Rosuvastatin Safety
Rosuvastatin is a generic prescription medication available as an oral tablet or capsule. Despite its effectiveness at lowering cholesterol levels, rosuvastatin poses a risk for side effects in some patients.
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Significance
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The most common side effects of rosuvastatin occur in between 2 percent and 12 percent of users, according to FDA clinical trials published on RxList.
Types of Side Effects
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The most common side effects of rosuvastatin include headache, muscle and abdominal pains, weakness and nausea. While these side effects can be unpleasant, they do not pose any long-term health effects that make rosuvastatin unsafe.
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Drug Interactions
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Some prescription drugs increase your risk of developing more severe side effects to rosuvastatin, including the immunosuppressant cyclosporine, the cholesterol medication gemfibrozil, the HIV drug ritonavir and the supplement niacin. Additionally, taking rosuvastatin with blood thinning drugs like warfarin, increase your risk of developing uncontrollable bleeding, the RxList warns.
Risks
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The most serious risks associated with use of rosuvastatin include muscle damage and rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening condition where your muscle fibers break down and causes kidney damage. Additionally, rosuvastatin poses a slight risk for liver dysfunction.
Considerations
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Rosuvastatin is not safe for use during pregnancy, the RxList warns. If you have a history of alcohol abuse, kidney or liver disease, hypothyroidism, blood in your urine, seizures or hypotension, it may not be safe for you to take rosuvastatin, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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