Many people take medicine to lower their cholesterol and protect their hearts. Two common drugs used for this are rosuvastatin and atorvastatin.
Both of these medicines work well to reduce cholesterol levels and prevent heart disease. But now, new research shows that one of them—rosuvastatin—might not be so good for your kidneys.
A large study looked at more than 900,000 people who had recently started taking either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin. The scientists wanted to see if there were any differences between the two drugs, especially in how they affect the kidneys.
Kidneys are important because they clean the blood and help remove waste from the body. If your kidneys don’t work well, it can lead to serious health problems.
The researchers found that people who took rosuvastatin were more likely to have kidney issues than those who took atorvastatin. Some of these problems included blood in the urine, protein in the urine, or even needing treatments like dialysis. These are signs that the kidneys are not working properly.
Another important finding was about the dose. People who took higher amounts of rosuvastatin had an even greater risk of kidney problems. This means that not only the drug itself, but also how much of it you take, can make a big difference.
It’s important to know that both medicines still do a good job of lowering cholesterol. But if you have kidney problems or are at risk for them, this new study suggests that atorvastatin might be a safer choice. Of course, you should never stop or change your medicine without talking to your doctor.
Doctors usually choose cholesterol medicine based on your health history, age, and other conditions you may have. This new information about rosuvastatin gives doctors and patients more to think about. If you already have kidney disease or are worried about your kidney health, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor if your medication is right for you.
This study adds to a growing list of research showing how medicines can affect more than just the main problem they are meant to treat. Sometimes, a drug that helps one part of your body might hurt another. That’s why it’s important to keep learning about how different drugs work in real life, not just in labs.
In the end, rosuvastatin and atorvastatin are both helpful drugs, but they are not the same. If you or someone you know is taking rosuvastatin, especially in a high dose, it might be worth talking to a doctor about possible kidney risks. Taking care of your heart is important—but don’t forget about your kidneys too.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that Changing blood pressure readings is a hidden sign of heart disease and common type 2 diabetes drugs may raise heart risk.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about root cause of heart rhythm disorders and Warning signal from the kidneys can predict future heart failure risk.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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