Check correct rosuvastatin dose for Asians
Pharmacists should check that the correct dose of rosuvastatin (Crestor) has been prescribed following updated prescribing advice relating to Asian patients.
AstraZeneca has written to health care professionals pointing out that
rosuvastatin 20mg is the maximum dose that should be used for patients
of Asian origin. Previously, this upper limit was set just for Japanese
and Chinese patients.
A recent study shows that exposure to rosuvastatin (adjusted for weight)
is higher among Asian people than among Caucasians after a single dose.
Levels are approximately two-fold higher in Chinese people, 1.5-fold
higher in Indian people and 1.7-fold higher in Malay people. The company
points out that no differences in exposure to rosuvastatin have been
observed between Caucasian and black subjects. AstraZeneca recommends
that Asian patients currently taking a 40mg dose of rosuvastatin should
have the dose reduced to 20mg. The summary of product characteristics
for Crestor has been
updated (see p46).
Rhabdomyolysis fatality AstraZeneca confirmed earlier this week
that a death possibly attributed to rhabdomyolysis associated with
use of rosuvastatin (Crestor) has been reported. A spokeswoman
for the company explained that the case was complex and that the
patient,
who was also being treated with an antipsychotic agent, displayed
clinical features consistent with neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
She added that rosuvastatin’s safety profile is comparable
to those of
other marketed statins.
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