Rosuvastatin Drug Information
Generic name: ROSUVASTATIN CALCIUM
Uses of Rosuvastatin
- Rosuvastatin tablets is indicated: To reduce the risk major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events (CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or an arterial revascularization procedure) in adults without established coronary heart disease who are at increased risk of CV disease based on age, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥2 mg/L, and at least one additional CV risk factor.
- As an adjunct to diet to: Reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia. Reduce LDL-C and slow the progression of atherosclerosis in adults. Reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 8 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). As an adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies, or alone if such treatments are unavailable, to reduce LDL-C in adults and pediatric patients aged 7 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH).
- As an adjunct to diet for the treatment of adults with: Primary dysbetalipoproteinemia. Hypertriglyceridemia. Hypertriglyceridemia.
Dosage & Administration of Rosuvastatin
General Dosage and Administration Information
Administer rosuvastatin tablets orally as a single dose at any time of day, with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole. Assess LDL-C when clinically appropriate, as early as 4 weeks after initiating rosuvastatin tablets, and adjust the dosage if necessary.
If a dose is missed, advise patients not take an extra dose. Resume treatment with the next dose. When taking rosuvastatin tablets with an aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacid, administer rosuvastatin tablets at least 2 hours before the antacid.
Recommended Dosage in Adult Patients
The dosage range for rosuvastatin tablets is 5 to 40 mg orally once daily. The recommended dose of rosuvastatin tablets depends on a patient's indication for usage, LDL-C, and individual risk for CV events.
Recommended Dosage in Pediatric Patients Dosage in Pediatric Patients 8 Years of Age and Older with HeFH The recommended dosage range is 5 mg to 10 mg orally once daily in patients aged 8 years to less than 10 years and 5 mg to 20 mg orally once daily in patients aged 10 years and older.
Dosing in Asian Patients
Initiate rosuvastatin tablets at 5 mg once daily due to increased rosuvastatin plasma concentrations. Consider the risks and benefits of rosuvastatin tablets when treating Asian patients not adequately controlled at doses up to 20 mg once daily.
Recommended Dosage in Patients with Renal Impairment
In patients with severe renal impairment (CL cr less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) not on hemodialysis, the recommended starting dosage is 5 mg once daily and should not exceed 10 mg once daily. There are no dosage adjustment recommendations for patients with mild and moderate renal impairment.
Dosage Modifications Due to Drug Interactions Rosuvastatin Tablets Dosage Modifications Due to Drug Interactions Table 1 displays dosage modifications for rosuvastatin tablets due to drug interactions.
| Concomitantly Used Drug | Rosuvastatin Tablets Dosage Modifications |
|---|---|
| Cyclosporine | Do not exceed 5 mg once daily. |
| Teriflunomide | Do not exceed 10 mg once daily. |
| Enasidenib | Do not exceed 10 mg once daily. |
| Capmatinib | Do not exceed 10 mg once daily. |
| Fostamatinib | Do not exceed 20 mg once daily. |
| Febuxostat | Do not exceed 20 mg once daily. |
| Gemfibrozil | Avoid concomitant use. If used concomitantly, initiate at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed 10 mg once daily. |
| Tafamidis | Avoid concomitant use. If used concomitantly, initiate at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed 20 mg once daily. |
| Antiviral Medications | |
| Sofbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir | Concomitant use not recommended. |
| o Simeprevir o Dasabuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir o Elbasvir/Grazoprevir o Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir o Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir o Atazanavir/Ritonavir o Lopinavir/Ritonavir | Initiate at 5 mg once daily. Do not exceed 10 mg once daily. |
| Darolutamide | Do not exceed 5 mg once daily. |
| Regorafenib | Do not exceed 10 mg once daily. |
Side Effects of Rosuvastatin
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients in placebo-controlled clinical studies and at a rate greater than placebo are shown in Table 2. These studies had a treatment duration of up to 12 weeks.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with Rosuvastatin and > Placebo in Placebo-Controlled Trials Other adverse reactions reported in clinical studies were abdominal pain, dizziness, hypersensitivity (including rash, pruritus, urticaria, and angioedema) and pancreatitis. The following laboratory abnormalities have also been reported: dipstick-positive proteinuria and microscopic hematuria; elevated creatine phosphokinase, transaminases, glucose, glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin; and thyroid function abnormalities. In the METEOR study, patients were treated with rosuvastatin 40 mg (n=700) or placebo (n=281) with a mean treatment duration of 1.7 years.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with Rosuvastatin and > Placebo in the METEOR Trial In the JUPITER study, patients were treated with rosuvastatin 20 mg (n=8,901) or placebo (n=8,901) for a mean duration of 2 years. In JUPITER, there was a significantly higher frequency of diabetes mellitus reported in patients taking rosuvastatin (2.8%) versus patients taking placebo (2.3%). Mean HbA1c was significantly increased by 0.1% in rosuvastatin-treated patients compared to placebo-treated patients.
The number of patients with a HbA1c >6.5% at the end of the trial was significantly higher in rosuvastatin-treated versus placebo-treated patients. Table 4: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with Rosuvastatin and > Placebo in the JUPITER Trial Pediatric Patients with HeFH In a 12‑week controlled study in pediatric patients 10 to 17 years of age with HeFH with rosuvastatin 5 to 20 mg daily, elevations in serum CK greater than 10 x ULN were observed more frequently in rosuvastatin-treated patients compared with patients receiving placebo. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Blood Disorders: thrombocytopenia Hepatobiliary Disorders: hepatitis, jaundice, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure Musculoskeletal Disorders: arthralgia, rare reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin use Nervous System Disorders: peripheral neuropathy, rare postmarketing reports of cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, and confusion) associated with the use of all statins. The reports are generally nonserious, and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with variable times to symptom onset (1 day to years) and symptom resolution (median of 3 weeks). There have been rare reports of new-onset or exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, including ocular myasthenia, and reports of recurrence when the same or a different statin was administered.
Psychiatric Disorders: depression, sleep disorders (including insomnia and nightmares) Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: gynecomastia Respiratory Disorders: interstitial lung disease Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), lichenoid drug eruption
| Adverse Reactions | Placebo N=382 % | Rosuvastatin 5 mg N=291 % | Rosuvastatin 10 mg N=283 % | Rosuvastatin 20 mg N=64 % | Rosuvastatin 40 mg N=106 % | Total Rosuvastatin 5 mg-40 mg N=744 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headache | 5.0 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 8.5 | 5.5 |
| Nausea | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 0 | 3.4 |
| Myalgia | 1.3 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 2.8 |
| Asthenia | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 2.7 |
| Constipation | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
| Adverse Reactions | Placebo N=281 % | Rosuvastatin 40 mg N=700 % |
|---|---|---|
| Myalgia | 12.1 | 12.7 |
| Arthralgia | 7.1 | 10.1 |
| Headache | 5.3 | 6.4 |
| Dizziness | 2.8 | 4.0 |
| Increased CPK | 0.7 | 2.6 |
| Abdominal pain | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| ALT greater than 3x ULN Frequency recorded as abnormal laboratory value. | 0.7 | 2.2 |
| Adverse Reactions | Placebo N=8,901 % | Rosuvastatin 20 mg N=8,901 % |
|---|---|---|
| Myalgia | 6.6 | 7.6 |
| Arthralgia | 3.2 | 3.8 |
| Constipation | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| Diabetes mellitus | 2.3 | 2.8 |
| Nausea | 2.3 | 2.4 |
Warnings & Cautions for Rosuvastatin
Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis Rosuvastatin may cause myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Acute kidney injury secondary to myoglobinuria and rare fatalities have occurred as a result of rhabdomyolysis with statins, including rosuvastatin. Risk Factors for Myopathy Risk factors for myopathy include age 65 years or greater, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, renal impairment, concomitant use with certain other drugs (including other lipid-lowering therapies), and higher rosuvastatin dosage.
Asian patients on rosuvastatin may be at higher risk for myopathy. The myopathy risk is greater in patients taking rosuvastatin 40 mg daily compared with lower rosuvastatin dosages. Steps to Prevent or Reduce the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis The concomitant use of rosuvastatin with cyclosporine or gemfibrozil is not recommended.
Rosuvastatin dosage modifications are recommended for patients taking certain antiviral medications, darolutamide, and regorafenib. Niacin, fibrates, and colchicine may also increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Discontinue rosuvastatin if markedly elevated CK levels occur or if myopathy is either diagnosed or suspected.
