Rosuvas 10: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Rosuvas, Rosuvas 10 mg, Rosuvas 10 tablet, Rosuvastatin 10 mg
Rosuvas 10 is a prescription tablet containing 10 mg of rosuvastatin, used to lower raised cholesterol and to lower the risk of angina, heart attack and stroke in people with heart or blood vessel disease. It belongs to the statins. It is usually taken once a day for a long time, and must not be started or stopped without a doctor. It is not recommended in pregnancy.
- Active ingredient
- Rosuvastatin 10 mg
- Type of medicine
- Statins
- Starts working in
- Cholesterol starts to fall within days to weeks; a blood test is used to check the effect
- Effect lasts
- It is taken once a day, and the effect is kept up only while you keep taking it
- With or without food
- Can be taken with or without food; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- Heavy drinking raises the risk of liver problems; ask your doctor
- Pregnancy
- Not recommended; tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Rosuvas 10 used for?
- How does Rosuvas 10 work?
- How to take Rosuvas 10
- Side effects of Rosuvas 10
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Rosuvas 10
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Rosuvas 10 used for?
Rosuvas 10 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to lower raised cholesterol and to lower the risk of heart and blood vessel problems.
- Lowering raised cholesterol in the blood, alongside a healthy diet
- Lowering the risk of angina, heart attack and stroke in people who already have heart or blood vessel disease, when a doctor judges it suitable
How does Rosuvas 10 work?
The liver uses an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase to make cholesterol. Rosuvastatin blocks this enzyme, so the liver makes less cholesterol and takes more LDL cholesterol out of the blood. Lower LDL cholesterol means less fatty build-up in the artery walls over time.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet dissolves in the gut and rosuvastatin is absorbed into the blood. It can be taken with or without food.
It travels to the liver
Rosuvastatin is carried in the blood to the liver, which is where the body makes most of its cholesterol.
It blocks the cholesterol enzyme
In the liver cells, rosuvastatin blocks the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, a key step in making cholesterol.
Blood cholesterol falls
The liver makes less cholesterol and removes more LDL cholesterol from the blood. A blood test later shows the change.
The body clears it
The medicine is cleared from the body over time, so it is taken every day. Cholesterol usually rises again if it is stopped.
How to take Rosuvas 10
Take Rosuvas 10 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose and how long you need it.
- It is usually taken once a day, at about the same time each day.
- It can be taken with or without food. Swallow the tablet whole with water. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
- If you miss a dose, skip it and take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses together.
- It is usually a long-term medicine. Do not stop taking it on your own; talk to your doctor first.
- Your doctor may ask for blood tests from time to time, to check cholesterol and the liver.
Side effects of Rosuvas 10
Most people take rosuvastatin without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Feeling sick or other stomach and gut upsets
- Aching muscles
- Trouble sleeping
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially with fever or dark urine (a rare muscle breakdown). Get medical help
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or severe stomach pain (possible liver or pancreas problems)
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Rosuvas 10, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to rosuvastatin or any ingredient of the tablet
- Active liver disease
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Pregnancy: it is not recommended because it can affect the baby's development. Tell your doctor straight away if you become pregnant or plan a baby
- Breastfeeding: ask your doctor or pharmacist first
- Liver or kidney problems
- An underactive thyroid, or a muscle condition such as myasthenia gravis
- A past allergic or serious reaction to rosuvastatin or another statin
- Regular heavy alcohol use
Medicines and things that interact with Rosuvas 10
Rosuvas 10 can change how other medicines work, and some medicines change its effect. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.
- Other cholesterol medicines such as fibrates: a higher chance of muscle problems
- Fusidic acid and erythromycin (antibiotics)
- Some HIV and hepatitis C medicines
- Ciclosporin
- Warfarin and clopidogrel: their effects may need closer checks
- The combined contraceptive pill
- Alcohol: heavy use raises the risk of liver problems
If someone takes too much
One extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to cause problems, but get advice from a pharmacist or doctor. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient rosuvastatin is not on the CDSCO list of medicines banned under section 26A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Rosuvas 10 contains rosuvastatin only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Rosuvastatin 10 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some products also contain other medicines, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Rosuvastatin is sold in different strengths and in combination tablets with other medicines. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Rosuvas 10 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Rosuvastatin is a prescription-only medicine. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice. Keep taking it as directed even when you feel well.
Why do I need Rosuvas 10 even when I feel fine?
High cholesterol usually causes no symptoms, but over the years it can narrow the arteries and raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. The tablet works only while you take it, so do not stop on your own even if a blood test looks good.
Can I take Rosuvas 10 during pregnancy?
It is not recommended in pregnancy because it can affect the developing baby. If you are pregnant, may become pregnant or are planning a baby, tell your doctor. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without speaking to your doctor first.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Rosuvas 10?
Skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed one. If you often forget, ask your doctor or pharmacist for tips.
Can Rosuvas 10 cause muscle pain?
Muscle aches are a common side effect. Rarely, statins can damage muscle. Tell your doctor promptly about unexplained, severe pain or weakness, or dark urine. Do not stop or change the dose yourself.
Can I drink alcohol while taking Rosuvas 10?
Heavy drinking can raise the risk of liver problems, and rosuvastatin is also handled by the liver. Keep alcohol low and ask your doctor what is reasonable for you.
Do I need to take Rosuvas 10 at night?
It is usually taken once a day at about the same time each day, with or without food. Follow the label or your doctor's advice about when to take it.
What is the difference between Rosuvas 10 and rosuvastatin 10 mg?
Rosuvas is a brand name, and rosuvastatin is the medicine inside it. Generic rosuvastatin 10 mg tablets contain the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching.
Sources
- Rosuvastatin: a medicine to lower cholesterol. NHS (UK)
- Statins. NHS (UK)
- ATC/DDD Index: C10AA07 rosuvastatin. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)