Side Effects Of Rosuvastatin

Common Side Effects: Myalgia, Constipation, and Nausea

Rosuvastatin, a widely prescribed statin for lowering cholesterol, is generally well-tolerated but can cause several common side effects. These include myalgia (muscle pain), constipation, and nausea. These side effects are usually mild and transient.

Dizziness and Pruritus

Some patients may experience dizziness and pruritus (itching) as side effects of rosuvastatin. A case report highlighted a 48-year-old woman who developed these symptoms within two weeks of starting the medication. The dizziness resolved immediately after discontinuing the drug, while the pruritus took a couple of weeks to subside completely.

Myopathy and Muscle Necrosis

Myopathy, characterized by muscle pain and weakness, is a well-documented side effect of statins, including rosuvastatin. Studies in rats have shown that rosuvastatin can cause a rise in creatine kinase (CK) levels and mild muscle necrosis. However, these effects are generally less severe compared to other statins like atorvastatin.

Hepatotoxicity and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

High doses of rosuvastatin can lead to liver toxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. In hypercholesterolemic mice, doses higher than 20 mg/kg/day induced premature death, while doses from 2.5 to 5 mg/kg/day caused significant morphological and functional alterations in liver mitochondria. However, a dose of 1 mg/kg/day, which is close to the maximal therapeutic dose for humans, did not affect mitochondrial architecture or respiratory function after two months of treatment.

Renal Safety

Intensive LDL-C lowering with rosuvastatin does not significantly increase the risk of renal impairment or renal failure in patients without pre-existing advanced renal disease. A large retrospective analysis involving 40,600 participants found no significant difference in renal adverse events between rosuvastatin and placebo groups.

Comparison with Other Statins

When compared to atorvastatin, rosuvastatin is more efficacious in lowering LDL cholesterol at equivalent doses without a significant increase in adverse events. Both statins showed similar risks for myalgia, elevated liver enzymes, and creatine kinase levels .

Conclusion

While rosuvastatin is effective in improving lipid profiles and generally well-tolerated, it can cause side effects such as myalgia, dizziness, pruritus, and mild liver and muscle toxicity. These side effects are usually dose-dependent and less severe compared to other statins like atorvastatin. Patients should be monitored for these adverse effects, especially at higher doses.

Side effects of rosuvastatin

Summary

Not a yes or no question