General Information and Indications:
Rosuvastatin is used with diet changes
(restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) to reduce the amount of
cholesterol and certain fatty substances in your blood. Accumulation of
cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as
atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to
your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level
of cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest
pain), strokes, and heart attacks. Rosuvastatin is in a class of medications
called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by preventing the
body from forming harmful cholesterol and increasing the amount of HDL
('good cholesterol') in your blood.
Information For Users:
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,
ask your doctor or pharmacist If you have any questions. Take rosuvastatin
exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often
than prescribed by your health care provider.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of rosuvastatin and slowly
increase your dose.
Rosuvastatin controls high cholesterol but does not cure it. It may take 4
weeks or longer before you feel the full benefit of rosuvastatin. Continue
taking rosuvastatin even if you feel well. Do not discontinue taking
rosuvastatin without informing your doctor.
Other uses for this medicine
special precautions:
o Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have
allergy to rosuvastatin or any other medications.
o Inform your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription
medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are
taking. 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.
o if you are taking antacids, take them at least 2 hours after rosuvastatin.
o Inform your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol, if you have a
family history of high cholesterol, and if you have or have ever had
diabetes; seizures; a severe infection; a heart attack; a stroke; low blood
pressure; or liver, kidney, or thyroid disease.
o Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you
become pregnant while taking rosuvastatin, call your doctor without delay.
Do not breastfeed while taking rosuvastatin.
o if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, Inform your doctor or
dentist that you are taking rosuvastatin.
o ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are
taking rosuvastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk that you will experience
serious side effects.
o talk to your doctor about an exercise program that is right for you.
Regular exercise will increase the effect of rosuvastatin.
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.
Possible Adverse
Effects:
Rosuvastatin may cause adverse effects. Inform
your doctor if any of the following symptoms are severe or do not go away:
o constipation
o stomach pain
o heartburn
o diarrhea
o headache
o dizziness
o difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
o depression
o back pain
o joint pain or weakness
o cough
Some adverse effects could be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon,
but if you experience any of them, call your doctor without delay:
o muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
o joint pain
o weakness
o fever
o dark urine
o upset stomach
o vomiting
o sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
o flu-like symptoms
o rash
o swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
o chest pain
o pain in upper right part of stomach
o yellowing of the skin or eyes, jaundice
o dark urine
o numbness or tingling in fingers or toes
o painful or difficult urination
o sinus infection
Cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) such as rosuvastatin may cause
muscle injury. In rare cases, these medications may also cause serious or
life threatening damage to the kidneys and other organs. Talk to your doctor
about the risks of using rosuvastatin.
Possible Symptoms
of Overdose:
o muscle pain or weakness
o fever
o extreme tiredness
Brand Name(s):
o Crestor® |
