What Is Crestor?

Date: Jul-23-2012Crestor (Rosuvastatin) belongs to a class of drugs known as "statins" or "HMG CoA reductase inhibitors". Crestor reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The medication is also prescribed to lower triglycerides in the blood.

LDL (low density lipoprotein) - also known as "bad cholesterol". LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to cells. If too much LDL is carried, more than the cells can use, there can be a harmful accumulation of LDL, which raises the risk of arterial disease. Human blood contains about 70% LDL - although this can vary.

Crestor, like other statins, prevents the production of LDL by suppressing HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the liver that plays a crucial role in cholesterol production. By doing this, the medication helps prevents coronary artery diseases, and other cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, stroke and angina.

Crestor can lower LDL production by up to 52% (at 10mg dose compared to 7% with placebo), according to pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The company adds that for greatest results, Crestor treatment should be accompanied by a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol and regular physical exercise.

HDL (high density lipoprotein) - also known as "good cholesterol". According to experts, HDL protects us from arterial disease; it takes cholesterol away from cells and returns it to the liver, in effect doing the opposite of LDL. Cholesterol is either broken down in the liver or expelled from the body as waste.

Crestor also raises blood levels of HDL.

Triglycerides - these are chemicals, consisting of three molecules of fatty acid combined with a molecule of the alcohol glycerol, and are the major forms of fat stored in the human body. Triglycerides are present in blood plasma. Together with cholesterol, triglycerides form the blood fats (plasma lipids). When our body requires energy and there is no food as an energy source, hormones are released which in turn release triglycerides from fat cells, these are then used as energy. When triglyceride levels are too high, there is a greater risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and inflammation of the pancreas.







Crestor has been proven to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis, when taken along with a special diet and exercise.

A 2009 study found that  Crestor reduced the risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots) by 43% when given to healthy adults (See video below).

Crestor's primary medical use
Crestor's primary medical use is for treating dyslipidemia - a lipoprotein metabolism disorder which results in high triglyceride and LDL concentrations, and low levels of HDL in the blood. According to the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration), it should only be prescribed if other measures have not worked, such as losing weight, changing diet, and doing exercise.
Crestor indications
Crestor has been approved in the USA for the treatment of:

Dyslipidemia
Hypercholesterolemia - high total cholesterol
Hypertriglyceridemia - high triglycerides
For the primary prevention of cardiovascular events - including congenital heart disease, disorders of the peripheral vascular system, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, arrhythmia, heart valve disease, orthostatic hypotension, endocarditis, heart failure, diseases of the aorta and its branches, and coronary artery disease.

Crestor was first approved in the USA in August 2003. By 2004 it was approved in 154 countries and marketed in 56.
Important information regarding Crestor
The following people should not take Crestor:

Those who are allergic to rosuvastatin
Pregnant mothers. If you become pregnant, stop taking Crestor and tell your doctor.
Breastfeeding mothers
Patients with liver disease

The following groups of people should make sure their doctors know before being prescribed Crestor:

Patients with kidney disease
Individuals with liver disease
People with diabetes
Patients with a thyroid disorder
Those with Chinese ancestry
People who consume more than two alcoholic drinks each day

Tell your doctor immediately if you have unexplained weakness or muscle pain, experience unexplained tiredness, lose your appetite, have upper belly pain, produce dark urine, or develop jaundice. All these are signs and symptoms of rare put potentially serious side effects.

Patients taking Crestor run a very slight risk of developing rhabdomyolysis, breakdown of the skeletal muscles which release certain proteins, including myoglobin into the bloodstream. Myoglobin can damage the kidneys and cause kidney failure. Anybody suspected of developing rhabdomyolysis should stop taking Crestor immediately.

Diet - Crestor will be less effective if the patient does not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan. Patients must avoid foods that are high in cholesterol and fat.

Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels, as well as raising the chance of liver damage. Alcohol should be avoided.

Other medications - certain medications may increase the risk of medical problems and complications if taken together with Crestor. Examples include, cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, drugs that contain niacin, some HIV medications (atazanavir, ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, and saquinavir), and fenofibrate.
What are the side effects of Crestor?
The most common side effects linked to Crestor therapy include:

Abdominal pain
Blurred vision
Clay-colored stools
Confusion
Dark urine
Drowsiness
Fever
Headache
Jaundice
Memory problems
Muscle aches
Nausea
Swelling
Weakness, muscle pain, tenderness
Weight gain

Crestor is licensed from Shionogi & Co, Ltd, Japan, and is manufactured and marketed by AstraZeneca.

Written by Christia n Nordqvist

View drug information on Crestor; Fenofibrate.

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