Health Centres - Crestor (rosuvastatin)
How does it work?
Crestor tablets contain the active ingredient rosuvastatin calcium, which is a type of medicine called a statin. It works by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver.
For the sake of simplicity, there are two sorts of cholesterol; a 'bad' sort called low density lipoprotein (LDL) and a 'good' sort called high density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL is deposited in the arteries and increases the risk of heart disease by clogging and narrowing the arteries, while HDL actually protects the arteries against this.
Rosuvastatin decreases the production of LDL cholesterol by blocking the action of the enzyme in the liver (called HMG-CoA reductase) that is responsible for its production. This decreases the amount of cholesterol in the liver cells, which causes them to take up LDL cholesterol from the blood. The decreased cholesterol production and increased removal of LDL cholesterol from the blood ultimately results in lowered blood cholesterol levels.
Rosuvastatin also causes a small decrease in the production of other 'bad fats' in the blood called triglycerides, and a small increase in the level of HDL cholesterol. This results in lowered levels of 'bad fats' and raised levels of 'good fats'.
Statins have an important role in the prevention of coronary heart disease. They reduce the risk of excess cholesterol being deposited in the major blood vessels of the heart (atherosclerosis). Any blockage in the blood vessels limits the amount of blood and therefore oxygen being carried to the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain (angina) and in severe cases can result in a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Rosuvastatin is used to lower cholesterol in people who have high levels either due to genetics (familial hypercholesterolaemia) or as a result of diet and lifestyle. This helps to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, angina and heart attacks (coronary heart disease).
It is important to continue to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet and exercise regime while taking rosuvastatin. Discuss this with your doctor.
What is it used for?
-
High blood cholesterol levels.
-
Inherited high blood cholesterol levels.
- Inherited high levels of fat (lipids) in the blood (mixed hyperlipidaemia).
Warning!
- You should have blood tests to monitor your liver function (liver function tests) before starting treatment and regularly throughout treatment with this medicine.
- This medicine may very rarely have side effects on the muscles. For this reason you should inform your doctor immediately if you experience any muscular symptoms such as pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness while taking this medicine, particularly if it is accompanied by a fever or feeling generally unwell. Your doctor may need to check for side effects on the muscles by taking a blood test to measure the level of a compound called creatinine kinase in your blood. If this is the case, the test should not be done following strenuous exercise.
- A 40mg dose of this medicine should only be used in people with very high cholesterol levels and a high risk of heart disease, whose cholesterol is not lowered sufficiently with a 20mg dose and who can have regular check-ups with their doctor. A 40mg dose should not be used in people with moderately decreased kidney function, an underactive thyroid gland, a personal or family history of hereditary muscle disorders, or a history of muscle side effects on previous statin or fibrate medicines. A 40mg dose should also not be used in people of Asian origin, people taking fibrate medicines and people who drink large amounts of alcohol.
- People who are taking a 40mg dose of this medicine should have their kidney function monitored.
Use with caution in
- Decreased kidney function.
- History of liver disease.
- History of heavy alcohol consumption.
-
Underactive thyroid gland .
- Personal or family history of hereditary muscle disorders.
- History of muscular side effects during previous treatment with a statin or fibrate medicine.
- People taking a fibrate medicine.
- People aged over 70 years.
- People of Asian origin.
Not to be used in
- Active liver disease.
- Unexplained raised results in liver function tests.
- Severely decreased kidney function.
- Any disease of the muscles (myopathy).
- Acute, serious conditions that suggest to the doctor you may have a muscle disease, or are predisposed to kidney failure secondary to breakdown of muscle cells.
- People taking the medicine ciclosporin.
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Pregnancy.
-
Breastfeeding.
- Women who could get pregnant, unless they are using effective contraception to prevent pregnancy.
- There is insufficient information regarding the safety and efficacy of this medicine in children. It is not recommended for children.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- This medicine should not be used during pregnancy, as it may be harmful to the unborn baby. Women who could get pregnant should use effective method of contraception to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine. If you fall pregnant while taking this medicine, stop taking it and consult your doctor immediately.
- There is no information available about the safety of this medicine during breastfeeding. For this reason, the manufacturer states that it should not be used by women who are breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Abdominal pain.
- Constipation.
- Nausea.
- Pain in the muscles (myalgia).
- Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia).
- Skin reactions such as rash and itch.
- Disorder of the muscles (myopathy).
- Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis).
- Pain in the joints (arthralgia).
- Alteration in results of liver function tests.
- Presence of protein or blood in the urine.
- Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis).
- Memory loss.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.
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