From the Guidelines
Rosuvastatin can cause several side effects, including muscle pain or weakness, headache, nausea, stomach pain, and constipation, but the benefits of statin therapy are shown to outweigh the risks of new-onset diabetes mellitus and other side effects 1.
Common Side Effects
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
Serious but Less Common Side Effects
- Severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis)
- Liver problems
- Increased blood sugar levels
- Memory problems or confusion According to the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guideline 1, statins modestly increase the risk of incident or statin-associated new-onset diabetes mellitus in individuals with predisposing risk factors for diabetes mellitus. However, the possibility of incident diabetes mellitus should not be a contraindication to statin therapy or indication for statin discontinuation 1.
Monitoring and Management
- Patients should contact their doctor immediately if they experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by fever or fatigue.
- Liver function abnormalities can occur, so doctors typically monitor liver enzymes with blood tests 1.
- Rosuvastatin may interact with certain medications, including some antibiotics, antifungals, and other cholesterol medications, potentially increasing side effect risks.
- Side effects are often dose-dependent, so starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing if needed can help minimize adverse reactions 1.
Patient Guidance
- Patients should take rosuvastatin at the same time each day, with or without food.
- Patients should not stop taking rosuvastatin without consulting their healthcare provider, even if they feel well. It is essential to weigh the benefits and risks of rosuvastatin therapy, considering the individual patient's risk factors and medical history, to ensure safe and effective treatment 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Rosuvastatin tablets may cause serious side effects, including: Muscle pain, tenderness and weakness (myopathy). Muscle problems, including muscle breakdown, can be serious in some people and rarely cause kidney damage that can lead to death. Liver problems. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking rosuvastatin tablets and if you have symptoms of liver problems while you take rosuvastatin tablets Protein and blood in the urine. Rosuvastatin tablets may cause you to have protein and blood in your urine. Increase in blood sugar (glucose) levels. Rosuvastatin tablets may cause an increase in your blood sugar levels. The most common side effects may include headache, nausea, muscle aches and pains, weakness, and constipation.
The side effects of Rosuvastatin tablets include:
- Serious side effects:
- Muscle pain, tenderness, and weakness (myopathy)
- Liver problems
- Protein and blood in the urine
- Increase in blood sugar levels
- Common side effects:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Muscle aches and pains
- Weakness
- Constipation 2
From the Research
Side Effects of Rosuvastatin
The side effects of rosuvastatin, a statin medication, have been studied in various clinical trials and research papers. Some of the known side effects include:
- Muscle-related adverse effects, such as myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, which are rare but can be serious 3, 4
- Liver enzyme elevations, which are also rare and often imply underlying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) 3, 5
- Renal-related adverse effects, such as proteinuria and renal failure, which are rare but can be dose-dependent 3, 4
- Gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system adverse effects, which are common but often mild 4
- Increased risk of new-onset diabetes, particularly in obese individuals with prediabetes 3, 4
- Thrombocytopenia, a rare but potentially serious complication 6
Rare but Serious Side Effects
Some rare but serious side effects of rosuvastatin include:
- Rhabdomyolysis, a condition characterized by muscle breakdown and kidney damage 4
- Renal failure, which can be dose-dependent and may be more common in patients with pre-existing kidney disease 4
- Severe thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by low platelet count 6
Comparison to Other Statins
Rosuvastatin has been compared to other statins in terms of its safety profile, and the results suggest that it is similar to other statins in terms of its adverse effects 3, 5, 4. However, the pharmacokinetic profile of rosuvastatin is different from that of other statins, which may affect its interactions with other drugs 4.
Drug-Drug Interactions
Rosuvastatin can interact with other drugs, particularly those that increase its blood levels, which may increase the risk of toxicity 4. Clinicians should be cautious when co-administering rosuvastatin with certain drugs, such as vitamin K antagonists, cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, and antiretroviral agents 4.