TOP 8 analogues of the drug Rosuvastatin: the most affordable substitutes

Prohibited during pregnancy

Prohibited during breastfeeding

Prohibited for children

Allowed for older people

Has limitations for liver problems

Has limitations for kidney problems

Rosuvastatin is a synthetic corrector of lipid balance in the body. It is a selective inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, which synthesizes mevalonic acid, which is the precursor for the formation of the cholesterol molecule.

The drug acts on liver cells, suppressing the synthesis of LDL and VLDL molecules, and also activates receptors that capture low-density lipid molecules and transport them back to the liver for further catabolism. Rosuvastatin is produced in tablets with a dosage of the main component rosuvastatin of 10 and 20 mg.

Properties of Rosuvastatin

The drug is prescribed for:

• homozygous genetic hypercholesterolemia in addition to a lipid-lowering diet;
• heterozygous hypercholesterolemia and primary hypercholesterolemia type 2A according to Fredrickson;
• dyslipidemia of mixed type 2B according to Fredrickson as an addition to an anti-cholesterol diet;
• for preventive purposes of the development of systemic and cardiac pathologies.

Rosuvastatin should not be used during pregnancy, pediatrics and lactation, as well as with the following disorders in the body:

• allergy to the composition of the medicine;
• severe liver pathology;
• renal failure;
• myopathy.

Mechanism of action of statins

Rosuvastatin causes quite a lot of negative reactions. The digestive tract reacts especially actively - heartburn, nausea with vomiting, diarrhea and flatulence, as well as the musculoskeletal system - myalgia and rhabdomyolysis, arthralgia and myositis. Only a doctor can prescribe therapy with Rosuvastatin, as well as select effective analogues.

Briefly about the drug

Rosuvastatin is widely used to treat hypercholesterolemia. The main active ingredient of the drug is rosuvastatin. Additional components include corn starch, lactose, talc, cellulose, sodium stearyl fumarate, and other substances that create the shell. Rosuvastatin is available in the form of tablets of several dosages: 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg.

Indications for use of the drug are:

• hypercholesterolemia;
• prevention of atherosclerosis, diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Contraindications to taking Rosuvastatin are:

• age under 18 years;
• period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• intolerance to one of the components included in the composition;
• myopathy.

Older people, patients with chronic liver disease, serious diseases of the endocrine system, cardiovascular system, and others should take statins with caution.

There are several types of Rosuvastatin, the name of the drug depends on the manufacturer. These include Rosuvastatin-Teva, Rosuvastatin C3, Rosuvastatin Sandoz, Rosuvastatin Canon, Rosuvastatin-LF, Rosuvastatin-Zentiva, and others. They have different dosages, some application features are indicated in the instructions.

Rosuvastatin, like its analogues, is prescribed exclusively in complex therapy with diet.

Summary table with price comparison

For the objectivity of the study, the list below includes only close analogues of Rosuvastatin in a dosage of 10 mg and in the amount of 28–30 tablets in one pack.

Reference . It is this packaging that is most popular among consumers, since the initial intake of any statins is advisable for a course of 4 weeks to determine the degree of adaptation of the body to the drug.

Comparison of Rosuvastatin analogues by their average cost (table):

The most affordable generic drug is the Russian drug Rosuvastatin-SZ. The cost of 1 tablet is 11–14 rubles, so it is available to most potential consumers.

Instructions

The instructions for use provide for individual adjustment of the daily dosage of the drug by the attending physician. It takes into account the nature of the disease, how high the cholesterol level is, the general characteristics of the patient’s health, and other nuances.

The initial dose is usually 5-10 mg per day, then it can be increased to 40 mg. Taking the medicine does not depend on food intake. The indication for increasing the dosage is the effectiveness of treatment, that is, cholesterol levels in the blood begin to normalize, this process must be accelerated.

If the drug is used for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis, the permissible daily dose is also 40 mg, but it is rarely prescribed. Usually requires no more than 10–20 mg of the drug per day.

Where to buy Rosuvastatin analogues?

Today you can order both the original drug and its analogues without even leaving your home by placing an order at an affordable price in one of the trusted online pharmacies:

Pharmacy Dialog – List of prices for basic drugs:

• Crestor 28 tablets of 10 mg – 1558 rub.,
• Rosart 30 tablets of 10 mg – 600 rub.,
• Rosuvastatin-SZ 30 tablets of 10 mg – 278 rub.,
• Rosucard 30 tablets of 10 mg - 574 rubles,
• Roxera 30 tablets of 10 mg - 581 rub.,
• Atoris 30 tablets of 10 mg - 351 rub.,
• Livazo 28 tablets of 1 mg - 640 rubles,
• (See prices for other drugs and dosages on the website of this pharmacy);

In conclusion, it is worth noting that taking statins does not eliminate the need to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet, maintain weight, and get rid of bad habits. Otherwise, the patient has the right to independently choose what to buy and what is the best replacement for Rosuvastatin, but only after consultation with the attending physician.

