Rosuvastatin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Rosuvastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 3 brand and generic names, for coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipoproteinemias. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Hmg-Coa Reductase Inhibitor
- Treats (across its forms)
- Coronary Artery Disease, Hypercholesterolemia and Hyperlipoproteinemias
- Available as
- Tablet · Capsule
- Sold as
- 3 products — Crestor, Rosuvastatin Calcium and Ezallor Sprinkle
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 19 hours
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $1 for a 30-count supply — not your price
How Crestor is dosed
From the FDA label for Crestor (application NDA021366). Other rosuvastatin products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Take orally with or without food, at any time of day. ( 2.1 ) Assess LDL-C when clinically appropriate, as early as 4 weeks after initiating CRESTOR, and adjust dosage if necessary. ( 2.1 ) Adults: Recommended dosage range is 5 to 40 mg once daily. ( 2.2 ) Pediatric Patients with HeFH: Recommended dosage range is 5 to 10 mg once daily for patients aged 8 to less than 10 years of age, and 5 to 20 mg once daily for patients aged 10 years and older. ( 2.3 ) Pediatric Patients with HoFH: Recommended dosage is 20 mg once daily for patients aged 7 years and older. ( 2.3 ) Asian Patients: Initiate at 5 mg once daily. Consider risks and benefits of treatment if not adequately controlled at dosages up to 20 mg once daily. ( 2.4 ) Patients with Severe Renal Impairment (not on hemodialysis): Initiate at 5 mg once daily; do not exceed 10 mg once daily. ( 2.5 ) See full prescribing information for CRESTOR dosage and administration modifications due to drug interactions. ( 2.6 ) 2.1 General Dosage and Administration Information • Administer CRESTOR orally as a single dose at any time of day, with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole. • Assess LDL-C when clinically appropriate, as early as 4 weeks after initiating CRESTOR, and adjust the dosage if necessary. • If a dose is missed, advise patients not to take an extra dose. Resume treatment with the next dose. • When taking CRESTOR with…
Everything below is the FDA label for Crestor (tablet). Rosuvastatin is also sold as capsule, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Crestor side effects
The following important adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling: Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Hepatic Dysfunction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Proteinuria and Hematuria [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Increases in HbA1c and Fasting Serum Glucose Levels [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Most frequent adverse reactions (rate ≥2%) are headache, nausea, myalgia, asthenia, and constipation. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AstraZeneca at 1-800-236-9933 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients in placebo-controlled clinical studies and at a rate greater than placebo are shown in Table 2. These studies had a treatment duration of up to 12 weeks. Table 2: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with CRESTOR and > Placebo in Placebo-Controlled Trials Adverse Reactions Placebo N=382 % CRESTOR 5 mg N=291 % CRESTOR 10 mg N=283 % CRESTOR 20 mg…
Who shouldn’t take Crestor
CRESTOR is contraindicated in patients with: • Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . • Hypersensitivity to rosuvastatin or any excipients in CRESTOR. Hypersensitivity reactions including rash, pruritus, urticaria, and angioedema have been reported with CRESTOR [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) ] . Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis. ( 4 ) Hypersensitivity to rosuvastatin or any excipients in CRESTOR. ( 4 )
Crestor drug interactions
See full prescribing information for details regarding concomitant use of CRESTOR with other drugs that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. ( 7.1 ) Aluminum and Magnesium Hydroxide Combination Antacids : Administer CRESTOR at least 2 hours before the antacid. ( 7.2 ) Warfarin : Obtain INR prior to starting CRESTOR. Monitor INR frequently until stable upon initiation, dosage titration or discontinuation. ( 7.3 ) 7.1 Drug Interactions that Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with CRESTOR Rosuvastatin is a substrate of CYP2C9 and transporters (such as OATP1B1, BCRP). Rosuvastatin plasma levels can be significantly increased with concomitant administration of inhibitors of CYP2C9 and transporters. Table 5 includes a list of drugs that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis when used concomitantly with CRESTOR and instructions for preventing or managing them [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Table 5: Drug Interactions that Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with CRESTOR Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir or Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir Prevention or Management: Avoid concomitant use with CRESTOR. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Rosuvastatin plasma levels were significantly increased with concomitant administration of many anti-viral drugs, which increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Gemfibrozil Prevention or Management: Avoid concomitant use of gemfibrozil with CRESTOR. If use is unavoidable, initiate CRESTOR at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Gemfibrozil significantly increased rosuvastatin exposure and gemfibrozil may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Tafamidis Prevention or Management: Avoid concomitant use of tafamidis with CRESTOR. If use is unavoidable, initiate CRESTOR at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 20 mg once daily. Monitor for signs of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis if used concomitantly with CRESTOR . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Tafamidis significantly increased rosuvastatin exposure and tafamidis may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Belumosudil Prevention or Management: In patients taking belumosudil, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 5 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Belumosudil increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 4.6-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Cyclosporine Prevention or Management: In patients taking cyclosporine, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 5 mg once daily. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Cyclosporine increased rosuvastatin exposure 7-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Darolutamide Prevention or Management: In patients taking darolutamide, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 5 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Darolutamide increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 5-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use . Additional Anti-Viral Medications Prevention or Management: • Simeprevir • Dasabuvir/ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir • Elbasvir/grazoprevir • Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir • Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir • Atazanavir/ritonavir • Lopinavir/ritonavir Initiate with CRESTOR 5 mg once daily, and do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Rosuvastatin plasma levels were significantly increased with concomitant administration of many anti-viral drugs, which increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Capmatinib Prevention or Management: In patients taking capmatinib, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Capmatinib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.1-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Enasidenib Prevention or Management: In patients taking enasidenib, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Enasidenib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 3.4-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Momelotinib Prevention or Management: In patients taking momelotinib, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Momelotinib increased rosuvastatin exposure by 2.7-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Regorafenib Prevention or Management: In patients taking regorafenib, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Regorafenib increased rosuvastatin exposure and may increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Teriflunomide Prevention or Management: In patients taking teriflunomide, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Teriflunomide increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.5-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Ticagrelor Prevention or Management: In patients taking ticagrelor, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 20 mg once daily. In patients at increased risk for rhabdomyolysis [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ], consider dosages less than 20 mg per day. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Ticagrelor increased rosuvastatin exposure by 2.3-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Febuxostat Prevention or Management: In patients taking febuxostat, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 20 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Febuxostat increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 1.9-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Fostamatinib Prevention or Management: In patients taking fostamatinib, do not exceed a dosage of CRESTOR 20 mg once daily . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Fostamatinib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.0-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Fenofibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and fenofibric acid) Prevention or Management: Consider if the benefit of using fibrates concomitantly with CRESTOR outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dosage titration of either drug. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Fibrates may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. Colchicine Prevention or Management: Consider if the benefit of using colchicine concomitantly with CRESTOR outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dosage titration of either drug. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported with concomitant use of colchicine with CRESTOR. Niacin Prevention or Management: Consider if the benefit of using lipid-modifying dosages (≥1 g/day) of niacin concomitantly with CRESTOR outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dosage titration of either drug. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have occurred with concomitant use of lipid-modifying dosages (≥1 g/day) of niacin with CRESTOR. 7.2 Drug Interactions that Decrease the Efficacy of CRESTOR Table 6 presents drug interactions that may decrease the efficacy of CRESTOR and instructions for preventing or managing them. Table 6: Drug Interactions that Decrease the Efficacy of CRESTOR Antacids Prevention or Management: In patients taking an antacid, administer CRESTOR at least 2 hours before the antacid . Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Concomitant aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacid administration decreased the mean exposure of rosuvastatin 50% [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.3 CRESTOR Effects on Other Drugs Table 7 presents CRESTOR’s effect on other drugs and instructions for preventing or managing them. Table 7: CRESTOR Effects on Other Drugs Warfarin Prevention or Management: In patients taking warfarin, obtain an INR before starting CRESTOR and frequently enough after initiation, dosage titration or discontinuation to ensure that no significant alteration in INR occurs. Once the INR is stable, monitor INR at regularly recommended intervals. Mechanism and Clinical Effect(s): Rosuvastatin significantly increased the INR in patients receiving warfarin [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Every rosuvastatin product we track (3)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 2 | 64/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $1 | View → |
What rosuvastatin pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
Combination products containing rosuvastatin
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
Rosuvastatin recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
Can you crush or split rosuvastatin?
At least one rosuvastatinproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each rosuvastatin label says about crushing, splitting and chewingHow long rosuvastatin keeps
No rosuvastatin label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does rosuvastatin expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsRosuvastatin and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for rosuvastatin: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadLevels of rosuvastatin in milk are low, and one case of an older infant breastfed during maternal rosuvastatin therapy found no adverse effects. The consensus opinion is that women taking a statin should not breastfeed because of a concern with disruption of infant lipid metabolism. However, others have argued that children homozygous for familial hypercholesterolemia are treated with statins beginning at 1 year of age, that statins have low oral bioavailability, and risks to the breastfed infant are low, especially with rosuvastatin and pravastatin. Until more data become available, an alternate drug may be preferred, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised July 15, 2026. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about rosuvastatin
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 29,782 reports naming rosuvastatin, and the FDA flagged 73% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- dyspnoea2,857 reports
- fatigue2,779 reports
- cough2,446 reports
- headache2,192 reports
- nausea2,090 reports
- pneumonia1,915 reports
- diarrhoea1,840 reports
- arthralgia1,812 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean rosuvastatin caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 26, 2026.
How long rosuvastatin stays in your system
The elimination half-life of rosuvastatin is about 19 hours. Blood levels run roughly 2-fold higher in people of Asian descent, which can raise exposure without changing the ~19-hour half-life. The parent drug drives over 90% of the active effect; its main breakdown product (N-desmethyl rosuvastatin) is weaker and does not extend how long the drug lasts.
