Rosuvastatin: All You Need to Know

The rise in diseases due to elevated cholesterol levels has become a problem all around the world. A sedentary and stressful lifestyle leads to inactivity which in turn leads to abnormal cholesterol levels.

Ignorance cannot be bliss!

We all should be aware of what cholesterol is and why it matters so much. Cholesterol circulates in your blood. It is a waxy substance, which is made by you liver. It is essentialfor your body's functions. Cholesterol is also present in the food you eat. When you eat oily or fatty food, cholesterol levels increase. Excess of cholesterol is harmful. Elevated cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke. There are two types of cholesterols HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins) and LDL (Low-density Lipoproteins). HDL is popularly known as good cholesterol. The higher the HDL, the lower the chances of heart attacks and strokes. LDL is known as bad cholesterol. High levels of LDL cause the narrowing of the arteries, by depositing the excess fat. The narrowing of the arteries is known as atherosclerosis. That leads to a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke.

The HDL levels should be at a mark or higher.

   Over 60 mg/dL (optimal levels)
   40 to 60 mg/dL (good levels)
   Below 40 mg/dL (low levels)

LDL levels readings are as stated below.

   Under 100 mg/dL (optimal levels)
   100 to 129 mg/dL (borderline high levels)
   130 to 159 mg/dL (mildly high)
   160 to 189 mg/dL (high)
   190 mg/dL or above (very high)

There are no specific symptoms, that indicate elevated cholesterol levels and hence it is crucial to have it tested through regular health checkups. After the check-up, if you have high or very LDL levels and low HDL levels, the doctors prescribe statins along with diet plans and exercises. High cholesterol is a controllable factor to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. It is also easy to manage cholesterol levels with the correct medicines like statins and diet plans. Rosuvastatin is often used to treat abnormal lipid levels.

Getting to know Rosuvastatin

Patented in the year 1991, Rosuvastatin belongs to the class of drugs known as Statins. Like most statins, it works by blocking an enzyme that is required by the body to make cholesterol, so the result is that the total amount of cholesterol in the blood is reduced. Rosuvastatin is used together
with a proper diet to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) in the blood and to increase good cholesterol (HDL). It is often prescribed as adjunctive therapy along with diet.

Indications for Rosuvastatin

 The primary indication is to treat abnormal cholesterol levels. Increase the HDL and lower the LDL
 To prevent cardiovascular diseases like stroke and heart attacks
 Hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides in the body increase)
 It is also used to treat adults who cannot control their cholesterol levels by diet and exercise alone. Rosuvastatin is prescribed to prevent or slow down medical             problems, like atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), that are caused by fats clogging the blood vessels.
 It may also be used to prevent certain types of heart and blood vessel problems in patients with risk factors for heart problems.

Using Rosuvastatin

  Rosuvastatin is a prescription-only drug.
  It is to be taken orally, by mouth.
  Swallow it whole without crushing or cutting.
  Take it preferably in the evening, once a day.
  You can take it with or without food as per the guidelines of the doctor.
  Take it as advised by the doctor. The doctor decides the dosage based on your medical need,
  age, race, and intake of other medicines.
  For maximum benefits take it regularly at a decided time. It is beneficial to take the medicine
  at the same time every day.
  Do not suddenly stop taking the drug. Always consult the doctor before lowering the dosage
  or stopping the use.
  In case you accidentally forget to take a dose, you may take it when you remember or simply
  skip to the next dose if it is less than 12 hours away.
  Never double the dose to make up for the forgotten one.

Precautions before using Rosuvastatin

All drugs interact with the food you eat, or any medicines you may be consuming. Before taking Rosuvastatin, it is suggested to discuss your medical history with the doctor. Inform the doctor of any allergies you may have. Inform about all the medicines you are taking. Discuss the supplements
or herbal medicines you may be taking.

Rosuvastatin is not recommended if you are

  Have an unusual allergic condition
  Hypersensitive to Rosuvastatin
  Have active liver diseases
  Have muscle problems
  Are pregnant or planning
  Are breastfeeding

How is Rosuvastatin available?

Rosuvastatin is available in Tablet form (5mg, 10mg, 20mg, and 40mg). It is generically available. Many pharmaceutical companies manufacture Rosuvastatin and it is sold under various brand names.

Some popular brand names available

  Rosuvas (Sun Pharmaceutical)
  Rozavel (Sun Pharmaceutical)
  Crestor (AstraZeneca)
  Roseday (USV)
  Rozucor (Torrent Pharmaceuticals)
  Novastat (Lupin)
  Rozat (Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories)
  Rosulip (Cipla)
  Crevast (Eris Life sciences)
  Arvast (Intas Pharmaceuticals)

 Adverse effects are seen with Rosuvastatin

All medicines are given with the intent to treat the medical condition. Along with the desired positive effect, medicines also have a secondary unwanted effect known as a side effect or adverse effect. Although Rosuvastatin is effective in managing cholesterol levels, it shows some adverse effects. The adverse effects vary from patient to patient and can range from mild to severe.

Some common side effects are

  Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (UTI)
  Abdominal Pain
  Nausea
  Vomiting
  Mild Memory Problems or Confusion
  Muscle Problems Like Muscle Pain/Tenderness/Weakness
  Myalgia
  Signs of Kidney and Liver Problems
  Yellowing Eyes/Skin, Dark Urine,
  Stomach/Abdominal Pain.
  Worsen Diabetes

Some allergic reactions include

  Rash
  Pruritus
  Hives or urticaria
  Angioedema

Some severe side effects include

  Arthralgia
  Fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure
  Hepatitis
  Depression
  Sleep disorders

Is Rosuvastatin the drug for you?

With so many statins available in the market how would you know which statin suits you the best? Genetic testing is the new standard in personalized healthcare. That means that you would exactly know the correct statin meant to be most effective for you. Each individual is different and so different drugs would suit different people. Each person has a unique set of genes. Understanding the genes can lead to targeted therapy to cure faster and more effectively. Wondering if you could go for a genetic test? Well, MEDNAwise genetic testing is the answer.

Indus Health Plus has affordable genetic testing known as MEDNAwise genetic test. MEDNAwise tests your unique DNA to reveal your specific drug response to various drugs. It gives you results for over 70 drugs across various medical specialties. MEDNAwise is perfect to tell you which statin would suit you. It would also tell you if Rosuvastatin is the correct statin for your unique self. An important tool, it tells ways to determine the correct treatment for the patient. It also tells you about any disease you are likely to acquire in the future. If you know the future, well you can work to better it! You can tweak your health regime and lifestyle modifications can stop or delay the onset of the disease. It helps the doctor to guide you with the most effective treatment protocol.

It is the best option to understand and treat diseases well ahead of time. MEDNAwise is a simple spit swab test and can be carried out from the comfort of your home. Once the results are out, the genetic counsellors help you with diet plans and further courses of action. MEDNAwise also offers peace of mind, with less stress about future medical emergencies. It provides a sense of relief to know that you can have a better and healthier future.

MEDNAwise is a better, affordable, and needed healthcare essential, to help doctors make an informed decision.MEDNAwise is the way to go. Do not miss the train, get on it and sign up for a personalised healthcare regime!