Rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin is used to

• reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke
• decrease the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance that can build up and clog blood vessels causing heart attack or stroke or other health conditions)

Rosuvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing how much cholesterol your body makes. This lowers the amount of cholesterol that can build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Rosuvastatin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Take once a day with or without food. Take rosuvastatin at around the same time every day.

Take rosuvastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of rosuvastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 2 to 4 weeks.

Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.

Continue to take rosuvastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking rosuvastatin without talking to your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking rosuvastatin,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take while taking rosuvastatin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• if you are taking aluminum and magnesium hydroxide antacids, take them at least 2 hours after rosuvastatin.
• tell your doctor if you have or ever had liver disease. Your doctor will order laboratory tests to see how well your liver is working even if you do not think you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take rosuvastatin if you have liver disease or if the tests show that you may be developing liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are Asian, if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily, if you are 65 years of age or older, or if you have or have ever had seizures, muscle aches or weakness, low blood pressure, impaired fasting glucose (pre-diabetes) or diabetes, or kidney or thyroid disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking rosuvastatin, call your doctor immediately.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed while taking rosuvastatin.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking rosuvastatin. If you are hospitalized due to serious injury or infection, tell the doctor who treats you that you are taking rosuvastatin.
• ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking rosuvastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.

Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Be sure to follow all exercise and dietary recommendations made by your doctor or dietitian. You can also visit the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) website for additional dietary information at https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Rosuvastatin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• constipation
• stomach pain
• dizziness
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• depression
• joint pain
• headache
• memory loss or forgetfulness
• confusion

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical help:

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (or if these symptoms continue after stopping rosuvastatin); lack of energy; fever
• dark, reddish urine or decreased amount of urine; yellowing of the skin or eyes; pain in the upper right part of the abdomen; nausea; unusual bleeding or bruising; loss of appetite; flu-like symptoms
• rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing; swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; hoarseness

Rosuvastatin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order lab tests during your treatment, especially if you develop symptoms of liver damage.

Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking rosuvastatin.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

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