CRESTOR- rosuvastatin calcium tablet, film coated (DailyMed) ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Crestor?
CRESTOR (rosuvastatin) is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA)-reductase inhibitor.
What kind of drug is rosuvastatin?
The FDA classifies rosuvastatin as a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor. Statins block HMG-CoA reductase, the key enzyme the liver uses to make cholesterol. With less cholesterol being produced, the liver pulls more LDL ("bad") cholesterol out of the blood, lowering overall blood cholesterol levels. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does rosuvastatin stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of rosuvastatin is about 19 hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. Blood levels run roughly 2-fold higher in people of Asian descent, which can raise exposure without changing the ~19-hour half-life. The parent drug drives over 90% of the active effect; its main breakdown product (N-desmethyl rosuvastatin) is weaker and does not extend how long the drug lasts. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take rosuvastatin with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run rosuvastatin against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is rosuvastatin sold under?
We track 3 rosuvastatin-containing products in the U.S.: Crestor, Rosuvastatin Calcium and Ezallor Sprinkle. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does rosuvastatin come in?
Across the brands we track, rosuvastatin is currently marketed as tablet and capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic rosuvastatin?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic rosuvastatin product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has rosuvastatin been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 2 recall records whose product description mentions rosuvastatin. The most recent: Rosuvastatin Tablets (Dec 31, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
How long does it take for rosuvastatin to work?
You will not feel rosuvastatin working. It begins lowering LDL cholesterol within about a week, and reaches most of its effect by roughly 4 weeks of daily use. Success is measured by a blood test (lipid panel), not by symptoms, so your prescriber typically rechecks your cholesterol about 4 to 6 weeks after you start or change the dose. Take it consistently every day.
What are the common side effects of rosuvastatin (Crestor)?
Most people have none. The ones reported most often are muscle aches, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, weakness, and constipation. Muscle aching is the complaint that makes people quit, but it's worth knowing that in blinded re-challenge trials, most muscle symptoms blamed on statins also occurred when patients unknowingly took placebo. That's why the useful move is a supervised pause and re-challenge, or a change of dose or statin, rather than abandoning the drug. Rosuvastatin also stays in the body a long time, so some clinicians use every-other-day dosing off-label for people who can't tolerate daily — ask, don't self-adjust.
When is muscle pain from rosuvastatin serious?
When it's unusual muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness combined with fever, feeling generally unwell, or dark cola-colored urine. That combination points to rhabdomyolysis — muscle breakdown that can cause acute kidney failure — and it needs same-day evaluation, not a wait-and-see. One rare form behaves differently and is worth knowing about: immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, where proximal muscle weakness keeps going or worsens after the statin is stopped. Stopping the drug is not the end of it; that one needs specialist evaluation. Also call for yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine with right-upper-belly pain and nausea (liver injury), or severe swelling and trouble breathing. Rosuvastatin has no boxed warning, and serious muscle injury is uncommon, but it's the one thing not to sit on.
What increases my risk of side effects from rosuvastatin?
Dose and drug interactions, mainly. Muscle risk is highest at 40 mg. The label restricts the dose alongside several medicines: no more than 5 mg daily with cyclosporine; gemfibrozil should be avoided altogether, and if it can't be, rosuvastatin starts at 5 mg and never exceeds 10 mg; several HIV and hepatitis C antivirals require a cap, and a few combinations must be avoided entirely. People of Asian ancestry reach roughly double the blood level at the same dose, so the label starts them at 5 mg. Untreated hypothyroidism, kidney disease, age 65 and over, and heavy alcohol use all add risk. Tell every prescriber and pharmacist you take a statin — most statin problems are interaction problems.
Does rosuvastatin cause diabetes or memory problems?
Statins slightly raise blood sugar and can tip some people already near the threshold into a diabetes diagnosis; for anyone with genuine cardiovascular risk, the reduction in heart attacks and strokes outweighs that, and the response is monitoring A1c rather than stopping the statin. Memory fuzziness and confusion are described in the labeling; they're not progressive and reverse after stopping, so if they appear, that's a conversation, not a crisis. Routine liver enzyme testing for everyone is no longer recommended — your clinician checks before starting and if symptoms show up.
When should I take rosuvastatin?
Any time of day, with or without food. Unlike short-acting statins such as simvastatin, rosuvastatin doesn't have to be taken at night, so pick the time you'll actually remember — adherence beats timing. Keep it about two hours away from aluminum- or magnesium-containing antacids, which reduce absorption. If you're pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding, tell your prescriber: rosuvastatin is normally stopped during pregnancy and isn't recommended while nursing. For most people taking it for prevention, pausing for that window is reasonable, but anyone with familial hypercholesterolemia or established heart disease needs a specialist's plan instead.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Rosuvastatin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/rosuvastatin
- MLA
- “Rosuvastatin: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/rosuvastatin.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for rosuvastatin on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.