
Reduction of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides; treatment of selected inherited dyslipidaemias; cardiovascular risk reduction in appropriate patients. The exact approved indication depends on the product, route and country. [1]
How it works
Competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, reducing hepatic cholesterol synthesis and increasing LDL-receptor activity.
Forms and formulations
Tablets; sprinkle capsule formulations exist in some markets. Different formulations may have different indications, strengths, excipients and instructions and should not be assumed interchangeable.
Country / market layer
Availability and formulations by market
Brand names, strengths, prescription status and approved uses vary by jurisdiction. Check the exact national product record before relying on a formulation.
Availability depends on the active ingredient, route and formulation; not every medicine in this reference has a current UK product.
U.S. authorization and formulation availability may differ substantially from Europe and other markets.
How it is used
Take once daily according to the prescribed strength, with or without food. If a dose is missed, follow the product instructions rather than doubling the next dose. Lipid values are rechecked after treatment starts or the dose changes to assess response and adherence.
For prescription treatment, use the patient-specific regimen rather than copying a dose from another person or another formulation.
Side effects
Headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms can occur. Severe muscle pain or weakness with dark urine can indicate rhabdomyolysis and requires urgent assessment.
Important warnings and monitoring
Report unexplained severe muscle symptoms, jaundice or marked weakness. Higher exposure occurs with some kidney impairment, ancestry groups and interacting medicines, so dose limits can differ.
Monitoring context: Lipid response, muscle symptoms, liver context, kidney function for higher-risk dosing and interactions.
Interactions
Important interactions include cyclosporine, gemfibrozil and several antiviral regimens. Some antacids can reduce rosuvastatin exposure if taken too close together. Interaction checking is essential before dose escalation.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Most pregnant patients should discontinue statin therapy because treatment of hyperlipidaemia is usually not necessary during pregnancy, although rare very-high-risk situations require specialist judgment. Breastfeeding recommendations follow product labeling.
Overdose and accidental extra doses
There is no specific antidote for rosuvastatin overdose. Significant excess dosing should be assessed clinically with supportive care and attention to muscle and liver toxicity.
Practical clinical context
The most important distinction is between the medicine entity and a specific marketed product. Strength, salt, route, modified-release design, age authorization and prescription status can change between products. When safety or dosing decisions matter, use the exact package leaflet, prescribing information or national regulator record for the product actually being used.
This page deliberately separates general evidence from the project’s Russian-language support site rosuvastatin.ru; that site identifies the cross-language entity but is not treated as an authority for clinical claims.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
It is a statin that inhibits HMG-CoA reductase.
It primarily lowers LDL cholesterol and can also reduce triglycerides and modestly raise HDL.
Severe unexplained muscle pain or weakness, particularly with dark urine or systemic illness, needs prompt assessment.
Yes. Cyclosporine, gemfibrozil and some antiviral medicines can substantially change exposure or toxicity risk.
Most patients stop statins during pregnancy, but rare very-high-risk cardiovascular situations require specialist individualized decisions.
Sources
Clinical statements in this reference are based on named public-health, regulatory or guideline sources. Product-specific labeling remains authoritative for exact indications, dosing and contraindications.
- 1. MedlinePlus. Rosuvastatin Drug Information. Source ↗
- 2. DailyMed. Rosuvastatin product labeling search. Source ↗
This medicine reference is evidence-based and is awaiting clinician review. It is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.