Analogs based on rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin analogues based on the active substance rosuvastatin differ from each other in manufacturer, dosage, and auxiliary components in the composition. The table below shows the most popular of them.

The rules for using these and other Rosuvastatin analogues are similar, however, before starting use, it is important to study the manufacturer’s instructions.

Analogs for therapeutic action

Analogues of Rosuvastatin are statins, which have the same therapeutic direction as it, but a different active ingredient in the composition.

Basilip

Vasilip is produced in tablets based on the main component - simvastatin. The drug is used in addition to an anti-cholesterol diet for dyslipidemia and all types of hypercholesterolemia.

The use of Vasilip reduces the risk of death from stroke, myocardial infarction and coronary insufficiency by 50%. Vasilip is not used for severe liver pathologies or allergies to simvastatin. Also not taken in pediatrics, to lower the cholesterol index in pregnant women and during the lactation period.

Release form of the drug Vasilip

Vazilip is prescribed with great caution to patients with alcohol dependence and endocrine disorders (diabetes), with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, epilepsy, as well as with acute infectious or viral diseases.

Vasilip dosages range from 10 to 80 mg and depend on the pathology and stage of progression. The medication can only be prescribed by a doctor based on an individual dosage in accordance with lipid profile indicators and instrumental diagnostics. There are no standard dosages for taking the medication.

Vasilip can cause negative reactions in the body:

• constipation, flatulence, diarrhea, vomiting, hepatitis, pancreatitis;
• myalgia, myopathy, arthralgia and rhabdomyolysis;
• insomnia, dizziness, decreased quality of vision;
• bradycardia and arrhythmia, hypotension.

Zokor

A lipid-lowering drug of the statin group based on the active component simvastatin is prescribed in the treatment of the following disorders in the body:

• systemic atherosclerosis, hypertension;
• IHD and cerebrovascular brain damage;
• diabetes;
• hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia;
• disturbances in peripheral blood flow;
• for the prevention of cardiac and systemic diseases.

Diabetes

Zocor is not prescribed to pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under 10 years of age. It is forbidden to take pills for the following diseases:

• allergy to a medication;
• increased transaminases;
• liver diseases;
• muscle and bone diseases;
• alcoholism.

Tablets should be taken once a day and preferably in the evening.

The initial dosage of the drug depends on the pathology and the stage of its development and can vary from 5 to 80 mg. The maximum dosage is prescribed for severe pathologies and is used in a hospital setting.

Treatment of hypercholesterolemia is carried out with a dosage of 20 mg, and the prevention of cardiac diseases is also carried out with this dose. Treatment with Zocor should be accompanied by an anti-cholesterol diet.

Livazo

Livazo is a lipid-lowering drug from the statin group. Prescribed for the treatment of such disorders in lipid metabolism:

• hypercholesterolemia of familial and non-familial etiology;
• dyslipidemia and triglyceridemia;
• post-infarction and post-stroke periods;
• atherosclerosis and hypertension;
• stable angina.

Indications and contraindications for use

The drug is also prescribed for the prevention of heart disease and pathologies in the bloodstream. The medicine must be taken once a day, 1 tablet with a dosage of 1 mg. Dosage adjustments can be made after 30 days of treatment and increased to 2 mg. The maximum dosage of Livazo per day is 4 mg. For liver disorders, a dosage of 4 mg is not used in treatment.

Russian substitutes

Russian substitutes for Rosuvastatin are much cheaper than imported ones. Many people choose these:

The drug Livazo and reviews about it

• Mertenil. Available in different dosages: 5, 10, 20, 40 mg of the active substance - rosuvastatin. The maximum permissible daily intake is 40 mg. In rare cases, Mertenil is prescribed to children under 18 years of age, but who are 10 years old. Treatment takes place under the strict supervision of a doctor, according to his individual recommendations.
• Akorta. Manufacturer: Pharmstandard-Tomsk. Available in dosages of 10 or 20 mg of the active substance - rosuvastatin. The dosage and other features of use are the same as for Rosuvastatin.
• Cardiolip. Manufacturer: Alsi Pharma. Available in dosages of 5, 10, 20 mg. Strictly contraindicated for children under 18 years of age. The dosage and features of use are similar to Rosuvastatin.