Muscle symptoms and CK elevations may resolve if rosuvastatin is discontinued. Temporarily discontinue rosuvastatin in patients experiencing an acute or serious condition at high risk of developing renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis (e.g., sepsis; shock; severe hypovolemia; major surgery; trauma; severe metabolic, endocrine, or electrolyte disorders; or uncontrolled epilepsy). Inform patients of the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis when starting or increasing the rosuvastatin dosage.
Instruct patients to promptly report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever.
Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy There have been rare reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), an autoimmune myopathy, associated with statin use, including reports of recurrence when the same or a different statin was administered. IMNM is characterized by proximal muscle weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase that persist despite discontinuation of statin treatment; positive anti-HMG CoA reductase antibody; muscle biopsy showing necrotizing myopathy; and improvement with immunosuppressive agents. Additional neuromuscular and serologic testing may be necessary.
Treatment with immunosuppressive agents may be required. Discontinue rosuvastatin if IMNM is suspected.
Hepatic Dysfunction Increases in serum transaminases have been reported with use of rosuvastatin. In most cases, these changes appeared soon after initiation, were transient, were not accompanied by symptoms, and resolved or improved on continued therapy or after a brief interruption in therapy. In a pooled analysis of placebo-controlled trials, increases in serum transaminases to more than three times the ULN occurred in 1.1% of patients taking rosuvastatin versus 0.5% of patients treated with placebo.
Marked persistent increases of hepatic transaminases have also occurred with rosuvastatin. There have been rare postmarketing reports of fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure in patients taking statins, including rosuvastatin. Patients who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history of liver disease may be at increased risk for hepatic injury.
Consider liver enzyme testing before rosuvastatin initiation and when clinically indicated thereafter. Rosuvastatin is contraindicated in patients with acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis. If serious hepatic injury with clinical symptoms and/or hyperbilirubinemia or jaundice occurs, promptly discontinue rosuvastatin.
Proteinuria and Hematuria In the rosuvastatin clinical trial program, dipstick-positive proteinuria and microscopic hematuria were observed among rosuvastatin treated patients. These findings were more frequent in patients taking rosuvastatin 40 mg, when compared to lower doses of rosuvastatin or comparator statins, though it was generally transient and was not associated with worsening renal function. Although the clinical significance of this finding is unknown, consider a dose reduction for patients on rosuvastatin therapy with unexplained persistent proteinuria and/or hematuria during routine urinalysis testing.
Increases in HbA1c and Fasting Serum Glucose Levels Increases in HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels have been reported with statins, including rosuvastatin. Based on clinical trial data with rosuvastatin, in some instances these increases may exceed the threshold for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Optimize lifestyle measures, including regular exercise, maintaining a healthy body weight, and making healthy food choices.
Drug Interactions with Rosuvastatin
Drug Interactions that Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with Rosuvastatin Rosuvastatin is a substrate of CYP2C9 and transporters (such as OATP1B1, BCRP). Rosuvastatin plasma levels can be significantly increased with concomitant administration of inhibitors of CYP2C9 and transporters. Table 5 includes a list of drugs that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis when used concomitantly with rosuvastatin and instructions for preventing or managing them.
Table 5: Drug Interactions that Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with Rosuvastatin
Drug Interactions that Decrease the Efficacy of Rosuvastatin Table 6 presents drug interactions that may decrease the efficacy of rosuvastatin and instructions for preventing or managing them. Table 6: Drug Interactions that Decrease the Efficacy of Rosuvastatin Antacids Clinical Impact: Concomitant aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacid administration decreased the mean exposure of rosuvastatin 50%. Intervention: In patients taking antacid, administer rosuvastatin at least 2 hours before the antacid.
