Rosuvastatin

Tablets with 10 milligrams of rosuvastatin.

Rosuvastatin (also known by the brand names Crestor, Sandos (AU), Ezallor, and Rosuvastatin Calcium) is a statin drug. It acts by working on the liver to stop it making cholesterol. It starts to work within a week to reduce cholesterol, but it can take up to a month to achieve its full effect.

A doctor may prescribe rosuvastatin for diabetes or kidney disease, or if there is family history of rheumatoid arthritis or heart disease. These factors, and having too much cholesterol (such as high LDL), increase risk of heart problems. Rosuvastatin is used to lower high blood cholesterol (in hypercholesterolemia). The drug is also used to prevent strokes and cardiovascular disease in people at high risk.

Common side effects are abdominal pain, nausea and headaches. Serious side effects, though uncommon, are type 2 diabetes and liver conditions.

The drug was patented in 1991. It was approved for medical use in the United States twelve years later. It is available as a generic medication. In 2023, it was the twelfth most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 42 million prescriptions. In Australia, it was the most prescribed medication in 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About rosuvastatin". nhs.uk. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  2. ↑ "Rosuvastatin Calcium Monograph". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Rosuvastatin Calcium Monograph for Professionals". Drugs.com. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (AHFS). Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  4. ↑ Fischer J, Ganellin CR (2006). Analogue-based Drug Discovery. John Wiley & Sons. p. 473. ISBN 978-3-527-60749-5. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "The Top 300 of 2023". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 12 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  6. ↑ "Rosuvastatin Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2014 - 2023". ClinCalc. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  7. ↑ "Medicines in the health system". Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.