The cheapest similar products

The price of analogues depends on the country of manufacture. Many statins are manufactured abroad, so their cost is very high. But there are domestic analogues that are cheaper than Rosuvastatin, but not inferior to it in effectiveness.

Cardiolip

Cardiolip is a lipid-lowering drug, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, used only for adult patients. Is used for:

• 
  lowering the total cholesterol index and LDL fraction, as well as increasing the HDL cholesterol fraction;

• therapy for familial hypercholesterolemia with or without hypertriglyceridemia.

Cardiolip is also prescribed in monotherapy and in combination treatment with diet for the following pathologies:

• dyslipidemia;
• hypertriglyceridemia in addition to an anti-cholesterol diet;
• atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and hypertension;
• prevention of heart pathologies;
• in the post-stroke or post-infarction period.

The drug is not prescribed for:

• hypersensitivity;
• pathologies of the liver and kidneys in the active stage;
• myopathy and rhabdomyolysis;
• use in the treatment of fibrates and Cyclosporine.

Rhabdomyolysis

Also, the medication is not used in the treatment of women during lactation and pregnancy, and children under adulthood.

Use with caution when:

• chronic alcoholism;
• hypotension;
• muscle cramps.

For Asians, patients after surgery and over 70 years of age, the drug is also prescribed with caution. Treatment begins with a dosage of 10 mg, and after a month of therapy, the doctor may increase the dosage for further treatment. Do not prescribe the 40 mg dosage to patients who have not previously taken statins.

The higher the dosage, the greater the risk of developing side effects of the medication on the body.

Atorvastatin-SZ

Atorvastatin is a Russian-made 3rd generation statin with the active component atorvastatin. The drug is an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, which affects the synthesis of cholesterol molecules in liver cells.

Atorvastatin must be taken in combination with an anti-cholesterol diet. Medication is prescribed for the following diseases:

• hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia of genetic etiology;
• dyslipidemia and non-familial hypercholesterolemia;
• dysbetalipoproteinemia;
• lowering the total cholesterol index in atherosclerosis, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Atorvastatin dosage

It is prohibited to prescribe Rosuvastatin-SZ to women during pregnancy, lactation, as well as to children under 18 years of age. The medicine is not used for the following disorders in the patient’s body:

• liver pathologies and failure;
• kidney dysfunction;
• allergy to the composition of the medicine.

Prescribe with great caution:

• with alcoholism;
• for epilepsy;
• after injury or surgical treatment;
• patients over 70 years old;
• for diseases of the bone and muscle system.

Treatment with Rosuvastatin is started with a dosage of 10 mg. After a month of treatment, you need to do a laboratory test, and the doctor will decide on increasing the dosage, as well as choosing between atorvastatin or rosuvastatin. Rosuvastatin-SZ, like all statins, causes adverse reactions in the body that should be reported to your doctor immediately.

Analogues among other groups of statins

Rosuvastatin is a new generation of statins that are considered the most effective. The result of their use is noticeable within 1–2 months after the start of treatment: cholesterol levels return to normal.

Sometimes it is necessary to replace Rosuvastatin or another drug based on rosuvastatin, as an active substance, with another from the statin group. Why is this group of drugs considered the basis for the treatment of diseases such as cholesterolemia? It's all about their advantages; doctors highlight the following among the main ones:

• the risk of developing cardiovascular disease is reduced;
• heart attacks and strokes are prevented;
• cholesterol levels can be reduced by 45–55%;
• use is safe (subject to dosage and contraindications).

The presence of analogues for each substance from the statin group is also considered an advantage. If for any reason, drugs based on rosuvastatin are not recommended, drugs based on other statins may be prescribed. Their action will be similar: aimed at normalizing cholesterol levels in the blood. The table below shows groups of statins by generation, examples of drugs based on them.

The table shows only examples of frequently prescribed statins; the list of existing analogues is huge. Taking this into account, the selection of a suitable remedy and its dosage should be strictly carried out by the attending physician. Self-administration of any group of statins is dangerous.

Livazo or Rosuvastatin: which is better?

Now the competition among statins is between drugs of the latest generation: Rosuvastatin and Livazo, a drug based on pitavastatinum in the form of calcium salt (pitavastatin calcium).

Rosuvastatin has a stronger effect on cholesterol levels, but sometimes its prolonged use worsens the condition of the kidneys in patients whose urine test contains protein or blood. Therefore, doctors often prescribe Livazo to such patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Reviews

Yulia Due to chronic atherosclerosis, I was prescribed Rosuvastatin for life. I regularly visit the doctor and have blood tests done. If cholesterol levels begin to increase significantly, I also increase the dosage of the drug. During the period of remission I take 10 mg per day. I understand that atherosclerosis arose as a complication, so I advise everyone not to delay treatment; if cholesterol is elevated, immediately go on a diet and start treatment.

