Rosuvastatin calcium
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about ROSUVASTATIN AN.
It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking ROSUVASTATIN AN against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.
What Rosuvastatin AN is used for
Rosuvastatin AN is used lower high cholesterol levels.
Even though you may have normal cholesterol, ROSUVASTATIN AN can also be used to reduce the risk of you having a stroke or heart attack if you are a man 50 or more years old or a women 60 or more years old and have at least 2 risk factors for having a heart attack or stroke, such as high blood pressure, low levels of good cholesterol (HDL), smoking or a family history of premature coronary heart disease. Your doctor may also do a blood test to measure a substance called C Reactive Protein to help decide if you should be given ROSUVASTATIN AN for this use.
Cholesterol and triglycerides
Everyone has cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood. They are fatty substances needed by the body for many things.
Triglycerides are an energy source for the body. Cholesterol is used for such things as building cells, making bile acids (which help to digest foods) and making some hormones.
There are different types of cholesterol. Too much of the “bad” cholesterol (LDL) can block the blood vessels that supply your heart and brain with blood, and can cause heart attack, angina and stroke. The “good” cholesterol (HDL) helps to remove the bad cholesterol from the blood vessels. High levels of triglycerides can be associated with a low level of “good” cholesterol and may increase the risk of heart disease.
How ROSUVASTATIN AN works
ROSUVASTATIN AN belongs to a group of medicines known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (also known as ‘statins’). It lowers the “bad” cholesterol, and raises the “good” cholesterol when exercise and changes to diet are not enough on their own.
Cholesterol is present in many foods and is also made by your body. ROSUVASTATIN AN does not reduce the cholesterol that comes from fat in food. Because of this, when you are taking ROSUVASTATIN AN, you need to follow a low-fat diet, control your weight and exercise regularly.
High cholesterol is also more likely to occur with certain diseases or if you have a family history of high cholesterol.
Your doctor will have explained why you are being treated with ROSUVASTATIN AN and told you what dose to take. Your doctor may need to check your cholesterol levels before prescribing ROSUVASTATIN AN or changing your dose.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another use. Ask your doctor if you want more information.
ROSUVASTATIN AN is not addictive.
ROSUVASTATIN AN is not recommended for use in children as its effects in children have not been established.
Before you use ROSUVASTATIN AN
When you must not use it
Do not use ROSUVASTATIN AN if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Ask your doctor about effective methods of contraception.
If you become pregnant, stop taking ROSUVASTATIN AN as soon as you find out and see your doctor immediately.
Do not use ROSUVASTATIN AN if you are breast feeding. We do not know if your baby can take in ROSUVASTATIN AN from breast milk if you are breast feeding.
Do not use ROSUVASTATIN AN if you have active liver disease or if tests show you have elevated levels of liver enzymes which may show that you have a problem with your liver.
Do not use ROSUVASTATIN AN 40 mg if you have:
- low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
- a personal or family history of hereditary muscular disorders
- a previous history of muscular problems from using other lipid-lowering agents
- a history of very heavy alcohol use
- Asian heritage
- been prescribed another class of lipid lowering agent called a fibrate
- severe kidney impairment
- situations that may increase ROSUVASTATIN AN blood levels.
Do not use after the use by the expiry (EXP) date printed on the pack. It may have no effect at all, or worse, an entirely unexpected effect if you take it after the expiry date.
Before you start to take it
You must tell your doctor if:
- You have any allergies to
– Any statins such as simvastatin (e.g. ZOCOR, LIPEX), pravastatin (e.g. PRAVACHOR), atorvastatin (e.g. LIPITOR), fluvastin (e.g. VASTIN)
– Any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
If you have an allergic reaction you may get a skin rash, hayfever, difficulty breathing or feel faint. - You have any of these medical conditions:
– Liver problems
– Kidney problems
– Low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism)
– A personal or family history of muscle disorders
– A history of muscle problems from using other lipid lowering agents.
It may not be safe for you to take ROSUVASTATIN AN if you have any of these conditions. Your doctor may do a blood test to check if you have any problems, and may adjust the dose of ROSUVASTATIN AN. - You have any unexplained aches or pains in your muscles
- You regularly drink large amounts of alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption may not be safe in patients taking ROSUVASTATIN AN.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including:
- cyclosporin (e.g. SANDIMMUN and NEORAL, used, for example, after organ transplant)
- antacids (medicines used to treat heartburn and indigestion)
ROSUVASTATIN AN can be taken 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking an antacid. - warfarin (e.g. COUMADIN and MAREVAN, used to stop blood clots)
- gemfibrozil (e.g. LOPID, JEZIL, and AUSGEM, used to lower blood lipids)
- various protease inhibitors used in combination with ritonavir to treat HIV infection (e.g. KALETRA)
- medicines that you buy at the chemist, supermarket or health food shop, including herbal medicines.
