Precautions and Warnings for Rosuvastatin (Cont.)

Some Rosuvastatin Precautions and Warnings

Some precautions and warnings to be aware of with rosuvastatin include:
 
  • If you are over 65 years old, of Asian descent, or have severe kidney disease, your healthcare provider may recommend a lower starting dosage and may choose to make any necessary rosuvastatin dosing adjustments with caution.
     
  • Crestor can potentially interact with several medications (see Drug Interactions With Rosuvastatin).
      
  • If you are an alcoholic or drink alcohol frequently, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to starting rosuvastatin. Alcohol can affect the way the liver works, indirectly affecting the rosuvastatin.
     
  • Statins, such as rosuvastatin, have been known to cause an increase in liver enzymes, which may be a sign of liver problems. Therefore, it is recommended that you have a blood test that looks at your liver function before starting rosuvastatin and 12 weeks after treatment has started.
     
  • Rhabdomyolysis (the severe breakdown of muscles) has rarely been reported with rosuvastatin and other statins. If you are elderly, are not being properly treated for hypothyroidism, or have kidney damage, you are at a higher risk of developing muscle problems (such as rhabdomyolysis). Make sure to contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness while taking rosuvastatin -- especially if you also have a fever or body aches (see Crestor and Muscle Pain).
     
  • Rosuvastatin is a pregnancy Category X medicine, meaning that rosuvastatin could potentially cause harm to your unborn child. The safety of rosuvastatin in pregnant women has not been established. If you are pregnant and taking rosuvastatin, talk with your healthcare provider immediately (see Crestor and Pregnancy).
     
  • It is unknown whether or not rosuvastatin passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are nursing and taking rosuvastatin, discuss with your healthcare provider whether to stop nursing or stop rosuvastatin treatment (see Crestor and Breastfeeding).
     
  • The risk of muscle problems (myopathy) while taking rosuvastatin can be increased if you take other cholesterol medication (such as fibrates or niacin). Discuss this with your healthcare provider before taking these medications together.
     
(Precautions and Warnings for Rosuvastatin Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;