Rosuvas 20 (Rosuvastatin)

Rosuvas general information

What is Rosuvas used for?

Rosuvas tablets 20mg are used to lower high levels of cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood, to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol. There are usually no symptoms when you have high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited. Rosuvas 20 is used as an adjunct to a healthy low-fat diet and exercise, when response to diet and exercise alone is not sufficient to lower cholesterol levels.

How does Rosuvas work?

Rosuvas tablets 20mg contain rosuvastatin which belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowing medications called statins. Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body. However, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease. Rosuvastatin in Rosuvas 20 reduces the production of cholesterol in the liver, by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Rosuvas tablets 20mg lower levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries. Rosuvas 20 only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver and has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking Rosuvas 20.

What does Rosuvas contain?

Rosuvas tablets 20mg contains active ingredient rosuvastatin, which is a cholesterol-lowing medication that belongs to a group of called statins used to lower high cholesterol.

Lowering cholesterol with Rosuvas

Rosuvas tablets 20mg contain the cholesterol-lowing statin medication rosuvastatin, which is used to lower levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood, to reduce health risks associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), including heart attack and angina that can be caused by high cholesterol. Rosuvastatin in Rosuvas 20 reduces the production of cholesterol by the liver by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Rosuvas 20mg lowers levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) that can cause arteries to become hardened and blocked, and also increases levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL) that helps unblock hardened arteries. There are usually no symptoms when you have high cholesterol, which may be due to lifestyle (high-fat diet and lack of exercise) or can be inherited.

Treating high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) with Rosuvas

Rosuvas tablets 20mg are used to treat high cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) which can increase risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is needed by the body for many functions such as building cell membranes, producing certain hormones and transporting fat soluble vitamins around the body, however, if there is more cholesterol than the body needs, it becomes deposited in the artery walls where it can build up, blocking the arteries and increasing risk of heart disease. Rosuvas 20 contains rosuvastatin, which is used to lower high levels of cholesterol and other fats (triglycerides) in the blood, by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver, where it inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an important enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis. Rosuvas 20 only blocks cholesterol that is produced in the liver and has no effect on cholesterol that comes from fat in food, which is why a low-fat diet is important even when you are taking Rosuvas 20mg.

Effects of alcohol and grapefruit on Rosuvas

If you drink large quantities of alcohol, you may increase the risk of liver problems when taking Rosuvas tablets 20mg. Grapefruit juice in large quantities (more than one litre a day) can also increase risk of side effects as it increases the amount of Rosuvas 20 that gets into your blood.

What are the side effects of Rosuvas?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Rosuvas tablets 20mg include: constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, headache and dizziness, unusual tiredness, skin rash, itching or hives. More serious side effects are less common and may include: muscle ache, tenderness or weakness, not caused by exercise (myopathy), rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of skeletal muscle).

When should Rosuvas not be used?

You should not use Rosuvas tablets 20mg if you:

• are allergic to rosuvastatin or any other statin medication or any ingredients in Rosuvas
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have active liver disease or severe kidney disease
• have a personal or family history of hereditary muscular disorders
• have a previous history of muscular problems from using other lipid-lowering agents
• are taking medicines that interact with Rosuvas, including: other lipid-lowering medications like gemfibrozil, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, anticoagulants like warfarin, ritonavir and lopinavir for antacids for indigestion (within 2 hours)

What medications interact with Rosuvas?

Several medications interact with Rosuvas tablets 20mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Rosuvas or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that affect Rosuvas: antacids for indigestion (within 2 hours), other lipid-lowering medications like gemfibrozil, the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, ritonavir and lopinavir for anticoagulants like warfarin

How should Rosuvas be taken?

You should take Rosuvas tablets 20mg with a glass of water once a day, preferably in the evening after your evening meal, although you can take Rosuvas 20 with or without food. Rosuvas tablets 20mg are most effective at night when your body is resting and your liver is producing the most cholesterol. Your doctor may increase your dose, as required. You should continue to take Rosuvas 20 for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as Rosuvas 20 helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Rosuvas, your cholesterol levels may rise again.

How long should you take Rosuvas?

You should continue to take Rosuvas tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as Rosuvas 20 helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Rosuvas, your cholesterol levels may rise again.

Missed dose of Rosuvas

If you miss a dose of Rosuvas tablets 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Rosuvas be stored?

You should store your Rosuvas tablets 20mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.