Ivan Pil took Rosuvastatin for several months as prescribed by a doctor. A pack of 90 tablets of 20 mg cost 1,300 rubles. Now I have replaced the drug with a domestic analogue - Cardiolip, it costs half as much. The effect is the same; the last time I took a blood test, the doctor noted a positive trend in the normalization of cholesterol levels.

The most famous analogues and substitutes of Rosuvastatin

Before considering specific analogues and substitutes for Rosuvastatin, it is worth noting that, despite the doctor’s prescription, the patient has the right to choose the appropriate generic, focusing on his own preferences, wallet and individual intolerance to additional ingredients in the composition. The main thing is to follow the indicated dosage and regimen of taking the drug.

Roxera

Roxera has a particularly durable coating that allows rosuvastatin to be released exclusively in the small intestine, where the tablets are absorbed unchanged and are not subject to the destructive effects of gastric juice.

Features of the composition : copolymers of butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate are added to the shell.

Manufacturing company : KRKA, Slovenia.

Cost of the drug : from 413 rubles/30 pcs. 5 mg each up to RUB 1,520/90 pcs. 20 mg each.

Rosecard

Rozucard has good bioavailability (over 20%), but the active substance itself, rosuvastatin, is quickly eliminated from the body, and therefore the drug rather slowly produces a pronounced therapeutic effect.

Features of the composition : croscarmellose is used as a leavening agent instead of hypromellose from the original recipe.

Manufacturing company : Zentiva, Czech Republic.

Cost of the drug : from 591 rub./30 pcs. 10 mg each up to RUB 2,524/90 pcs. 40 mg each.

Mertenil

Mertenil has a high degree of purification of the active ingredient. This ensures good tolerability of the drug with fewer side effects, which is especially important when taking rosuvastatin in elderly patients.

Composition features : identical to the original, except for the substances used to color the shell.

Manufacturing company : Gedeon Richter, Hungary.

Prices in pharmacies : from 478 rub./30 pcs. 5 mg each up to RUB 1,679/30 pcs. 40 mg each.

Rozulip

Rosulip is a cheaper analogue of Rosuvastatin, which has high bioavailability and accumulates slowly, which allows you to gradually create the desired therapeutic concentration of the active substance in the body.

Features of the composition : contains rosuvastatin not in the form of calcium, but in the form of zinc salt (rosuvastatin zinc).

Manufacturing company : EGIS (EGIS Pharmaceuticals PLC), Hungary.

Cost of the drug : from 449 rubles/28 pcs. 5 mg each up to 998 RUR/28 pcs. 20 mg each.

Crestor

Crestor is the only original medicine based on rosuvastatin. This imported drug is characterized by high quality processing of the active substance and, based on patient reviews, better tolerability, but it is also much more expensive in price than other generics.

Features of the composition : all ingredients are identical to the originally developed recipe.

Manufacturing company : Astra Zeneca, UK.

Prices in pharmacies : from 2079 rub./28 pcs. 5 mg each up to RUB 5,189/28 pcs. 40 mg each.

Tevastor

Tevastor is one of the best analogues of Rosuvastatin, because it accumulates in the body quite quickly, providing a pronounced therapeutic effect, and at the same time costs much less than the original drug.

Features of the composition : almost exactly the same as the original (with the exception of the dye).

Manufacturing company : TEVA (TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd), Israel.

Cost of the drug : from 341 rub./30 pcs. 5 mg each up to RUB 1,522/90 pcs. 20 mg each.

Rosuvastatin-SZ

Rosuvastatin-SZ is by far the most affordable replacement for Rosuvastatin from a Russian manufacturer. Despite the very modest price, it is not inferior in quality to other generics and also has properties identical to the original.

Features of the composition : iron oxide, used as a dye, is replaced with aluminum varnish of three different types.

Manufacturing company : FC Northern Zvezda CJSC, Russia

Cost of the drug : from 210 rubles/30 pcs. 5 mg each up to 619 RUR/30 pcs. 40 mg each.

Rosart

Rosart has all the advantages of the original medicine and rarely has a negative effect on the body, since both the active substance and the auxiliary components are thoroughly purified. We can say that this is the most universal substitute for Rosuvastatin.

Features of the composition : all ingredients are the same as in the original drug.

Manufacturing company : Actavis Group, Iceland

Prices in pharmacies : from 427 rub./30 pcs. 5 mg each up to RUB 2,612/90 pcs. 40 mg each.