Rosuvastatin 5mg Reduces LDL Cholesterol by 39-45%
Rosuvastatin 5mg reduces LDL cholesterol by approximately 39-45% from baseline levels. 1
Mechanism and Efficacy
Rosuvastatin is a synthetic, hepatoselective HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor with high potency even at lower doses. The efficacy of rosuvastatin 5mg is well-documented in clinical guidelines:
- According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, rosuvastatin 5mg reduces LDL-C by 39-45% 1
- The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines classify rosuvastatin 5mg as a moderate-intensity statin, expected to reduce LDL-C by 30-49% 1
- The FDA-approved product labeling confirms these reduction ranges 2
Comparison to Other Statins
Rosuvastatin demonstrates greater LDL-C reduction at lower doses compared to other statins:
- At 5mg, rosuvastatin provides significantly greater LDL-C reduction than:
Dose-Response Relationship
The relationship between rosuvastatin dosing and LDL-C reduction follows a predictable pattern:
- Each doubling of the statin dose yields approximately an additional 6% reduction in LDL-C 1, 4
- The efficacy of rosuvastatin 5mg is estimated by subtracting 6% from the FDA-reported efficacy of rosuvastatin 10mg (45% - 6% = 39%) 1
- The majority of LDL-C reduction (approximately 90%) occurs within the first two weeks of treatment 5
Clinical Considerations
When prescribing rosuvastatin 5mg, consider these important factors:
- Rosuvastatin is classified as a moderate-intensity statin at the 5-10mg dose range 1
- For patients requiring ≥50% LDL-C reduction, higher doses (20-40mg) or combination therapy may be necessary 1, 4
- For every 1% reduction in LDL-C levels, there is approximately a 1% reduction in the risk of major cardiovascular events 1
- Rosuvastatin has a favorable effect on other lipid parameters at 5mg:
- Increases HDL-C by 8-13%
- Reduces triglycerides by approximately 16%
- Reduces total cholesterol by about 30%
- Reduces apolipoprotein B by about 33% 6
Special Populations
- Lower starting doses (5mg) are recommended for:
- Patients of Asian ancestry
- Patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min)
- Elderly patients (>75 years)
- Patients taking medications that alter statin metabolism 4
In conclusion, rosuvastatin 5mg is a moderate-intensity statin that reliably reduces LDL cholesterol by 39-45% in most patients, making it an effective option for achieving cholesterol treatment goals in patients with hypercholesterolemia.