Rosuvastatin (Crestor) Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Rosuvastatin is a statin medication. It’s used for a variety of conditions related to high cholesterol. This also includes inherited (passed down) conditions, like familial hypercholesterolemia. If you’re prescribed rosuvastatin, you’ll take it by mouth as a tablet (Crestor) or capsule (Ezallor Sprinkle). 

In this guide, we’ll review typical rosuvastatin dosages. Keep in mind that these are recommendations from the manufacturer. Your healthcare provider may have you take a different dose of rosuvastatin. Speak with your provider or pharmacist if you have any questions about your rosuvastatin dosage.

What’s the typical rosuvastatin dosage for adults?

The typical rosuvastatin dosage for adults ranges from 5 mg to 40 mg by mouth once daily. Your specific dosage depends on why you’re taking it.

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Both rosuvastatin tablets and capsules are approved for use in adults. But the capsules may be a good option if you have trouble swallowing tablets. They can be opened, and their contents can be sprinkled on top of soft food. You can take rosuvastatin with or without food, at any time of day.

Note: The 20 mg and 40 mg rosuvastatin dosages are considered “high intensity” dosages. This means they can lower your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 50% or more. Not everyone needs to take a high intensity statin. But your healthcare provider will determine if it’s right for you.

High cholesterol

For adults, the starting rosuvastatin dosage for high cholesterol is typically 10 mg to 20 mg by mouth once daily. If you’re unable to reach your cholesterol goals, your healthcare provider may increase your dosage to 40 mg once daily.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

For adults, the starting rosuvastatin dosage for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is 20 mg by mouth once daily. If needed, your healthcare provider may increase it to 40 mg once daily.

What’s the typical rosuvastatin dosage for children?

The typical rosuvastatin dosage for children depends on a couple factors, including their age and reason for taking it. Unlike the tablets, rosuvastatin capsules aren’t approved for use in children.  

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

For children, the typical rosuvastatin dosage for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) depends on their age:

• Children ages 8 to less than 10 years old: 5 mg to 10 mg by mouth once daily

• Children ages 10 to 17 years old: 5 mg to 20 mg once daily

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

For children ages 7 to 17 years old, the typical rosuvastatin dosage for HoFH is 20 mg by mouth once daily.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions or interactions?

There are several factors that may require an adjustment to your rosuvastatin dosage. Examples include whether you have certain other medical conditions, your racial or ethnic background, and other medications you’re taking.

Dosage for people with kidney problems

Rosuvastatin is partially eliminated by your kidneys. If you have kidney problems, too much medication can build up in your body, increasing the risk of side effects. In this case, a lower rosuvastatin dosage is recommended.

For people with severe kidney problems, the usual starting rosuvastatin dosage is 5 mg by mouth once daily. The maximum dosage is limited to 10 mg once daily.

Dosage adjustments for AAPI populations

Some studies have shown that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people are exposed to twice as much rosuvastatin with typical dosages compared to other racial and ethnic groups. As a precaution, it’s recommended to start treatment at 5 mg once daily. The recommended maximum dosage is 20 mg daily.  

Dosage adjustments for drug interactions

Certain medications can interact with rosuvastatin, increasing the risk of side effects. Because of this, your maximum rosuvastatin dosage may be lower if you’re taking one of these medications. A few examples are detailed below.

Check with your healthcare provider and pharmacist to review your current medication list. This is especially important if you take antiviral medications for HIV or hepatitis C. 

What happens if you miss a dose of rosuvastatin?

If you miss a rosuvastatin dose, take it as soon as you remember. But don’t take two doses within 12 hours of each other. Since rosuvastatin works all day, taking two doses close together can increase your risk of side effects. More on that next. 

What should you do if you take too much rosuvastatin?

Taking too much rosuvastatin (or any statin) can be dangerous. If this happens, you may experience severe, unexplained muscle pain or weakness. If muscle tissue starts breaking down, rhabdomyolysis can develop. This is a serious condition that can result in kidney failure.

If you think you’ve taken too much rosuvastatin, contact your healthcare provider or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. But if you have muscle pain or weakness and dark-colored urine, go to your nearest emergency room.

How to save on rosuvastatin

There are many ways to save on rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin tablets and capsules are available as brand-name medications. But you can also find rosuvastatin tablets as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you navigate many ways to save on your prescription.

• Save with GoodRx. Generic rosuvastatin’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $7.80 with a free GoodRx discount. Brand-name Ezallor Sprinkle’s price is as low as $302.33.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance and meet eligibility requirements, brand-name Crestor’s price is as little as $3 using a savings card from the manufacturer. 

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Written by:

Brian Leonard, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP

Brian Leonard earned his doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and is board certified in Ambulatory Care and Geriatric Pharmacy.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS

Amy Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. Amy currently holds her pharmacist license in Georgia and California.

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