Rosuvastatin is used to prevent cardiovascular disease in those at high risk and treat abnormal lipids. It is recommended to be used together with dietary changes, exercise, and weight loss. It is taken orally (by mouth). Common side effects include abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, and muscle pains. Serious side effects may include rhabdomyolysis, liver problems, and diabetes. Use during pregnancy may harm the baby. Rosuvastatin is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, having a mechanism of action similar to that of other statins.

Putative beneficial effects of rosuvastatin therapy on chronic heart failure may be negated by increases in collagen turnover markers as well as a reduction in plasma coenzyme Q10 levels in patients with chronic heart failure.

Rosuvastatin was patented in 1991 and approved for medical use in the United States in 2003. It is available as a generic medication. In 2022, it was the thirteenth most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 37 million prescriptions. In Australia, it was one of the top 10 most prescribed medications between 2017 and 2023. The following drugs can have negative interactions with rosuvastatin and should be discussed with the prescribing doctor:

Coumadin anticoagulants ('blood thinners', e.g. warfarin) can affect the removal of rosuvastatin Ciclosporin, colchicine Drugs that may decrease the levels or activity of endogenous steroid hormones, e.g. cimetidine, ketoconazole, and spironolactone Additional medications for high cholesterol such as clofibrate, fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, and niacin (when taken in lipid-modifying doses of 1 g/day and above) Specific protease inhibitors including atazanavir (when taken with ritonavir), lopinavir/ritonavir and simeprevir Alcohol intake should be reduced while on rosuvastatin to decrease the risk of developing liver damage Aluminum and magnesium hydroxide antacids should not be taken within two hours of taking rosuvastatin Coadministration of rosuvastatin with eluxadoline may increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis and myopathy Grapefruit juice negatively interacts with several specific drugs in the statin class, but it has little or no effect on rosuvastatin.