Crestor (Rosuvastatin)

Description

Crestor is a brand name for the generic drug rosuvastatin calcium, a statin used to lower high cholesterol and fat levels in blood to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular complications. Crestor is available only by physician prescription.

 

 

Drug Information

 

The main active ingredient in Crestor, rosuvastatin, belongs to a group of drugs called statins that lower the amount of lipids in blood. Specifically, rosuvastatin causes dyslipidemia by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. Dyslipidemia is the reduction of the amount of lipids present in the blood in the form of fat or cholesterol. The enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, produced in the liver, plays an important role in forming cholesterol in the body. Elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”) puts individuals at risk for heart complications, type II diabetes, stroke and heart attack.

 

Crestor does not “cure” heart disease. Drugs like Crestor are combined with a healthy diet plan and exercise to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke caused by high levels of cholesterol.

 

Crestor is approved for pediatric use in children over 10 years old.

 

Dosage

 

Crestor dosage of will vary depending on physician recommendation, age, severity of the condition and response to the treatment.

 

Crestor dosages should be followed as exactly as prescribed by a physician. Taking more or less than the prescribed dose could result in unintended consequences.

 

Crestor dosage varies from 5 mg to 40 mg per day, with the starting dose usually at 10 or 20 mg. Crestor tablets should be swallowed whole with or without food.

 

It may take up to a month for the effectiveness of Crestor to be noticeable.

 

Warnings and Precautions

 

 Avoid taking Crestor if allergic to rosuvastatin calcium or an inactive ingredient present in the drug.

 

 Do not take Crestor if pregnant or attempting to get pregnant as they drug may cause severe birth defects. Do not take Crestor if breastfeeding as the drug may pass through breast milk to an infant and disrupt lipid production.

 

 Crestor is not recommended for patients with history of liver disease or liver damage. Patients should take regular liver checkups when taking Crestor.

 

 Crestor may not be safe for patients with renal (kidney) problems, or for patients who consume large amounts of alcohol.

 

 Crestor can potentially lead to serious muscle damage problems such as rhabdomyolysis and autoimmune myopathy.

 

 If unusual muscle pain, tenderness or weakness is experienced when taking Crestor, immediately inform a healthcare provider.

 

 Rosuvastatin causes adverse reactions with following drugs: cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, protease inhibitors, coumarin anticoagulants, niacin, fenofibrate and colchicine. Do not take Crestor with above drugs or drugs similar to them without explicit instructions from a doctor.

 

 It may not be safe to consume red yeast rice products when taking Crestor as such products can contain lovastatin, a statin similar to rosuvastatin.

 

 Statins like Crestor can potentially worsen diabetes.

 

Side Effects

 

Crestor and rosuvastatin may potentially cause one or more of the following side effects:

 

 Muscle pain
 Stomach pain
 Nausea
 Headache
 Tiredness or feeling lacking in energy
 Dizziness
 Skin rashes
 Joint pain

 

Side effects are not limited to the above.

 

Immediately seek medical care if side effects continue to persist or worsen over time.