Rosuvastatin Effects on Other Drugs Table 7 presents rosuvastatin's effect on other drugs and instructions for preventing or managing them. Table 7: Rosuvastatin Effects on Other Drugs Warfarin Clinical Impact: Rosuvastatin significantly increased the INR in patients receiving warfarin. Intervention: In patients taking warfarin, obtain an INR before starting rosuvastatin and frequently enough after initiation, dose titration or discontinuation to ensure that no significant alteration in INR occurs.
| Cyclosporine | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Cyclosporine increased rosuvastatin exposure 7-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of cyclosporine or gemfibrozil with rosuvastatin. | |
| Intervention: | If used concomitantly, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 5 mg once daily. | |
| Teriflunomide | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Teriflunomide increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.5-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking teriflunomide, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily. | |
| Enasidenib | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Enasidenib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.4-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking enasidenib, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily. | |
| Capmatinib | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Capmatinib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.1-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking capmatinib, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily. | |
| Fostamatinib | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Fostamatinib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.0-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking fostamatinib, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily. | |
| Febuxostat | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Febuxostat increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 1.9-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking febuxostat, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily. | |
| Gemfibrozil | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Gemfibrozil significantly increased rosuvastatin exposure and gemfibrozil may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of gemfibrozil with rosuvastatin. | |
| Intervention: | Avoid concomitant use of gemfibrozil with rosuvastatin. If used concomitantly, initiate rosuvastatin at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily. | |
| Tafamidis | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Tafamidis significantly increased rosuvastatin exposure and tafamidis may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of tafamidis with rosuvastatin. | |
| Intervention: | Avoid concomitant use of tafamidis with rosuvastatin. If used concomitantly, initiate rosuvastatin at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily. Monitor for signs of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis if used concomitantly with rosuvastatin. | |
| Anti-Viral Medications | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Rosuvastatin plasma levels were significantly increased with concomitant administration of many anti-viral drugs, which increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. | |
| Intervention: | Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir | Avoid concomitant use with rosuvastatin. |
| Simeprevir Dasabuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir Elbasvir/grazoprevir Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir Atazanavir/ritonavir Lopinavir/ritonavir | Initiate with rosuvastatin 5 mg once daily, and do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily. | |
| Darolutamide | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Darolutamide increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 5-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking darolutamide, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 5 mg once daily. | |
| Regorafenib | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Regorafenib increased rosuvastatin exposure and may increase the risk of myopathy. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking regorafenib, do not exceed a dose of rosuvastatin 10 mg once daily. | |
| Fenofibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and fenofibric acid) | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Fibrates may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of fibrates with rosuvastatin. | |
| Intervention: | Consider if the benefit of using fibrates concomitantly with rosuvastatin outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of either drug. | |
| Niacin | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have occurred with concomitant use of lipid-modifying doses (≥1 g/day) of niacin with rosuvastatin. | |
| Intervention: | Consider if the benefit of using lipid-modifying doses (≥1 g/day) of niacin concomitantly with rosuvastatin outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of either drug. | |
| Colchicine | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported with concomitant use of colchicine with rosuvastatin. | |
| Intervention: | Consider if the benefit of using colchicine concomitantly with rosuvastatin outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of either drug. | |
| Ticagrelor | ||
| Clinical Impact: | Concomitant use of rosuvastatin and ticagrelor has been shown to increase rosuvastatin concentrations, which may result in increased risk of myopathy. Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported in patients using both products concomitantly. Cases have occurred more frequently in patients taking 40 mg of rosuvastatin. | |
| Intervention: | In patients taking concomitant ticagrelor, especially those with additional risk factors for myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of rosuvastatin. | |
| Antacids | |
| Clinical Impact: | Concomitant aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacid administration decreased the mean exposure of rosuvastatin 50% [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. |
| Intervention: | In patients taking antacid, administer rosuvastatin at least 2 hours before the antacid. |
| Warfarin | |
| Clinical Impact: | Rosuvastatin significantly increased the INR in patients receiving warfarin [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. |
| Intervention: | In patients taking warfarin, obtain an INR before starting rosuvastatin and frequently enough after initiation, dose titration or discontinuation to ensure that no significant alteration in INR occurs. Once the INR is stable, monitor INR at regularly recommended intervals. |
Pregnancy Safety for Rosuvastatin
Pregnancy Risk Summary Discontinue rosuvastatin when pregnancy is recognized. Alternatively, consider the ongoing therapeutic needs of the individual patient. Rosuvastatin decreases synthesis of cholesterol and possibly other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol; therefore, rosuvastatin may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant patients based on the mechanism of action.
