Rosuvastatin: Brands, Price & Uses in Bangladesh

Rosuvastatin is indicated for the following uses:

Established / FDA-approved uses

• As an adjunct to diet, to reduce elevated total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, non-HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides in adults with primary hyperlipidemia (including heterozygous familial and non-familial hypercholesterolemia) and mixed dyslipidemia.
• To slow the progression of atherosclerosis as part of a treatment strategy to lower total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, as an adjunct to diet.
• To treat homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and pediatric patients 7 years and older, usually as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g. LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable, since this condition often does not respond adequately to statins alone.
• To treat heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and pediatric patients 8 years and older, as an adjunct to diet, when an adequate trial of diet therapy has failed.
• To treat primary dysbetalipoproteinemia (Type III hyperlipoproteinemia) and severe hypertriglyceridemia in adults, as an adjunct to diet.
• To reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and arterial revascularization procedures in adults without clinically evident coronary heart disease but with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein plus at least one additional risk factor), and for secondary prevention in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Rosuvastatin is not indicated for the acute treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia with pancreatitis, and is not a substitute for diet, exercise, weight management, and other lifestyle measures.

Dosing by indication

Renal impairment

No dose adjustment is required in mild-to-moderate renal impairment. In severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min) not on hemodialysis, start at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed 10 mg once daily.

Hepatic impairment

Rosuvastatin is contraindicated in active liver disease, acute liver failure, or decompensated cirrhosis (see Contraindications). Use with caution in patients with a history of liver disease or substantial alcohol intake.

Asian patients

Because Asian patients have shown roughly two-fold higher Rosuvastatin exposure compared with other populations, therapy should be started at 5 mg once daily in this group.

Dosing with interacting drugs

Lower maximum doses apply when Rosuvastatin is combined with cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, or certain protease inhibitors — see Interactions.

Common and serious side effects associated with Rosuvastatin include:

Common (may affect more than 1 in 100 people)

• Headache
• Myalgia (muscle pain or discomfort)
• Asthenia (weakness)
• Abdominal pain, nausea, constipation
• Dizziness

Uncommon to rare but serious

• Myopathy and, rarely, rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown that can cause kidney damage) — seek prompt medical attention for unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by fever, dark urine, or malaise (see Precautions and Warnings).
• Hepatotoxicity, including elevated liver transaminases and, rarely, liver failure.
• Proteinuria and microscopic hematuria, generally transient and more frequent at the 40 mg dose (see Precautions and Warnings).
• Increased blood glucose and new-onset type 2 diabetes (a modest signal; the cardiovascular benefit generally outweighs this risk in appropriate candidates).
• Hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, pruritus, urticaria, and rarely angioedema.
• Interstitial lung disease (rare, reported with statins as a class).