Rosuvastatin (Crestor)

Crestor is the brand name. Rosuvastatin is the generic name. Crestor is the newest statin (cholesterol-lowering drug) approved in the United States. For information on statins and how they work, see Understanding Cholesterol-Lowering Medications, Medical Treatment.

Crestor is the most potent of the statin drugs. It is particularly effective in lowering very high cholesterol levels or when a cholesterol level has not been decreased with other drugs.

Basic medication information is as follows:

• Active ingredient: Rosuvastatin calcium

• Dosage form: Tablet

• Strength: 5, 10, 20, 40 mg

• FDA approval: August 13, 2003

• Company name: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals

Crestor is a medication that lowers the levels of "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides and raises the levels of "good" cholesterol in the blood. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is referred to as the "bad" cholesterol. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is known as the "good" cholesterol. Crestor is part of a treatment program that should also include a low-fat diet and exercise. For more information about cholesterol and its management, visit our Cholesterol Center.

You should not take Crestor if you fit any of the following situations:

• You have certain liver problems.



• You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Crestor may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant, stop taking Crestor and call your doctor.



• You are breastfeeding. It is not known if Crestor can pass into your milk and harm your baby. You should choose to either take Crestor or breastfeed, but not both.



• You are allergic to Crestor or any of its ingredients.

The effectiveness of Crestor in children has not been adequately studied.

Crestor may cause serious, but rare, side effects, including the following:

• Muscle breakdown (myopathy): Muscle breakdown symptoms include widespread muscle aches, muscle tenderness, and generalized weakness. Rarely, widespread muscle breakdown, known as rhabdomyolysis, can occur, usually in people who are taking other drugs that interfere with the body’s ability to metabolize the statin and in people with advanced kidney problems. Therefore, it is extremely important that you inform your doctor about all the medications, herbal preparations, and dietary supplements you are currently taking. If you experience diffuse muscle pain and weakness or if your urine is brown (a possible sign of muscle breakdown), contact your doctor immediately and stop taking the statin medication.



• Liver problems: Crestor can cause liver problems. Your doctor may do a blood test to check your liver before you start taking Crestor, and while you take it.

Before starting Crestor, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including any of the following:

• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant



• If you are breastfeeding



• If you have liver problems



• If you have kidney problems

• If you drink alcohol

Crestor and certain other medications can interact, causing serious side effects. Tell your doctor about any prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including the following:

• Antacids

• Vitamins

• Herbal supplements



• Medication for your immune system, such as drugs prescribed following organ transplantation



• Other cholesterol medications



• Warfarin (Coumadin) (Warfarin may have an increased effect when administered with rosuvastatin.)

This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Crestor. Your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects. The package insert is available at the link below.

Statins are well tolerated, and serious side effects (liver problems and muscle soreness, pain, and weakness) are rare. The more common side effects of Crestor are usually mild and may go away:

• Nausea



• Headache



• Constipation



• Diarrhea



• Gas



• Upset stomach and stomach pain



• Rash



• Muscle and joint pain

Call your doctor immediately if any of the following more serious side effects occur.

• Muscle weakness, tenderness, or pain



• Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain



• Brown or dark urine



• Tiredness



• Yellowness of the skin and whites of the eyes



• Neuropathy (numbness and tingling) affecting the hands, arms, feet, and legs

For more detailed information about Crestor, ask your health care provider or pharmacist and see Crestor’s approved patient and label information.

Crestor’s approved patient and label information

Health’s Cholesterol Center

Understanding Cholesterol-Lowering Medications

Drugs@FDA

FDA Consumer Information Sheet for Crestor

Crestor.com - Company site 

cholesterol, cholesterol level, high cholesterol, high cholesterol level, bad cholesterol, good cholesterol, HDL, LDL, HDL-C, LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol-lowering medication, cholesterol management, cholesterol test, lipid, coronary heart disease, coronary event, statin, statins, rosuvastatin, Crestor

Author: Mary L Windle, Pharm D, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, .com, Inc.

Editors: William L Isley, MD, Senior Associate Consultant, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic of Rochester; Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, ; Michael E Zevitz, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago.