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What are the dangers of Rosuvastatin and what should I be aware of when taking it long term?

What are the dangers of Rosuvastatin and what should I be aware of when taking it long term?

Rosuvastatin belongs to the statin class of drugs, and its main effect is to inhibit the process of synthesizing LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) from glucose by the liver, thus lowering LDL-C and total cholesterol levels.

Long-term use of Rosuvastatin may cause side effects such as unstable control of elevated blood sugar, memory loss, and muscle pain and weakness.A small number of patients may also develop liver damage.

Below, "Ask a doctor" will give you a detailed introduction to the side effects of Rosuvastatin andLong-term use should be notedThe thing.


RosuviaCommon side effects of statins

Before we can understand the side effects of Rosuvastatin, we have to understand how it works.80% of the cholesterol in our body is synthesized by organs such as the liver. Statins can stop the process of synthesizing LDL cholesterol from glucose by the liver, thus slowing down the rate of atherosclerosis and preventing heart and brain infarction.

However, the above process has the following corresponding consequences:

(1) Affects the effectiveness of blood sugar control

Once the administration of Rosuvastatin hinders the above process, it results in glucose lacking a channel for deprocessing, only to remain in the bloodstream, raising blood sugar.

(2) Memory loss

The brain contains 1/4 of the body's cholesterol. This cholesterol is what the brainMaintenance of underlying memory and learning capacity"Building materials" are indispensableRosuvastatin not only lowers cholesterol in the blood, it also lowers cholesterol in the brain, which in turn has an effect on memory.

(3) Muscle weakness and pain

Coenzyme Q10 has an important role in maintaining the integrity of cell membranes and is essential for maintaining the integrity of nerve conduction processes and muscle cells. Statins can cause an impairment in the synthesis of coenzyme Q10 in the body, which can lead to muscle weakness and back pain.

People who are originally low in coenzyme Q10 are also susceptible to complications such as cardiomyopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and left ventricular dysfunction when they take it. Examples include the elderly and patients with congestive heart failure.


What should I be aware of when taking Rosuvastatin long-term?

(1) Do not take the dose without authorization and do not stop taking the medicine without authorization.

Precisely because statins have the side effects mentioned above, doctors need to determine the amount suitable for the patient's specific situation. Many people are worried that taking statins for a long period of time will have toxic side effects on the liver and kidneys, and thus are not very compliant with taking the medication, and some may even stop taking the medication on their own. This is not right.

In patients with normal liver or kidney function, there is no harm in taking statins at low doses for long periods of time.Only in rare cases do doctors need to monitor the signs associated with statins in patients with otherwise poor liver and kidney function and discontinue the drug as appropriate, e.g., patients with hepatitis and kidney disease.

(2) How long can I stop taking Rosuvastatin?

If the blood lipid level is only highIf there is no clinical manifestation of cardio-cerebral or other diseases and high risk factors, the drug can be stopped after controlling the blood lipids at the normal level. Dietary control of blood lipids, regular review, if there is no elevation of blood lipids may not need to take again.

In case of patients with severe atherosclerosis such as coronary artery disease, carotid artery stenosis, renal artery stenosis, etc.In the case of statins, they need to be taken for a long period of time, even if the cholesterol has been controlled within the normal level. This is because statins not only control blood lipids, but also stabilize atherosclerotic plaques, prevent plaque rupture to form blood clots, and reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and other malignant diseases.

(3) Coenzyme Q10 supplementation

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation improved muscle pain and heart status when taking Rosuvastatin long-term. But this result still needs more clinical evidence. Therefore, China's Food and Drug Administration has not yet its not drugs, can only be sold in the form of health care products.

If you experience muscle weakness or other side effects while using statins, it is recommended that you seek medical attention.

(4) Taking statins at night

The human body synthesizes cholesterol most actively at night, and Rosuvastatin mainly achieves cholesterol lowering by limiting cholesterol synthesis, so it is most effective when taken at night.


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Statins have lipid-lowering effects and plaque-stabilizing effects, which are very important for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and should and must be taken by patients for a long period of time; among them, Rosuvastatin is safer than any other statin, and its half-life is as long as 13 to 20 hours, which makes it possible to take it at any time of the day without affecting its efficacy;

"It's a medicine that's poisonous", Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablet is naturally no exception, and there are quite a lot of side effects, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness, rash, etc. The most harmful of these side effects are the following three.

First, muscle damage, statins in the process of long-term application, there will be myopathy, such as myalgia, myositis, and even rhabdomyolysis, however, Rosuvastatin belongs to the water-soluble drug, it is difficult to pass through the lipid layer of the cell and enter the cell, but there is a special transport protein on the surface of the hepatocyte can be delivered into the liver, so Rosuvastatin shows a high degree of liver selectivity, which not only effectively inhibits the synthesis of endogenous cholesterol by the liver, but also reduces the risk of myopathy in peripheral muscle tissue;

Second, liver damage. In fact, statins do not damage liver function when the liver is functioning normally, but if the patient already has liver damage themselves, or because of a combination of other medications that impair liver function, statins can exacerbate this liver damage; therefore, the instructions for statins clearly state that patients taking statins need to be tested regularly for Liver enzymes;

Third, high blood sugar, scientists believe that long-term use of statins will damage the membrane structure of pancreatic B cells, resulting in impaired insulin synthesis and limited secretion, which in turn induces patients to lose control of blood glucose levels and increased glycated hemoglobin, which to a certain extent increases the incidence of diabetes!

Therefore, patients should monitor the levels of blood glucose, lipids, glycosylated hemoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), and liver enzymes while taking Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets to prevent the aforementioned conditions!

The above is purely personal and for reference only!

Hello, everyone! I'm Dr. Cardiovascular Wang and we're here today to talk about Rosuvastatin.

As one of the representatives of the third generation statin, Rosuvastatin plays an increasingly important role in lowering blood lipids, as well as anti-inflammation, plaque stabilization, and prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and has become the cornerstone drug for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

The safety of statins has been a source of concern, and we'll talk about the side effects of Rosuvastatin today:

1. Liver damage:

Because statins block the production of more cholesterol and LDL by inhibiting hepatic metabolism, liver damage is the first thing to go. At that time, the damage to the liver from Rosuvastatin was reversible, meaning that as long as it was detected in time, theLiver function returns to normal after dosage is reduced, or the drug is discontinued.So when Dr. Wang prescribed Rosuvastatin to his patient.Be sure to instruct to come back for a review in the first month.

2. Blood sugar:

All statins may cause abnormal glucose metabolism and even induce new diabetes, but most of the new diabetes is associated with abnormal glucose tolerance, i.e., with an underlying risk of diabetes, and the more significant problem is that theThe benefits of statin to the patient are sufficiently higher than the risks associated with developing diabetes.

3. Muscles:

The longest side effect of statin, and one of the more troublesome ones, is muscle damage, so it can only be closely monitored for muscle pain or muscle weakness.Be sure to review your muscle enzymes regularly to minimize damage by stopping medication for early detection.

There is no way to avoid 100% of the side effects of any medication. We must be aware of the side effects of medications while taking them, so that we can monitor, detect and treat them as early as possible to minimize the damage.


Finally, Dr. Wang once again reminds us thatFor statin taking, must be necessary before choosing, if necessary then bring benefits certainly outweigh the risk! For the risk, we must pay attention to, but not because of the fear of risk is afraid to take, as afraid of car accidents afraid to go out like worrying about the sky!

For the adjustment and control of hyperlipidemia, clinically preferred statins, control cholesterol synthesis, reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein, statins are widely applicable to the population, the role of clear, is the most commonly used drugs to regulate blood lipids and the most basic drugs, Rosuvastatin is a relatively new type of statin drugs, today to introduce this drug for everyone.

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Side effects of Rosuvastatin

The main side effects of Rosuvastatin are considered in the following areas:

1.Side effects on the liverStatins are divided into two categories, lipophilic statins and hydrophilic statins, the main difference lies in the different metabolic pathways. Lipophilic statins, such as atorvastatin, are mainly metabolized by hepatic CYP3A4 metabolizing enzymes, whereas Rosuvastatin belongs to the category of hydrophilic statins, with only 10% of its components being metabolized by the hepatic CYP2C9 enzyme, so that Rosuvastatin has fewer side effects on the liver than lipophilic statins. Therefore, the side effects of Rosuvastatin on the liver are less than those of lipophilic statin. Usually, when taking lipophilic statin, such as simvastatin, atorvastatin, etc., which causes a 3-fold increase in aminotransferase and needs to be discontinued, switching to Rosuvastatin can minimize the effects.

2.Side effects on the kidneys: Although the side effects on the liver Rosuvastatin smaller, but for the kidneys of the impact of Rosuvastatin is larger, mainly because of the Rosuvastatin drug structure of the sulfonamide group, there are similar to the sulfonamide kidney side effects, in the period of time the drug should pay attention to monitor kidney function, if the emergence of proteinuria and other problems, can be considered to be the drug triggered.

3. Muscle pain side effects: All statins may cause muscle pain problems, the severity of myalgia is usually positively correlated with the dose of statin, myalgia may be accompanied by fever and general malaise, if myopathy is not detected in time, continued use of the drug can lead to transverse myelinolysis or renal failure, therefore, during long-term use of the drug, attention should be paid to regular checking of the CK value of creatine kinase, and if there is an abnormally high CK value, it should be Attention.

4. Risk of diabetes: Studies in recent years have found that long-term use of statins carries the risk of causing abnormal glucose metabolism and diabetes, and that the benefits of statins for lipid regulation and the cardiovascular system are much greater than those ofThe risk of diabetes is triggered, therefore, it is still recommended that people at high risk of cardiovascular disease with dyslipidemia take statins to regulate their blood lipids.

Other precautions for long-term use of Rosuvastatin

In addition to the above side effects, long-term use of Rosuvastatin should also be aware of its interactions with other medications. Although Rosuvastatin is less metabolized by the liver and has fewer interactions than lipophilic statin drugs, the following medications need to be watched out for if taken together:

1. Cyclosporine increases the maximum blood concentration of Rosuvastatin sevenfold and should not be taken together;

2. If Rosuvastatin needs to be coadministered with beta-lipid-lowering drugs, it should be noted that fenofibrate can be chosen instead of gemfibrozil, and coadministration of gemfibrozil will increase the blood concentration of Rosuvastatin and also increase the risk of myalgia;

3. When Rosuvastatin is taken with Favarin, it can affect Favarin to prolong the clotting time, leading to the risk of bleeding, therefore, the prothrombin time INR should be tested moderately.

4. Antacids such as aluminum hydroxide with the drug, can make the blood concentration of Rosuvastatin decreased by fifty percent, affecting the efficacy of the drug, such as the need for co-taking, staggering the time to take the drug for more than 4 hours the best.

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The title of the question is a little problematic, Rosuvastatin is a lipid-lowering drug, since it is a rigorously validated, officially marketed drug, since it was first marketed in the Netherlands in 2002 to the present, and is currently used in clinical applications for 17 years, and no unpredictable and serious problems have occurred.

For regular medication, the benefits of using it must outweigh the harms, and there will be no so-called "harms", only side effects.

Most side effects of Rosuvastatin are mild and short-lived, but there are some side effects to be aware of. Including:

1. Muscle side effects, including myalgia, muscle weakness, myositis, etc. One of the most serious muscle reactions is rhabdomyolysis, which is manifested as muscle pain and weakness, and may be accompanied by hematuria, soy sauce-colored urine, etc. Although this side effect is rare, it brings serious consequences. In fact, there are some susceptible groups to severe muscle reactions, including: 1) advanced age, especially women; 2) small body size; 3) combined application of a variety of drugs, especially beta-lipid-lowering drugs, etc.; 4) history of infections, trauma and other medical history; 5) perioperative period or after strenuous exercise; 6) alcoholism; 7) application of statin dose is too large; 8) special populations: e.g., hypothyroidism, history of myopathy and so on.

2. Effect on blood glucose, long-term use of Rosuvastatin carries a risk of elevated blood glucose in some people. This side effect has a dose-effect relationship with the amount of Rosuvastatin used; it is more likely to occur in people who already have abnormal glucose tolerance.

3. Effect on urinary protein, people taking Rosuvastatin may have from none to mildly elevated urinary protein, most of which may disappear on its own with prolonged use of the drug.

4. Effects on the nervous system, a common side effect on the nervous system is dizziness and headache.

5. Effects on the digestive system, including constipation, nausea and abdominal pain.

6. Immune system reactions, allergy, angioneurogenic edema, skin itching, rash, etc.

Care should be taken while taking Rosuvastatin:

1. Serious liver and kidney function abnormalities, myopathy should be avoided;

2. If you already have diabetes or abnormal glucose tolerance, you may consider choosing a statin that has less effect on blood sugar, such as pitavastatin and pravastatin;

3. Pay attention to the monitoring of blood lipids and liver enzymes and muscle enzymes; once abnormal elevation of liver enzymes and muscle enzymes is found, communicate with the doctor in time to adjust the medication;

4. Try to avoid combining with Beta drugs or other lipid-lowering drugs to reduce muscle side effects;

5. If combination of cyclosporine, erythromycin, etc. is needed, consult your doctor about discontinuing Rosuvastatin or adjusting the dose;

6. Elderly and thin women, when they need to take it, should reduce the dosage appropriately;

7. Pay attention to a healthy diet, more activities, lowering blood lipids, prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease effect is good.

Overall, Rosuvastatin is a very safe lipid-lowering drug, and if you have high blood cholesterol or a high risk of cardiovascular disease, the benefits of taking Rosuvastatin outweigh the harms, and the benefits are greater with proper selection.

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Rosuvastatin tablets are one of the "statin" drugs;


For the answer to this question, Dr. Mei needs you to first understand: what are statins?

(1)Statins: are currently the most effective and most widely used lipid-lowering drugs (we commonly use them clinically for the prevention of common cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and the reduction of arterial embolic disease based on their lipid-lowering, plaque-stabilizing, endothelium-protecting, and anti-thrombotic effects);

(This figure: The process of atherosclerosis formation is mainly represented, and statins play an important role in stabilizing plaque and preventing thrombosis as long as they act on the process to reduce further plaque formation and progression.)

(2)HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor is an endogenous rate-limiting enzyme for cholesterol synthesis;However, due to their structural differences in: lipid-lowering effect, pharmacokinetics, hepatic and renal toxicity, drug-drug interactions, indications, and metabolic genes;

(3)Some of the commonly used clinically are simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, atorvastatin, and resuvastatin;

(4)In addition to its potent lipid-regulating effects of lowering total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), lowering triacylglycerol (TG), and elevating high-density lipoprotein (HDL); it also has a variety of non-lipid-regulating effects, such as: protection of the vascular endothelium, anti-inflammatory, stabilizing plaque, and anti-thrombosis;

As an important member of the "statin class of drugs" ---- "Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets" (Codine):

(1) is a synthetic agent; belongs to the "statin" family of drugs"Third generation products"

(2) and atorvastatin calcium tablets are both guideline-recommended potent statin(>50% reduction in LDL-C)

(3) and atorvastatin calcium tablets have both been demonstrated through evidence-based medical evidence to be used forPrevention of cardiovascular diseases

(4) Compared to the lipophilic simvastatin, fluvastatin, and atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin is a kindred drug, and statins commonlyVery little hepatotoxicity

(5) Compared to other statins, reserpine commonlyThe incidence of muscle toxicity and renal impairment is relatively high and is contraindicated in patients with severe renal insufficiency.; and atorvastatin calcium tablets are relatively safe;

(6) The relatively long half-life of resuvar versus atorvastatin calcium tablets.Can be taken any time of the day, but we generally choose to take it at bedtime in our clinic;

(7) Only 10% of Rosuvastatin calcium tablets are metabolized by the CYP2C9 gene.Reduction in relative adverse drug reactions

(8) .......


