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leflunomide vs rosuvastatin

Side-by-side comparison of leflunomide and rosuvastatin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

For a patient taking leflunomide, the dose of rosuvastatin should not exceed 10 mg once daily. ( 7 ) Rosuvastatin: The dose of rosuvastatin should not exceed 10 mg once daily in patients taking leflunomide.

Recommendation: If you are taking leflunomide, your daily dose of rosuvastatin should not be more than 10 mg.

Drug Class
leflunomide Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD)
rosuvastatin HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
Type
leflunomide Prescription
rosuvastatin Prescription
Summary
leflunomide

Leflunomide is a drug that can help reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. It works by slowing down the body's immune system.

rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin is a drug that lowers cholesterol. It helps to reduce the risk of heart problems and stroke.

What It Treats
leflunomide

Leflunomide treats active rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. This medicine can help reduce these symptoms.

rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin is used to lower bad cholesterol (LDL) in adults and children. It can also slow down the hardening of arteries in adults. This medicine also treats high triglycerides and certain inherited cholesterol disorders.

How It Works
leflunomide

Leflunomide is a pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor. This means it blocks a certain process in your body. By blocking this process, it can reduce inflammation and slow down the damage to your joints.

rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin belongs to a class of drugs called statins. It works by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol. This helps to lower your cholesterol levels.

Common Side Effects
leflunomide
  • Diarrhea
  • Respiratory infection
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Rash
rosuvastatin
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Muscle pain
  • Weakness
  • Constipation
FAERS Reports
leflunomide
  • Rheumatoid arthritis 24,921
  • Pain 20,055
  • Joint pain 16,943
  • Swollen joint 15,567
  • Tiredness 15,384
rosuvastatin
  • Tiredness 11,698
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 10,037
  • Difficulty breathing 9,212
  • Loose stools 9,199
  • Muscle pain 8,784
Serious Warnings
leflunomide

This drug can cause serious harm to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, you should not take this medicine. This drug can also cause serious liver problems. If you have liver problems, you should not take this medicine. Your doctor will monitor your liver with blood tests.

rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin can cause muscle problems, including muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Tell your doctor right away if you have these symptoms, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Rosuvastatin can also cause liver problems. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before and during treatment.

Pregnancy
leflunomide

Do not take leflunomide if you are pregnant. It can cause birth defects. If you are breastfeeding, you should stop while taking this medicine.

rosuvastatin

Do not take rosuvastatin if you are pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other ways to control your cholesterol during pregnancy. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking rosuvastatin.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This leflunomide vs rosuvastatin Comparison

leflunomide is classified in the Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug (DMARD) drug class, while rosuvastatin sits within the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, leflunomide has 92,870 submissions while rosuvastatin has 48,930. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to leflunomide changes how your body processes rosuvastatin, which can cause the amount of the cholesterol medicine in your blood to increase.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between leflunomide and rosuvastatin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.