In addition, treatment of hyperlipidemia is not generally necessary during pregnancy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic process and the discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy should have little impact on the outcome of long-term therapy of primary hyperlipidemia for most patients. Available data from case series and prospective and retrospective observational cohort studies over decades of use with statins in pregnant women have not identified a drug-associated risk of major congenital malformations.
Published data from prospective and retrospective observational cohort studies with rosuvastatin use in pregnant women are insufficient to determine if there is a drug-associated risk of miscarriage (see Data). In animal reproduction studies, no adverse developmental effects were observed in pregnant rats or rabbits orally administered rosuvastatin during the period of organogenesis at doses that resulted in systemic exposures equivalent to human exposures at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 40 mg/day, based on AUC and body surface area (mg/m 2 ), respectively (see Data). The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.
In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is respectively. Data Human Data A Medicaid cohort linkage study of 1,152 statin-exposed pregnant women compared to 886,996 controls did not find a significant teratogenic effect from maternal use of statins in the first trimester of pregnancy, after adjusting for potential confounders - including maternal age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and alcohol and tobacco use - using propensity score‑based methods. The relative risk of congenital malformations between the group with statin use and the group with no statin use in the first trimester was 1.07 (95% confidence interval 0.85 to 1.37) after controlling for confounders, particularly pre-existing diabetes mellitus.
There were also no statistically significant increases in any of the organ-specific malformations assessed after accounting for confounders. In the majority of pregnancies, statin treatment was initiated prior to pregnancy and was discontinued at some point in the first trimester when pregnancy was identified. Study limitations include reliance on physician coding to define the presence of a malformation, lack of control for certain confounders such as body mass index, use of prescription dispensing as verification for the use of a statin, and lack of information on non-live births.
Rosuvastatin crosses the placenta in rats and rabbits and is found in fetal tissue and amniotic fluid at 3% and 20%, respectively, of the maternal plasma concentration following a single 25 mg/kg oral gavage dose on gestation day 16 in rats. In rabbits, fetal tissue distribution was 25% of maternal plasma concentration after a single oral gavage dose of 1 mg/kg on gestation day 18.
Pediatric Use of Rosuvastatin
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of rosuvastatin as an adjunct to diet to reduce LDL-C have been established in pediatric patients 8 years of age and older with HeFH. Use of rosuvastatin for this indication is based on one 12-week controlled trial with a 40-week open-label extension period in 176 pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with HeFH and one 2-year open-label, uncontrolled trial in 175 pediatric patients 8 years of age and older with HeFH. In the 1-year trial with a 12-week controlled phase, there was no detectable effect of rosuvastatin on growth, weight, BMI (body mass index), or sexual maturation in patients aged 10 to 17 years.
The safety and effectiveness of rosuvastatin as an adjunct to other LDL-C-lowering therapies to reduce LDL-C have been established pediatric patients 7 years of age and older with HoFH. Use of rosuvastatin for this indication is based on a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study in 14 pediatric patients 7 years of age and older with HoFH. The safety and effectiveness of rosuvastatin have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 8 years of age with HeFH, younger than 7 years of age with HoFH, or in pediatric patients with other types of hyperlipidemia (other than HeFH or HoFH).
Contraindications for Rosuvastatin
Rosuvastatin tablets is contraindicated in the following conditions: Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis. Hypersensitivity to rosuvastatin or any excipients in rosuvastatin tablets. Hypersensitivity reactions including rash, pruritus, urticaria, and angioedema have been reported with rosuvastatin.
Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis.
Overdosage Information for Rosuvastatin
No specific antidotes for rosuvastatin are known. Hemodialysis does not significantly enhance clearance of rosuvastatin. In the event of overdose, consider contacting the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) or a medical toxicologist for additional overdosage management recommendations.
Clinical Studies of Rosuvastatin
Primary Prevention of CV Disease In the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) study, the effect of rosuvastatin on the occurrence of major CV disease events was assessed in 17,802 males (≥50 years) and females (≥60 years) who had no clinically evident CV disease, LDL‑C levels <130 mg/dL and hsCRP levels ≥2 mg/L. The study population had an estimated baseline coronary heart disease risk of 11.6% over 10 years based on the Framingham risk criteria and included a high percentage of patients with additional risk factors such as hypertension (58%), low HDL‑C levels (23%), cigarette smoking (16%), or a family history of premature CHD (12%). Patients had a median baseline LDL‑C of 108 mg/dL and hsCRP of 4.3 mg/L.