The commonly used quantitative dose relationship for statins is:

Note: High-intensity: statin daily dose reduces LDL-C ≥ 50%; moderate-intensity: statin daily dose reduces LDL-C: 30% to 50%; low-intensity: statin daily dose reduces LDL-C < 30% -----The maximum recommended dose of Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets in China does not exceed 20mg/day.


We can learn from the above:

  • Long-term use of Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets requires attention:

(1)Nephrotoxicity:Pay attention to regular review of renal function, glomerular filtration rate <30ml/min is prohibited;

(2) Muscle toxicity:If creatine kinaseCKElevated levels (>5×ULN), the medication should be discontinued;

(3) In addition to dizziness, headaches, gastrointestinal reactions.The duration is usually brief and the symptoms gradually disappear; adverse reactions such as neurologic and biliary systems are rare, and severe hepatic and renal injuries as well as rhabdomyolysis are rare;

(4) If lipid-lowering drugs must be taken according to the needs of the disease and related adverse reactions occur, relevant symptomatic treatment can be given; for example, the addition of hepatoprotective drugs.


I hope my answer is helpful!


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Rosuvastatin tablets are a very common lipid-lowering medication, and clinically, Dr. Small Eyes often recommends Rosuvastatin for lipid-lowering therapy to his patients.


Actually, Rosuvia.Calcium statin tablets are very effective at lowering lipids, and if you take 5mg of Rosuvastatin Calcium tablets orally every day you'll be able to achieve a good lipid-lowering effect.

Long-term use of Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets may cause damage to liver and kidney function.

For Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets, it is not recommended for patients with severe renal insufficiency.

It is very clear that long-term use of taking Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets can cause liver impairment.

But liver impairmentIt varies from person to person, and there may be some people who take Rosuvastatin Calcium Tablets for a long time without causing liver damage.

Long-term use of Rosuvastatin calcium tablets can causeSkeletal muscle effects. Regardless of the variety of dosage treatments are able to have an effect on skeletal muscle.And as the dose of treatment increases, it can lead to a higher incidence of skeletal muscle damage.

Therefore, clinically, we will adjust the minimum dose according to the lipid lowering. Patients will also be recommended to take coenzyme Q10 as an adjunct to avoid adverse effects.


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Rosuvastatin is a clinically applied drug for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, which is commonly used in cardiology and cerebrovascular medicine.

If taken in strict accordance with the precautions I've outlined for you below, the probability of side effects is extremely low.


First, let's find out what conditions warrant the use of Rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin is mainly used for people with hypercholesterolemia who are not able to control the cholesterol level in their blood effectively even after diet and exercise. From this statement we can see that after a person develops high cholesterol, the first method to be used is dietary control and exercise, and only if it is not effective, then this medication is taken.


Next, let's find out what to expect when taking this medication

1. Pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy should not use it

The drug has been shown to be reproductively toxic to embryos, and if taken by a pregnant woman, the drug may lead to malformations, stillbirths, preterm labor, miscarriages, and other problems in the fetus. Therefore, it is contraindicated for pregnant women and those preparing for pregnancy.


2. Prohibited for patients with active liver disease.

The country is a major hepatitis country, so if hepatitis is in an active stage, then the drug should not be used, which can aggravate the damage to the liver.

Transaminases (an important measure of liver function, which can be found by taking blood tests to check liver function) that are elevated more than three times indicate more serious problems with liver function and prohibit the use of this medication.


