Crestor

What is Crestor used for?

Crestor is used to treat high cholesterol. Cholesterol is produced naturally by the liver and is also present in fatty foods. When the cholesterol level in the body is too high this causes the blood cells to carry excess fat, increasing your risk of heart disease.

How does Crestor work?

Crestor is a type of medicine called a statin that decreases the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol within the blood. It also helps the cholesterol which has built up in the arteries be reabsorbed by the body. This is more commonly known as LDL cholesterol or “bad” cholesterol, and over time it can narrow and harden the blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular disease.

How long does it take for Crestor to work?

It usually takes up to four weeks for Crestor to affect your cholesterol levels. After this, you can expect your cholesterol to be more stable.

How do I know if Crestor is working?

Having a blood test to check your cholesterol levels will determine whether or not Crestor is working for you. Your doctor will invite you to have a check-up after the first four to eight weeks of taking Crestor. After that, once you are on a stable dose, you'll usually have a test once a year to monitor the cholesterol level in your blood.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in the medicine is rosuvastatin. 

Inactive ingredients

The other ingredients contained in Crestor are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, calcium phosphate, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, triacetin, titanium dioxide (E171). 

Note inactive ingredients may differ depending on formulation and dose.

How to take Crestor?

Crestor should be taken daily, around the same time each day, with or without food. Always follow the instructions given to you by your doctor. 

Crestor dosage

The starting dose is usually 5–10mg, but your dose may be increased depending on your cholesterol levels and overall health. The maximum dose is 40mg.

Lifestyle changes to make when taking Crestor

There are several lifestyle changes that you can make to help reduce your cholesterol to a healthy level alongside Crestor. These include eating a healthy diet low in fat, losing weight if you are overweight, eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol intake and stopping smoking.

Crestor side effects

Like all medications, Crestor can cause side effects in some patients. If you experience either of the following, stop taking this medication and consult a doctor immediately:

If you experience either of the following, stop taking this medication and consult a doctor immediately:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, including swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, sudden wheezing, severe rash or itching, high fever
• Joint pain or inflammation
• Skin eruptions or inflammation, hives or sudden sensitivity to sunlight
• Sudden muscle aching, weakness, tenderness or pain
• Unusual bruising or bleeding
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes, itching, dark-coloured urine or pale-coloured stool
• Abdominal pain

Common or very common side effects

• Weakness (asthenia)
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Flatulence
• Abdominal discomfort
• Headache
• Muscle aches (myalgia)
• Nausea
• Sleep disorders
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelets in the blood, manifested by easily bruising)

Uncommon

• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Liver disorders
• Memory loss
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, manifested by upper abdominal pain)
• Paraesthesia (numbness & tingling sensations)
• Sexual dysfunction
• Skin reactions
• Vomiting

Rare or very rare

• Muscle pains (myopathy)
• Peripheral neuropathy (sensory symptoms such as tingling or pins and needles)
• Tendon pain (tendinopathy)
• Joint pain
• Gynaecomastia (breast tissue growth in men)
• Blood in the urine

Frequency not known

• Depression
• Diabetes mellitus (in those at risk of diabetes)
• Interstitial lung disease
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling 
• Protein in the urine
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (a severe skin condition)

Contraindications

Do NOT take Crestor if you are:

• Allergic to any of the ingredients in this medication
• Pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant or could be pregnant already (you should carefully use contraception for the duration of treatment and for one month after stopping)
• Breastfeeding
• Taking any medications that interact with statins

Before taking Crestor, tell your doctor and take special care if you:

• Have a history of liver problems
• Have any kidney problems
• Have any thyroid problems
• Have ever had muscle problems, e.g. myopathy or rhabdomyolysis
• Have a personal or family history of muscle disorder
• Drink a lot of alcohol or have a history of alcohol abuse
• Are of Asian ethnicity

Drug interactions

Before taking Crestor, tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medications, including those purchased over the counter without a prescription. In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following, as they may interfere with the way Crestor works:

• Ciclosporin
• Warfarin or clopidogrel
• Fibrates such as gemfibrozil and fenofibrate
• Any other medication used to lower cholesterol, such as ezetimibe
• Indigestion remedies such as antacids
• Erythromycin
• Fusidic acid 
• Hormonal contraceptives
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Antiviral medications such as ritonavir, lopinavir, atazanavir or simeprevir, used in the treatment of HIV and hepatitis C infection.

Crestor and alcohol

You will need to limit your alcohol intake while taking Crestor as it could have a negative impact on your liver. It's recommended not to exceed two alcoholic drinks per day.

Foods to avoid when taking Crestor

There are no foods you need to avoid while taking Crestor. Grapefruit juice often interacts with statins but does not affect Crestor.

Can Crestor cause weight gain?

Crestor doesn't directly cause weight gain, but the side effects may discourage your physical activity, particularly if you experience muscle aches. Maintaining a healthy diet is important to avoid gaining weight if you don't feel able to exercise enough.

Will Crestor affect my sleep?

Crestor has not been shown to affect your sleep.

Lifestyle changes to help reduce cholesterol

Your lifestyle can have an impact on your cholesterol. Eating a low-fat diet, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active and quitting smoking are all factors that will positively impact your cholesterol. 

Crestor vs other statins

Crestor is more potent than some other statins. It takes effect in the body right away, whereas other statins may need to be broken down through the gut first. As a result, Crestor is less likely to react with other types of medication, and there may be less chance of experiencing muscular or nerve-related side effects than other statins.

Alternatives to Crestor

Atorvastatin is another high-intensity Statin of similar strength. Pravastatin and simvastatin are two other available statins, but these are known as low-intensity, so they may not be as effective as Crestor.

Switching statins

Statins are very effective, but they may not agree with everyone. If you have been prescribed a statin to manage your cholesterol, your doctor will assess your medical history and symptoms to determine which one may be most suitable. If you experience unpleasant side effects or your medication isn't working, report this to your doctor, who may issue you with a different type of statin or another form of cholesterol-lowering medication. Always follow the advice of a doctor in these circumstances.

Will I have to take Crestor forever?

You will probably need to take Crestor, or another statin, for the rest of your life. The medicine is designed for long term use, so it will only be effective if you keep taking it.

How does Crestor affect the liver?

One of the more serious side effects of Crestor is developing liver disease. Before being prescribed the medication, your doctor may do a blood test to check the health of your liver and monitor your side effects once you begin treatment. Although it's not common, indicators of liver disease include jaundiced skin or eyes, tiredness, upper abdominal pain, dark coloured urine and a loss of appetite. If this is a concern, then discuss this with your doctor before taking Crestor.