Crestor

Crestor is in a group of drugs called “statins,” which works by reducing levels of “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides, while increase levels of “good” cholesterol. It has been used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack and other heart complications in people who suffer from coronary heart disease and diabetes. The FDA approved Crestor in 2003 and it is manufactured by AstraZeneca. It is suggested that Crestor be used alongside a low-cholesterol diet and exercise program to reduce “bad” cholesterol in the bloodstream.

In 2007, a study found that Crestor could have been the cause of serious adverse events in some patients from 1998 to 2005. The study, conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., linked the use of Crestor to the disease Rhabdomyolysis. This disease causes death of skeletal muscle cells, which releases a massive amount of muscle protein into the blood stream. This protein can become trapped in the kidneys and can lead to kidney failure. Other issues related to Crestor include liver failure and liver death.

Other serious side effects that have been linked to Crestor are cardiac arrest, myopathy, necrotizing myopathy, heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, sudden cardiac death, kidney failure and death from a heart related condition.

Serious side effects may include:

• Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
• Confusion, memory problems
• Fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine
• Swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all
• Increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss
• Nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Other side effects may include:

• Headache, depressed mood
• Mild muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares
• Constipation
• Mild nausea
• Stomach pain or indigestion