Generic Name:rosuvastatin
Brand Names: Crestor
Crestor: Important Information
- Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been reported with the use of Crestor and other similar medicines. If, on consumption of Crestor you experience muscle pain, tenderness or weakness accompanied by a fever or flu-like symptoms or yellowing of the skin/ eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark-colored urine or pale colored stools; contact your doctor immediately. These may be some initial symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
- Crestor is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Crestor can cause birth defects in an unborn baby when taken during pregnancy. Do not take Crestor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
- Do not take Crestor without first consulting your doctor if you suffer from liver trouble.
- Crestor and other related medicines could cause muscle injury that, in rare or severe cases, can cause kidney damage and organ failure that are potentially life-threatening.
- Alcohol and Crestor can both be damaging to the liver. Discuss with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you consume so that it can be determined if Crestor is the best choice for lowering your cholesterol.
What is Crestor
- Crestor is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. It blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
- Crestor reduces the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein required to prepare cholesterol) in the blood. Crestor also increases the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in the blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis (fatty deposits in the arteries), which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
- Crestor may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What to Discuss Before Using Crestor
- It is important to consult your doctor about taking Crestor if you suffer from any kind of liver disease.
- Before taking Crestor, inform your doctor if you:
- have kidney problems
- have hypothyroidism (low thyroid function)
- drink alcoholic beverages
- have a chronic muscular disease
- require major surgery or
- have a blood disorder
- You may not be able to take Crestor or may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you suffer from any of the conditions listed above.
- Crestor and other similar medicines can cause muscle injury, which, in rare or severe cases, can fatally damage your kidney or other organs.
- Crestor is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Crestor is known to cause birth defects in an unborn baby when taken during pregnancy. It is, therefore, advisable not to take Crestor during pregnancy or when planning for one.
- It is not yet known whether Crestor passes into breast milk and cause harm to a nursing baby. As a precaution, it is better to consult a doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Crestor Dosage Method
- Crestor should be taken exactly as directed by your doctor. If you fail to understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
- Take each dose of Crestor with a full glass of water.
- Crestor can be taken with or without food.
- Crestor is usually taken once a day. Try to take each dose at the same time daily and follow your doctor's instructions.
- It is advisable to take Crestor regularly to derive the most benefit. Do not stop taking Crestor without first consulting your doctor. It may be weeks or months before beneficial effects become evident from this medication.
- Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with Crestor. This monitoring should be done at twelve weeks after start of treatment and after any increase in dose; and periodically (every 6 months) thereafter. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.
- Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize optimum benefit from Crestor, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
- Store Crestor at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Miss a dose: Problems?
- In case you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose.
- Avoid taking a double dose of this medication.
Crestor Overdose?
- Seek medical aid immediately if you suspect an overdose.
- Symptoms of Crestor overdose are still not known.
Avoid During Treatment
- Both alcohol and Crestor can fatally damage liver. Discuss with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you consume so that it can be determined if Crestor is the best choice for lowering your cholesterol.
- Never take Crestor with antacids that contain aluminum and magnesium such as Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil and others. If an antacid that contains aluminum and magnesium is to be consumed, it should be taken at least 2 hours following a dose of Crestor.
Crestor Side Effects
- Few cases of muscle and liver problems associated with the use of Crestor and other similar medicines have been reported. In such cases, contact your doctor promptly if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flu-like symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark-colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
- If you experience a rare but serious allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives), stop taking Crestor and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately.
- Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Crestor and talk to your doctor if you experience:
- headache
- diarrhea or constipation
- nausea or upset stomach
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs to avoid while undergoing treatment
- Crestor should not be taken with antacids that contain aluminum and magnesium such as Maalox, Mylanta, Gelusil and others. If an antacid containing aluminum and magnesium is to be consumed, it should be taken at least 2 hours following a dose of Crestor.
- Prior to taking Crestor, it is advisable to consult your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
- clofibrate (Atromid-S)
- fenofibrate (Tricor)
- gemfibrozil (Lopid)
- niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Nicotinex, others) or
- warfarin (Coumadin)
- You may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
- Drugs other than those listed here may also interfere with the function of Crestor. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
Crestor is a member of a family of drugs known as "Statins". Other members of the statin family include: Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, Lovastatin, Advicor. Crestor reduces your cholesterol by blocking the liver from manufacturing cholesterol. In humans, the liver creates cholesterol at night during sleep. For this reason, Crestor (as well as all of the other statins) should be taken at night.
Crestor works directly in the liver. Crestor inhibits an enzyme that is present in the liver that is necessary to manufacture the bad cholesterol (LDL).
By inhibiting or blocking the action of this liver enzyme, your body's ability to produce cholesterol is dramatically reduced. As an added benefit, Crestor elevates HDL levels. Crestor is definitely beneficial if taken under the proper guidance of your doctor.
The normal starting dose of Crestor is 10mg per day. The maximum dose of Crestor is 40 mg per day.