Patients were randomly assigned to placebo (n=8901) or rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily (n=8901) and were followed for a mean duration of 2 years. The JUPITER study was stopped early by the Data Safety Monitoring Board due to meeting predefined stopping rules for efficacy in rosuvastatin-treated subjects. The primary end point was a composite end point consisting of the time-to-first occurrence of any of the following major CV events: CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina or an arterial revascularization procedure.
The risk reduction for the primary end point was consistent across the following predefined subgroups: age, sex, race, smoking status, family history of premature CHD, body mass index, LDL‑C, HDL‑C, and hsCRP levels. Figure 1. Time to First Occurrence of Major CV Events in JUPITER The individual components of the primary end point are presented in Figure 3.
Rosuvastatin significantly reduced the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and arterial revascularization procedures. There were no significant treatment differences between the rosuvastatin and placebo groups for death due to CV causes or hospitalizations for unstable angina. In a post-hoc subgroup analysis of JUPITER subjects (rosuvastatin=725, placebo=680) with a hsCRP ≥2 mg/L and no other traditional risk factors (smoking, BP ≥140/90 or taking antihypertensives, low HDL‑C) other than age, after adjustment for high HDL‑C, there was no significant treatment benefit with rosuvastatin treatment.
Figure 2. Major CV Events by Treatment Group in JUPITER At one year, rosuvastatin increased HDL‑C and reduced LDL‑C, hsCRP, total cholesterol and serum triglyceride levels (p<0.001 for all versus placebo). Primary Hyperlipidemia in Adults Rosuvastatin reduces Total‑C, LDL‑C, ApoB, non-HDL‑C, and TG, and increases HDL‑C, in adult patients with hyperlipidemia and mixed dyslipidemia.
In a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in patients with hyperlipidemia, rosuvastatin given as a single daily dose (5 to 40 mg) for 6 weeks significantly reduced Total‑C, LDL‑C, non-HDL‑C, and ApoB, across the dose range (Table 10). Table 10: Lipid-modifying Effect of Rosuvastatin in Adult Patients with Hyperlipidemia Adjusted Mean % Change from Baseline at was compared with the statins (atorvastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin) in a multicenter, open-label, dose-ranging study of 2240 patients with hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. After randomization, patients were treated for 6 weeks with a single daily dose of either rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, or pravastatin (Figure 3 and Table 11).
Figure 3. Percent LDL ‑ C Change by Dose of Rosuvastatin, Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, and Pravastatin at Week 6 in Adult Patients with Hyperlipidemia or Mixed Dyslipidemia Box plots are a representation of the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile values, with whiskers representing the 10th and 90th percentile values. Mean baseline LDL‑C: (LS Mean Corresponding standard errors are approximately 1.00. ) in Adult Patients with Hyperlipidemia or Mixed Dyslipidemia (Sample Sizes Ranging from 156–167 Patients Per Group) Slowing of the Progression of Atherosclerosis In the Measuring Effects on Intima Media Thickness: an Evaluation Of Rosuvastatin 40 mg (METEOR) study, the effect of therapy with rosuvastatin on carotid atherosclerosis was assessed by B-mode ultrasonography in patients with elevated LDL‑C, at low risk (Framingham risk <10% over ten years) for symptomatic coronary artery disease and with subclinical atherosclerosis as evidenced by carotid intimal-medial thickness (cIMT).
Ultrasonograms of the carotid walls were used to determine the annualized rate of change per patient from baseline to two years in mean maximum cIMT of 12 measured segments. The annualized rate of change from baseline for the placebo group was +0.0131 mm/year (p<0.0001). The annualized rate of change from baseline for the group treated with rosuvastatin was -0.0014 mm/year (p=0.32).
At an individual patient level in the group treated with rosuvastatin, 52.1% of patients demonstrated an absence of disease progression (defined as a negative annualized rate of change), compared to 37.7% of patients in the placebo group. HeFH in Adults In a study of adult patients with HeFH (baseline mean LDL of 291 mg/dL), patients were randomized to rosuvastatin 20 mg or atorvastatin 20 mg. The dose was increased at 6-week intervals.
Significant LDL-C reductions from baseline were seen at each dose in both treatment groups (Table 12). Patients ranged in age from, and 25% at Tanner stages II, III, IV, and V, respectively. Females were at least 1 year postmenarche.
Mean LDL-C at baseline was 233 mg/dL (range of 129 to 399). Rosuvastatin significantly reduced LDL-C (primary end point), total cholesterol and ApoB levels at each dose compared to placebo. Results are shown in Table 13 below.
All patients had a documented genetic defect in the LDL receptor or in ApoB. Mean LDL-C at baseline was 236 mg/dL. Fifty-eight (33%) patients were prepubertal at baseline.
The starting rosuvastatin dosage for all pediatric patients was 5 mg once daily. The reductions in LDL‑C from baseline were generally consistent across age groups within the trial as well as with previous experience in both adult and pediatric controlled trials. HoFH in Adult and Pediatric Patients In an open-label, forced-titration study, HoFH patients (n=40, 8‑63 years) were evaluated for their response to rosuvastatin 20 to 40 mg titrated at a 6‑week interval.
In the overall population, the mean LDL‑C reduction from baseline was 22%. About one-third of the patients benefited from increasing their dose from 20 mg to 40 mg with further LDL-C lowering of greater than 6%. Among 13 patients with an LDL‑C reduction of <15%, 3 had no change or an increase in LDL‑C.
Reductions in LDL‑C of 15% or greater were observed in 3 of 5 patients with known receptor negative status. HoFH in Pediatric Patients Rosuvastatin was studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, cross-over study in 14 pediatric patients with HoFH. The study included a 4‑week dietary lead‑in phase during which patients received rosuvastatin 10 mg daily, a cross‑over phase that included two 6‑week treatment periods with either rosuvastatin 20 mg or placebo in random order, followed by a 12‑week open‑label phase during which all patients received rosuvastatin 20 mg.
Fifty percent were on apheresis therapy and 57% were taking ezetimibe. Patients who entered the study on apheresis therapy or ezetimibe continued the treatment throughout the entire study. Mean LDL‑C at baseline was 416 mg/dL (range 152 to 716 mg/dL).
A total of 13 patients completed both treatment periods of the randomized cross-over phase; one patient withdrew consent due to inability to have blood drawn during the cross-over phase. in Pediatric Patients 7 to 15 years of Age with HoFH After 6 Weeks Primary Dysbetalipoproteinemia in Adults In a randomized, multicenter, double-blind crossover study, 32 adult patients 27 with є2/є2 and 4 with apo E mutation with primary dysbetalipoproteinemia entered a 6‑week dietary lead-in period on the NCEP Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) diet. Following dietary lead-in, patients were randomized to a sequence of treatments for 6 weeks each: rosuvastatin reduced non-HDL‑C (primary end point) and circulating remnant lipoprotein levels. Results are shown in the table below.
Table 16: Lipid-Modifying Effect of Rosuvastatin in Adult Patients with Primary Hypertriglyceridemia After Six Weeks by Median (Min, Max) Percent Change from Baseline to Image Image Image
| Dose | N | Total ‑ C | LDL ‑ C | Non-HDL ‑ C | ApoB | TG | HDL ‑ C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo | 13 | -5 | -7 | -7 | -3 | -3 | 3 |
| Rosuvastatin 5 mg | 17 | -33 | -45 | -44 | -38 | -35 | 13 |
| Rosuvastatin 10 mg | 17 | -36 | -52 | -48 | -42 | -10 | 14 |
| Rosuvastatin 20 mg | 17 | -40 | -55 | -51 | -46 | -23 | 8 |
