Rosuvastatine

About rosuvastatin

Lipids, or fats, are made naturally in your body from the food you eat. They are easily stored in your body and serve as a source of energy. Cholestérol and triglycerides are types of lipid. If the concentration of these lipids in your blood becomes too high, it leads to a condition called hyperlipidémie. If it is the concentration of cholesterol which has become too high, it is called hypercholestérolémie. Bien qu'une concentration élevée de lipides dans le sang ne vous rende pas malade, elle peut poser un problème si elle n'est pas traitée.

People with high lipid levels can develop small fatty patches called athérome. These patches develop when excess fat is deposited on to the walls of blood vessels. Over time, these patches can make a blood vessel narrower and this is called atherosclerosis (sometimes referred to as 'hardening of the arteries'). The narrowing reduces the blood flow through the artery and increases the risk of a number of heart and blood vessel diseases, such as crise cardiaque et AVC.

Rosuvastatin belongs to a group of medicines known as statins (or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). It regulates the amount of cholesterol and other lipids made by your body. It does this by blocking the action of a certain enzyme (called HMG-CoA reductase) which your body needs to make the fats. This lowers your risk of heart and blood vessel disease. It can also reduce this risk, even if your cholesterol levels are normal, if you are at an increased risk of heart disease.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking rosuvastatin it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si vous êtes enceinte, essayez d'avoir un bébé ou allaitez.

• Si vous avez des problèmes avec le fonctionnement de votre foie, ou si vous avez déjà eu une maladie qui a affecté votre foie.

• Si vous avez une glande thyroïde sous-active.

• Si vous avez un problème de douleurs musculaires inexpliquées, ou si vous (ou un proche) avez déjà eu un trouble musculaire.

• Si vous consommez régulièrement de grandes quantités d'alcool.

• Si vous avez des problèmes avec le fonctionnement de vos reins.

• Si vous avez déjà eu une réaction allergique à un médicament.

• Si vous prenez d'autres médicaments. Cela inclut tous les médicaments que vous prenez et qui sont disponibles à l'achat sans ordonnance, ainsi que les médicaments à base de plantes et les médecines complémentaires.
  

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about rosuvastatin and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take rosuvastatin once each day, exactly as your doctor tells you to. You will be started on a dose of 5 mg or 10 mg daily. If you are of Asian origin or over 70 years old, you will need to take the lower 5 mg dose to start with. Some other people will also need to take this lower dose at first. Your doctor will increase your dose after four weeks of treatment if this is considered necessary. There are several strengths of tablet available, so your doctor will tell you which strength is right for you.

• You can take rosuvastatin at a time of day to suit you. You should, however, try to take your doses at the same time of day each day. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. You can take rosuvastatin before or after food.

• Si vous oubliez de prendre une dose, prenez-la dès que vous vous en souvenez. Si vous ne vous en souvenez que le lendemain, sautez la dose oubliée. Ne prenez pas deux doses en même temps pour compenser une dose oubliée.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so that your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have some blood tests from time to time. These are to measure your lipid levels and also to check that your liver has not been affected by taking rosuvastatin.

• Votre médecin vous donnera des conseils sur la façon de manger sainement, de réduire la quantité d'alcool que vous consommez habituellement, de diminuer la quantité de sel dans votre alimentation, d'arrêter de fumer et de faire de l'exercice régulièrement. Suivre ces conseils vous aidera également à réduire votre risque de développer des maladies cardiaques et vasculaires.

• Women taking rosuvastatin must avoid getting pregnant. Make sure you have discussed with your doctor which types of contraception are suitable for you and your partner.

• Some antacids can reduce the amount of rosuvastatin your body absorbs, so if possible, avoid taking indigestion remedies during the two hours before or during the two hours after you have taken rosuvastatin.

• Treatment with rosuvastatin is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. You should continue to take the tablets regularly.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with rosuvastatin, although these tend to be mild. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si vous ressentez d'autres symptômes que vous pensez être dus aux comprimés, parlez-en à votre médecin ou à votre pharmacien pour obtenir des conseils supplémentaires.

• Gardez tous les médicaments hors de la portée et de la vue des enfants.

• Conserver dans un endroit frais et sec, à l'abri de la chaleur et de la lumière directes.