Crestor

Generic name: Rosuvastatin
Drug class: Statins

Usage of Crestor

Crestor belongs to a a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins." Rosuvastatin is used together with diet to lower blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL), to increase levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL), and to lower triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood).

Crestor is used in adults and children who are at least 8 years old to lower cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

Crestor is used in adults to slow the progression of atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque in blood vessels that can block blood flow).

Crestor is used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and certain other heart complications in men 50 years and older and women 60 years and older who have coronary heart disease or other risk factors.

Crestor is also used to treat hereditary forms of high cholesterol, including the heterozygous type (inherited from one parent) and the homozygous type (inherited from both parents). For the heterozygous type, Crestor can be used in children who are at least 8 years old. For the homozygous type, this medicine can be used in children as young as 7 years old.

Crestor side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Crestor: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;
  • muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back;
  • trouble lifting your arms, trouble climbing or standing;
  • confusion, memory problems; or
  • liver problems - upper stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

    • Common side effects may include:

  • headache;
  • weakness;
  • muscle aches; or
  • nausea, stomach pain.

    • This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Crestor

    You should not take Crestor if you are allergic to rosuvastatin, or if you have:

  • liver disease/high levels of liver enzymes in your blood; or
  • if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

    • Do not take Crestor if you are pregnant. Rosuvastatin could harm the unborn baby or cause birth defects. Stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medicine.

    Rosuvastatin may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not breastfeed while you are taking this medicine.

    To make sure Crestor is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • liver problems;
  • kidney disease;
  • a thyroid disorder;
  • a habit of drinking more than 2 alcoholic beverages per day;
  • if you are of Asian descent; or
  • if you are 65 or older.

    • Crestor can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to kidney failure. This happens more often in women, in older adults, or people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

    People of Asian descent may absorb rosuvastatin at a higher rate than other people which may cause muscle weakness/dysfunction. Make sure your doctor knows if you are Asian. You may need a lower than normal starting dose.

    Relate drugs

    How to use Crestor

    Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipoproteinemia:

    Initial dose: 5 mg to 10 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 5 mg to 40 mg once a day with or without food

    Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa (Elevated LDL):

    Initial dose: 5 mg to 10 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 5 mg to 40 mg once a day with or without food

    Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIb (Elevated LDL + VLDL):

    Initial dose: 5 mg to 10 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 5 mg to 40 mg once a day with or without food

    Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV (Elevated VLDL):

    Initial dose: 5 mg to 10 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 5 mg to 40 mg once a day with or without food

    Usual Adult Dose for Atherosclerosis:

    Initial dose: 5 mg to 10 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 5 mg to 40 mg once a day with or without food

    Usual Adult Dose for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia:

    Initial dose: 20 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 20 mg to 40 mg once a day with or without food

    Usual Adult Dose for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease:

    Initial dose: 5 mg to 10 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 5 mg to 40 mg once a day with or without food Response to therapy should be estimated from preapheresis LDL-C levels.

    Usual Geriatric Dose for Hyperlipidemia:

    Initial dose: 5 mg once a day with or without food Maintenance dose: 5 mg to 20 mg once a day with or without food

    Usual Pediatric Dose for Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia:

    Pediatric patients 10 to 17 years of age: Usual dose range: 5 to 20 mg orally once a day with or without food. Doses should be individualized according to the recommended goal of therapy. Adjustments should be made at intervals of 4 weeks or more. Maximum dose: 20 mg orally once a day

    Warnings

    Crestor can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not use rosuvastatin if you are pregnant.

    Before taking Crestor, tell your doctor if you have ever had liver or kidney disease, diabetes, or a thyroid disorder, if you are of Chinese descent, or if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.

    In rare cases, Crestor can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

    You should not take rosuvastatin if you have liver disease, or if you are breastfeeding a baby.

    Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Crestor will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

    There are many other drugs that can increase your risk of serious medical problems if you take them together with Crestor. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

    Crestor is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

    What other drugs will affect Crestor

    When you start or stop taking Crestor, your doctor may need to adjust the doses of any other medicines you take on a regular basis. Using certain medicines together with rosuvastatin can increase your risk of serious muscle problems. It is very important to tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Crestor, especially:

  • colchicine;
  • cyclosporine;
  • another "statin" medicine - atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor, Vytorin, and others;
  • antiviral medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C - atazanavir, fosamprenavir, ledipasvir, lopinavir, ritonavir, simeprevir, sofosbuvir, tipranavir, Epclusa, Mavyret, Viekira, Vosevi, and others;
  • a blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven;
  • cancer medicine - darolutamide, regorafenib;
  • other cholesterol medications - fenofibrate, gemfibrozil; or
  • medicines that contain niacin or nicotinic acid - vitamin B3, Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Simcor, Slo-Niacin, and others.

    • This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with rosuvastatin, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

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