Your doctor will consider if ROSUVASTATIN AN should be used together with any of these medicines, or may wish to adjust the dose of ROSUVASTATIN AN or the other medicines. These medicines may affect the way ROSUVASTATIN AN works.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you take ROSUVASTATIN AN.
Effects on driving and using machinery
Be careful driving a car or operating machinery until you know if ROSUVASTATIN AN affects you.
ROSUVASTATIN AN generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines, ROSUVASTATIN AN may cause dizziness in some people.
How to take ROSUVASTATIN AN
How to take it
Depending on your condition and ethnic background, your doctor will decide the most appropriate starting dose for you.
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor will probably start you on 5 mg or 10 mg tablet taken once daily. Your doctor will then monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels during your treatment, and, if needed, may increase your ROSUVASTATIN AN dose to 20 mg once daily. For most patients a maximum 20 mg ROSUVASTATIN AN daily dose is sufficient to treat high cholesterol.
A small number of patients may need to further increase their ROSUVASTATIN AN dose to 40 mg once daily, for example patients whose high cholesterol is hereditary.
If your cholesterol is not high but you have risks for having a heart attack or stroke, your doctor may start you on 20 mg.
Your doctor will advise you on the dose that’s right for your condition.
The daily dose of ROSUVASTATIN AN must not exceed 40 mg daily.
DO NOT INCREASE OR ADJUST YOUR ROSUVASTATIN AN DOSE YOURSELF.
Take ROSUVASTATIN AN once a day, at about the same time each day. Keeping a regular time for taking ROSUVASTATIN AN will help to remind you to take it. Swallow each tablet whole with a drink of water.
ROSUVASTATIN AN can be taken at any time of the day. It does not matter whether you take ROSUVASTATIN AN with food or on an empty stomach.
While taking ROSUVASTATIN AN you also need to follow a low-fat diet, control your weight and exercise regularly.
How long to take it
You must continue to take it as directed. ROSUVASTATIN AN helps lower your blood cholesterol and triglycerides. It does not cure your condition. If you stop taking ROSUVASTATIN AN, your cholesterol and triglycerides levels may rise again.
You may have to take cholesterol lowering medicines for the rest of your life.
If you forget to take it
If you forget to take a dose of ROSUVASTATIN AN, take it as soon as you remember, as long as it is more than 6 hours before your next dose is due. Otherwise, wait until your next dose is due and take it as normal.
Do not double the dose to make up for the one you missed.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much ROSUVASTATIN AN. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
While you are using ROSUVASTATIN AN
Things you must do
Have your blood cholesterol and triglycerides checked when your doctor says so to make sure ROSUVASTATIN an is working.
Stop taking ROSUVASTATIN AN and contact your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while you are taking ROSUVASTATIN AN
Things you must not do
Do not stop taking ROSUVASTATIN AN, unless you have discussed it with your doctor.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking ROSUVASTATIN AN. ROSUVASTATIN AN helps most people with too much cholesterol, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
- headache
- constipation
- dizziness
- nausea (feeling sick)
- stomach pain
- unusual tiredness
- itchy skin
- memory loss
- stiff or painful joints (arthralgia).
These are all mild side effects of ROSUVASTATIN AN.
Tell your doctor if you notice a significant increase in your need to urinate or if you are significantly more hungry or thirsty than usual.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- Aching muscles, muscle tenderness or weakness not caused by exercise, particularly if you also have a fever or generally feel unwell
- Swelling of the face, eyelids and lips.
These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Some people may get other side effects while taking ROSUVASTATIN AN.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
After using ROSUVASTATIN AN
Storage
Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking ROSUVASTATIN AN, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
ROSUVASTATIN AN 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg & 40 mg (5, 10, 20 & 40 mg rosuvastatin as calcium) are presented in pack size of 7, 28 & 30 tablets in blister pack.
- ROSUVASTATIN AN 5 mg (AUST R 197004)
Pink coloured, oval shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets debossed with “J” on one side and “53” on the other. - ROSUVASTATIN AN 10 mg (AUST R 197002)
Pink coloured, oval shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets debossed with “J” on one side and “54” on the other. - ROSUVASTATIN AN 20 mg (AUST R 197001)
Pink coloured, oval shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets debossed with “J” on one side and “55” on the other. - ROSUVASTATIN AN 40 mg (AUST R 197005)
Pink coloured, oval shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets debossed with “J” on one side and “56” on the other.
Ingredients
Active Ingredient:
Rosuvastatin Calcium
Inactive Ingredients:
- Crospovidone
- Lactose
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Calcium phosphate
- Magnesium stearate
- Opadry II complete coating system 32K84302 PINK
Please read this leaflet carefully before you start taking BISOPROLOL AN. You may wish to keep it to read again.
Date of Preparation
January 2014
Doc ID: 98.AN.M.1.0
Published by MIMS November 2014