3. Prohibited for people with severe renal function decline

The drug can be taken by people with mild to moderate decline in kidney function, but it cannot be used by people with severe decline in kidney function, i.e., creatinine clearance <30 ml/min (an important measure of kidney function, which can be known through blood tests).

Therefore, we can know that liver and kidney function should be checked before using the drug, and also when taking the drug for a long period of time, you should pay attention to regular reviews


4. Prohibited for children

The drug lacks proof of safety in children, so it is not recommended for use in children


5. Prohibited for lactating women

The drug can pass into breast milk, so it is contraindicated for women who are breastfeeding. If you have to use it, then you can not breastfeed your child, but switch to formula milk!


6. Cyclosporine should not be used in combination with this drug.

Taking cyclosporine at the same time can lead to a significant increase in the concentration of Rosuvastatin in the blood, causing serious adverse reactions, so the two drugs should not be combined!


7. Patients suffering from muscle lesions are also not allowed to use the drug

The drug can cause muscle pain, rhabdomyolysis, etc., although the probability of its occurrence is very low and extremely rare. However, if the person taking the drug has a muscular disease, the probability of aggravation of the condition is extremely high, so it is strictly prohibited.


8. When starting treatment, it should be started with small doses and gradually increased

Initially, treatment should be started at this dosage of 5 mg/dose once a day, and the cholesterol should be checked after a period of time on the medication; if it is not well controlled, the dosage can be adjusted to 10 mg/dose once a day after 4 weeks.

Maximum dose should not exceed 20mg per day

This slow dosing avoids many of the side effects!


9. The drug can be taken on an empty stomach or with a meal, and can be taken at any time of the day without affecting its efficacy!

If you are able to take the drug in strict accordance with the above mentioned points, then the chances of side effects are very, very low.

I hope my answer is helpful to everyone, there is no understanding of the place can leave a message, I will reply one by one, professional doctors to bring you reliable medical health science knowledge!

Statins are currently the most widely used and effective lipid-lowering drugs, of which Rosuvastatin is one of the more effective. Rosuvastatin is mainly used to reduce hypercholesterolemia, has a certain effect of lowering triglycerides, commonly used to prevent atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.



What are the dangers and precautions of Rosuvastatin?

The adverse effects of the various statins vary slightly, but the ones that should be of most concern are hepatic impairment and myopathy, which manifests itself as elevated liver enzymes that may decrease after discontinuation of the drug. Myopathy, which includes myalgia, myositis, and rhabdomyolysis, has a low probability of occurrence, but the outcome is serious, with possible myoglobinuria and acute renal failure, and should be a cause for alarm.

The more common adverse reactions to Rosuvastatin are gastrointestinal discomfort and dizziness and headache, allergic reactions are rare. Alcohol should not be consumed while taking this drug, and it is contraindicated in patients with a history of liver disease and myopathy, and in pregnant women. I hope my answer can help you! Like it if you like it!

Hello, I'm Dr. Knowles Blue.

Rosuvastatin is a commonly used lipid-regulating drug in clinical practice, belonging to the 3rd generation of statins together with atorvastatin, with the effects of regulating blood lipids, stabilizing plaques, anti-inflammatory, etc. It is applied to dyslipidemia, clearly diagnosed atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and its high-risk groups. But every drug has its side effects, Rosuvastatin is no exception, common side effects include liver function damage, muscle damage, blood sugar abnormalities, there are some clinical precautions and measures to deal with, today to talk to you.

How does Rosuvastatin work?

