rosuvastatin / ezetimibe
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) is a combination of two different medications that work to lower cholesterol in different ways. The medication is conveniently taken by mouth once a day. It's also available as a generic, which tends to be less expensive.
What is Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe)?
What is Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) used for?
- Add-on to diet for people with high cholesterol
- Alone or add-on to other cholesterol-lowering medications in people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH)
How Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) works
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) is a combination of two medications that work together to lower cholesterol levels.
- Rosuvastatin is a statin. It helps to lower "bad" cholesterol (called LDL) by blocking you liver from making cholesterol.
- Ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. It blocks the amount of cholesterol that your body absorbs.
Drug facts
Side effects of Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Inflammation of nasal passages (4%)
- Muscle pain (3%)
- Upper respiratory tract infection (3%)
- Joint pain (3%)
- Diarrhea (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Back pain
- Pain in arms and legs
- Tiredness
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe muscle damage (Rhabdomyolysis): Dark brown urine, severe muscle weakness or pain, fever, tiredness
- Worsening liver problems or liver failure: swelling of your stomach, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, confusion, dark or brown urine
The following Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)—increased thirst or amount of urine, unusual weakness or fatigue, blurry vision
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Muscle injury—unusual weakness or fatigue, muscle pain, dark yellow or brown urine, decrease in amount of urine
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe)
Pros
- Taken once a day by mouth
- More convenient to take a single pill containing two medications that work in different ways
- Available as a lower-cost, generic form
Cons
- Maybe more difficult to customize the dose since it's a fixed combination of two medications
- Can cause serious liver problems
- Can cause rhabdomyolysis, a life-threatening muscle problem that's a medical emergency
Pharmacist tips for Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe)
- Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) can be taken with or without food. Make sure you swallow the tablet whole. Don't cut or crush the tablet because it can affect how the medication works.
- Take Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) at the same time every day, either in the morning or night. If you accidentally miss a dose, skip that dose and take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time.
- Limit your use of alcohol while taking Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe). This is because alcohol can raise the risk of serious liver problems associated with Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe).
- Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) can interact with a lot of commonly used medications like cyclosporine (Sandimmune or Neoral) and fibrates. Make sure to tell your provider about all of the medications you're taking. Taking some medications together with Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) can affect medication levels, which can either lead to more side effects or make medications not work as well. You might need a dose adjustment or need to switch your medications altogether.
- If you take a bile acid sequestrant, such as cholestyramine (Prevalite) or colesevelam (Welchol), take Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after the bile acid sequestrant. Taking them together will cause your body to absorb less Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe), so it won't work as well.
- If you take antacids containing aluminum and magnesium, make sure to take the antacid at least 2 hours after taking Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe). This is to make sure all of the medication gets absorbed into your body.
- You should get your LDL bloodwork regularly checked to make sure that Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) is working. Your provider will help you schedule those appointments when needed.
Common questions about Roszet
Both medications contain a statin in combination with ezetimibe. The major difference is that rosuvastatin in Roszet is considered a moderate-to-high-intensity statin whereas simvastatin in Vytorin is considered a low-to-medium intensity statin. The intensity of each statin depends on the dose and represents how much it can lower your LDL.
Previous studies showed that Asian people who took rosuvastatin had twice the level of medication in their blood compared to Caucasian people at the same dose. This means that their risk of side effects from the medication were much higher. But, there isn't a clear explanation as to why this is, and other studies have shown this not to be true in every case. Yet to be on the safe side, it's recommended that Asian people start with 5 mg/10 mg of Roszet once a day to lower the risk of potential side effects.
Since Roszet contains rosuvastatin and is a long-acting medication, you can take it any time during the day or at night time. Just make sure you try to take it around the same time each day to keep the level of medication in your body steady.
You can take Roszet with or without food. If it's hurting your stomach, try taking it with food to help. And unlike Vytorin, you don't need to avoid eating grapefruit while taking Roszet. That's because Roszet contains a different statin medication (rosuvastatin) that doesn't interact with grapefruit and cause side effects.
No, Roszet shouldn't be used in people who are pregnant because it can cause harm to babies. But, treatment of high cholesterol isn't typically a priority during pregnancy. Still, your provider will ultimately decide if you need to continue treatment with another cholesterol-lowering medication. If you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while taking Roszet, ask your provider about the safest options for you and your unborn baby.
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Risks and warnings for Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe)
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe muscle pain and damage
- Risk factors: Older age | Higher dose of Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) | Kidney problems | Taking other medications that can also cause muscle problems or interact with Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) | History of uncontrolled hypothyroidism | Asian descent
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) can cause a rare, but serious and life-threatening muscle problem called rhabdomyolysis. Symptoms include severe muscle pain, dark-colored urine, weakness, and tiredness. Don't start any new medications without asking your provider or pharmacist first because taking Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) with certain medications raises your risk for rhabdomyolysis. If you notice any of symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, especially after starting Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe), get medical attention right away.
Worsening liver problems and liver failure
- Risk factors: History of liver problems | Drinking large amounts of alcohol
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) can cause serious liver problems that can lead to liver failure. You'll need to get blood tests to check your liver health before and during treatment to make sure their liver is working properly. Get medical attention right away if you notice swelling of your stomach, stomach pain, yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, stool changes (black, tarry, or bloody stools), nausea, vomiting, confusion, or dark or brown urine. You might need to stop using the medication to prevent further liver damage.
High blood sugars
- Risk factors: History of type 2 diabetes
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) can cause your blood sugars to be high, which can lead to high hemoglobin A1C levels, a test that represents your average blood sugar over 3 months and is used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Let your provider know if you have diabetes before starting Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) because you might need to monitor your blood sugar more often. Also, make sure to have a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise while taking Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe).
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5mg/10mg | 90 tablets | $184.99 | $2.06 |
| 10mg/10mg | 90 tablets | $222.25 | $2.47 |
| 20mg/10mg | 90 tablets | $222.25 | $2.47 |
| 40mg/10mg | 90 tablets | $153.22 | $1.70 |
Typical dosage for Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe)
The typical dose ranges from 5 mg/10 mg to 40 mg/10 mg of (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) by mouth once a day.
Your dose of Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) will depend on many things, including what you're taking the medication for, your LDL levels, your risk for severe heart problems, if you're of Asian descent, if you have kidney problems, or if you're taking other medications that interact with Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe).
How much does Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) cost?
Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe) will not be safe for you to take.
- Advanced liver problems
- Severe allergy to either rosuvastatin or ezetimibe
What are alternatives to Roszet (rosuvastatin / ezetimibe)?
