Rosuvastatin belongs to the class of medications called Statins (also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). Statins lower the amount of ‘bad cholesterol’ (low density lipoprotein or LDL-cholesterol) and ‘fat’ (triglyceride) in the blood as well as increase the amount of ‘good cholesterol’ (high density lipoprotein or HDL-cholesterol).
High ‘bad cholesterol’ levels can cause your blood vessels to clog up and lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack or stroke. Hence, statins may reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke.
Inform your healthcare professional if these side effects do not go away and become bothersome to you.
Very rarely, Statin may cause muscle or liver problems. Stop this medication and see a doctor immediately if you notice any of these symptoms:
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
Avoid taking a supplement called red yeast rice as this supplement may increase the risk of side effects.
Avoid or limit drinking alcohol to less than 3 drinks a day. Drinking too much alcohol may raise your chance of liver disease.
Some medications may interact with statins and affect their effectiveness or increase the risk of side effects. However, these medications may also be important for your treatment. Inform your healthcare professional of the other medications you are currently taking. Examples include:
Consult your healthcare professional if you are unsure whether your existing medications can be taken together with statin.
If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only the usual dose. Do not double your dose or use extra medication to make up for the missed dose.
Throw away all expired medications.
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.
