Crestor Side Effects

Crestor Side Effects, Information and Crestor Tidbits

What is Crestor?

Crestor is a drug prescribed to treat high cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia and related conditions. High cholesterol can cause cardiovascular disease. Crestor (Rosuvastatin) is in a class of drugs called statins. Rosuvastatin is a competitive inhibitor of the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme. It was approved by the FDA in 2003 and is approved in 154 countries worldwide as of 2004.

Crestor is approved to treat dyslipiedmia (LDL cholesterol), hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol) and hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides).

The main competitors to Crestor are Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Vytorin (Zetia and Zocor). As with all statins, the rhabdomyolysis is a possible severe side effect, but the FDA has said "it does not appear the risk is greater with Crestor than with other marketed statins".

Potential for Abuse?

No information available.

Crestor Side Effects

There are several side effects associated with Crestor; Get emergency help immediately if you show any signs of being allergic to Crestor, such as hives, swelling of the face, tongue, lips or throat; or difficulty breathing.

Ohter serious Crestor side effects:

• tenderness, weakness with fever or flu symptoms
• dark colored urine
• urinating more or less than usual
• not urinating at all
• jaundice
• chest pain
• swelling in hands or feet

Less serious Crestor side effects:

• weakness, dizziness
• nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea
• sore throat, runny or stuffy nose
• memory loss
• headache
• pain or burning when you urinate

This is not a complete list of Crestor side effects. Consult your doctor for a full list.

Interesting Crestor Tidbits

Here are some interesting tidbits on Crestor:

• Sales of Crestor were $129 million in 2003, and $908 million in 2004.
  
• 97% of worldwide sales have been for doses at or below 20mg.
• The half life of Crestor is 19 hours.
• Crestor is marketed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
  

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