  • The liver is a cholesterol production plant70-80% of cholesterol in the human body is synthesized by the body itself, and a large part of it is synthesized in the liver, which means that the liver is the production plant for cholesterol synthesis. The process of cholesterol synthesis in the liver involves a number of procedures, including the use ofA very important enzyme is called HMG-CoA reductase, which is a rate-limiting enzyme, meaning that a high activity and quantity of this enzyme results in relatively more cholesterol synthesis, and a low quantity and activity of this enzyme results in relatively less cholesterol synthesis.
  • Rosuvastatin works in the liver:The most significant and visible effect of Rosuvastatin is the lowering of LDL cholesterol.It potently inhibits the activity of this HMG-CoA reductase enzyme just mentioned, so there's less cholesterol synthesis.So with the liver being the main battleground for Rosuvastatin, it's easy to understand is taking Rosuvastatin has the potential to cause liver damage.

What are the side effects of taking Rosuvastatin for a long time?

Side effects caused by long-term oral Rosuvastatin are strongly related to the dose taken, so it is important to try not to use large doses when you can achieve efficacy. But even at the same dose taken, the side effects that occur in each person vary from person to person.

  • liver damage: As mentioned earlier with Rosuvastatin, there is a risk of liver damage, often in the form of elevated aminotransferases or elevated bilirubin.Consider discontinuing Rosuvastatin if blood tests suggest that transaminases are elevated more than three times the normal value.
  • muscle damage: Muscle damage from Rosuvastatin is primarily characterized by soreness and weakness in skeletal muscles, and blood tests may show elevated phosphocreatinase.When the phosphocreatine enzyme is 5 times higher than normal, Rosuvastatin should be discontinued. The rare side effect of renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis has indeed been reported, but the incidence is so low that most doctors have never personally seen it, so there is no need to worry too much.
  • glucose abnormality: Some people who have been taking Rosuvastatin for a long time may have abnormal blood sugar and new-onset diabetes, but studies have found that many people with new-onset diabetes already had abnormal glucose tolerance, which means that they were already in the pre-diabetic stage. For people who do need to take statin, the benefits of statin outweigh the bad effects of diabetes. So., it is recommended to continue taking the statin even if there are blood sugar abnormalities and to control blood sugar with glucose-lowering medications. It is worth noting that some studies suggest that pitavastatin has a significantly lower effect on blood sugar than other statins.

What should I be aware of when taking Rosuvastatin long-term?

It is true that most patients taking Rosuvastatin may need to take this medication for a long period of time for lipid regulation, plaque stabilization, anti-inflammation, and more. There are some precautions for long-term use.

  • Be reviewed regularly:These side effects mentioned above occur more often in the first 1 to 3 months after taking the drug.Tests include lipid profile 4, liver function, creatine kinase, blood glucose, etc.. If there are no problems, the next review can be at 6 months and then annually thereafter.
  • About the time of taking it:As mentioned earlier cholesterol synthesis is higher at night, so for some short-acting statins with a short half-life, they require to be taken at night to be more effective.Rosuvastatin is a long-acting statin and can be taken at any time of the day. However, it is generally not recommended to take Rosuvastatin every other day.
  • About taking anti-inflammatory drugs and grapefruit together.: In a number of popular science articles have mentioned that statins should not be taken with "anti-inflammatory drugs" and "grapefruit". The main reason is that certain antimicrobials such as erythromycin, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, etc. will inhibit the activity of hepatic P450 enzyme 3A4, which increases the blood concentration of statin drugs, increasing side effects.In fact, this theory only applies to simvastatin, lovastatin and atorvastatin. Today we are talking about Rosuvastatin, which is not related to P450 enzyme 3A4, so don't worry about it, which means that you can take it together with "anti-inflammatory drugs" and "grapefruit".

In summary, Rosuvastatin belongs to the third generation of statin drugs, with strong lipid-lowering effect and the ability to anti-inflammatory and plaque stabilization. Like other statins, it also has side effects such as liver damage, muscle damage, blood sugar abnormality, etc. Side effects occur mainly in the early stage of application and are dose-related. In the process of application, we should pay attention to the review of blood lipids, liver function, creatine kinase, blood glucose and other indicators, according to the situation to make drug adjustments. It can be taken once a day, at any time of the day, and is not affected by "anti-inflammatory drugs, grapefruit".

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