Rosuvastatin (Cont.)

Rosuvastatin: How Does It Work?

Rosuvastatin is part of a class of drugs called statins. The medicine works by blocking a particular enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. Rosuvastatin also:
 
  • Increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol
  • Increases HDL cholesterol
  • Decreases triglycerides.
     

Rosuvastatin: Effects

In general, cholesterol treatment begins with lifestyle changes (including weight loss, exercise, and diet). If lifestyle changes alone do not lower cholesterol to a desirable level, cholesterol medication, such as rosuvastatin, may be necessary.
 
The main goal of high cholesterol medication is to lower LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce your risk of developing problems related to high cholesterol, such as heart disease or a heart attack (see Effects of High Cholesterol). The higher your risk, the lower your LDL goal will be.
 
(Click High Cholesterol Risk to see what your risk is and what your LDL cholesterol level should be.)
 
Because rosuvastatin can lower LDL cholesterol (along with lowering total cholesterol and increasing HDL), a person can lower his or her risk of developing problems.
 
In previous research studies, people taking rosuvastatin 10 mg were able to, on average, decrease LDL cholesterol by 45 percent and total cholesterol by 40 percent, as well as raise HDL by 8 percent.
 

Rosuvastatin: When and How Do I Take It?

Rosuvastatin comes in tablet form. It is taken once a day. While it is recommended that you take your rosuvastatin dose with a glass of water, you may take it with or without food.
 
Rosuvastatin should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the medicine in your blood.
 
If you are taking antacids, be sure to take your antacid two hours after your rosuvastatin medication.
 
For rosuvastatin to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Rosuvastatin will not work if you stop taking it.
 
(Rosuvastatin Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;