Description
Rosuvastatin belongs to the group of medications known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (“statins”). It is used, along with a healthy diet and exercise program, to improve cholesterol levels by lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. It is also used to treat people who have certain inherited cholesterol disorders.
Rosuvastatin works by blocking the enzyme that helps make cholesterol in the body. People with high blood cholesterol levels have a higher risk of heart diseases such as heart attacks. When cholesterol levels are lowered with a combination of medication, diet, and exercise, the risk of heart disease is lowered. It takes 2 to 4 weeks to see the maximum effect of this medication on cholesterol levels in blood tests. It can also be used to reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and angioplasty for people who have at least 2 risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Before starting rosuvastatin, you should be following a cholesterol-lowering diet. If appropriate, a program of weight control and physical exercise should also be implemented. The recommended dose of rosuvastatin ranges between 5 mg and 40 mg once daily. For most people, the usual recommended starting dose of rosuvastatin is 10 mg once daily. If necessary, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 40 mg daily. People who require the maximum dose of 40 mg per day should consult a specialist.
For children 10 to 17 years of age, who have inherited cholesterol disorders, the recommended starting dose is 5 mg taken once daily. Your doctor may increase this dose to a maximum of 10 mg daily, depending on the effectiveness of the medication and how well it is tolerated. For people with severely reduced liver function, the maximum daily dose is 20 mg. For people with severely reduced kidney function, the starting dose should be 5 mg daily and the maximum daily dose is 10 mg.
A starting dose of 5 mg daily is recommended for people of Asian descent (Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, or Asian-Indian origin) and those who have severe kidney problems. This low dose should also be considered for people who do not need aggressive cholesterol-lowering effects and for people who may be at a greater risk of experiencing muscle-related problems.
