Approximate Equivalent Rosuvastatin Doses for Temporary Statin Interchange Programs

OBJECTIVE: To estimate approximate doses of rosuvastatin equivalent to the other hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) for a temporary substitution program. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted to locate clinical trials directly comparing rosuvastatin with other statins that evaluated the magnitude of cholesterol lowering. DATA SYNTHESIS: The mean low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol values from the clinical trials were assessed. Study results indicate that rosuvastatin is not equivalent to other statins on a milligram-to-milligram basis. CONCLUSIONS: Rosuvastatin appears to be at least 2 and 4 times as potent as atorvastatin and simvastatin, respectively, and at least 8 times as potent as pravastatin and lovastatin.