| Rosuvastatin 40 mg | 18 | -46 | -63 | -60 | -54 | -28 | 10 |
| Treatment Daily Dose | ||||
| Treatment | 10 mg | 20 mg | 40 mg | 80 mg |
| Rosuvastatin | -46 Rosuvastatin 10 mg reduced LDL-C significantly more than atorvastatin 10 mg; pravastatin 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg; simvastatin 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg. (p<0.002) | -52 Rosuvastatin 20 mg reduced LDL-C significantly more than atorvastatin 20 mg and 40 mg; pravastatin 20 mg and 40 mg; simvastatin 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg. (p<0.002) | -55 Rosuvastatin 40 mg reduced LDL-C significantly more than atorvastatin 40 mg; pravastatin 40 mg; simvastatin 40 mg, and 80 mg. (p<0.002) | --- |
| Atorvastatin | -37 | -43 | -48 | -51 |
| Simvastatin | -28 | -35 | -39 | -46 |
| Pravastatin | -20 | -24 | -30 | --- |
| Rosuvastatin (n=435) LS Mean LS Means are least square means adjusted for baseline LDL-C (95% CI) | Atorvastatin (n=187) LS Mean (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 6 | 20 mg | -47% (-49%, -46%) | -38% (-40%, -36%) |
| Week 12 | 40 mg | -55% (-57%, -54%) | -47% (-49%, -45%) |
| Week 18 | 80 mg | NA | -52% (-54%, -50%) |
| Dose (mg) | N | LDL-C | HDL-C | Total-C | TG Median percent change | ApoB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo | 46 | -1% | +7% | 0% | -7% | -2% |
| 5 | 42 | -38% | +4% Difference from placebo not statistically significant | -30% | -13% | -32% |
| 10 | 44 | -45% | +11% | -34% | -15% | -38% |
| 20 | 44 | -50% | +9% | -39% | 16% | -41% |
| Placebo (N=13) | Rosuvastatin 20 mg (N=13) | Percent difference (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LDL-C (mg/dL) | 481 | 396 | -22.3% (-33.5, -9.1) 1 |
| Total-C (mg/dL) | 539 | 448 | -20.1% (-29.7, -9.1) 2 |
| Non-HDL-C (mg/dL) | 505 | 412 | -22.9% (-33.7, ‑10.3) 2 |
| ApoB (mg/dL) | 268 | 235 | -17.1% (-29.2, -2.9) 3 |
| % Difference estimates are based on transformations of the estimated mean difference in log LDL measurements between rosuvastatin and placebo using a mixed model adjusted for study period. 1 p= 0.005, 2 p= 0.003, 3 p= 0.024 | |||
| Median at Baseline (mg/dL) | Median percent change from baseline (95% CI) Rosuvastatin 10 mg | Median percent change from baseline (95% CI) Rosuvastatin 20 mg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total-C | 342.5 | -43.3 (-46.9, – 37.5) | -47.6 (-51.6, -42.8) |
| Triglycerides | 503.5 | -40.1 (-44.9, -33.6) | -43.0 (-52.5, -33.1) |
| Non‑HDL-C | 294.5 | -48.2 (-56.7, -45.6) | -56.4 (-61.4, -48.5) |
| VLDL-C + IDL-C | 209.5 | -46.8 (-53.7, -39.4) | -56.2 (-67.7, -43.7) |
| LDL-C | 112.5 | -54.4 (-59.1, -47.3) | -57.3 (-59.4, -52.1) |
| HDL-C | 35.5 | 10.2 (1.9, 12.3) | 11.2 (8.3, 20.5) |
| RLP-C | 82.0 | -56.4 (-67.1, -49.0) | -64.9 (-74.0, -56.6) |
| Apo-E | 16.0 | -42.9 (-46.3, -33.3) | -42.5 (-47.1, -35.6) |
| Dose | Placebo (n=26) | Rosuvastatin 5 mg (n=25) | Rosuvastatin 10 mg (n=23) | Rosuvastatin 20 mg (n=27) | Rosuvastatin 40 mg (n=25) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triglycerides | 1 (-40, 72) | -21 (-58, 38) | -37 (-65, 5) | -37 (-72, 11) | -43 (-80, -7) |
| Non-HDL-C | 2 (-13, 19) | -29 (-43, -8) | -49 (-59, -20) | -43 (-74, 12) | -51 (-62, -6) |
| Total-C | 1 (-13, 17) | -24 (-40, -4) | -40 (-51, -14) | -34 (-61, -11) | -40 (-51, -4) |
| LDL-C | 5 (-30, 52) | -28 (-71, 2) | -45 (-59, 7) | -31 (-66, 34) | -43 (-61, -3) |
| HDL-C | -3 (-25, 18) | 3 (-38, 33) | 8 (-8, 24) | 22 (-5, 50) | 17 -14, 63) |
Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.
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