Side Effects of Crestor
Crestor is a statin medication used in the treatment of elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. The active ingredient in Crestor is rosuvastatin calcium, which inhibits an enzyme that the liver uses to produce cholesterol. Crestor is usually taken once a day as part of an overall treatment plan that includes lifestyle modifications, such as a diet low in saturated fat and increased physical activity.
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Function
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Crestor, like other statins, works in the liver to reduce the amount of cholesterol the body produces. Most non-statin cholesterol-lowering medications work by preventing the absorption of cholesterol from food. These medications are sometimes prescribed with Crestor, especially for people who have very elevated cholesterol levels. Because Crestor works in the liver, some side effects associated with the drug are related to liver function.
Effects
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Most people who take Crestor do not notice any side effects. Others may experience muscle pain, weakness, headache, abnormal results from liver function tests, pain in the side or back and difficulty urinating. Women who are pregnant, suspect they may be pregnant or who do not use reliable birth control should not take Crestor. The fetus requires cholesterol to grow normally, and taking Crestor during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.
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Significance
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Muscle pain and weakness associated with Crestor is usually mild and does not indicate a serious problem. However, in very rare cases, severe muscle pain can be due to a condition called rhabdomyolysis, which causes a rapid breakdown of skeletal muscles. This condition is extremely dangerous because the muscle cells enter the bloodstream and are filtered out by the kidneys. This can lead to severe kidney damage or failure, and in some cases, death. Severe muscle pain should be reported to a doctor promptly, but only 1 in 15 million people who take statin medications develop rhabdomyolysis.
Considerations
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Crestor should not be used as a sole treatment; instead, it may be used as part of a treatment plan for elevated cholesterol. Most people with mild cholesterol elevation do not require medication. Diet and exercise are usually sufficient to reduce their cholesterol to a normal level. Crestor should not usually be taken by people who have impaired liver or kidney function. It is less effective in people who are very obese.
Prevention/Solution
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While uncomfortable side effects caused by Crestor are fairly common, in most cases they can be prevented by taking the drug at night. Side effects are rarely severe enough to cause night-waking. For this reason, most doctors recommend that patients take Crestor immediately before going to bed. Liver problems caused by Crestor are much more likely to occur in people who drink heavily; alcohol consumption should be strictly limited when taking this medication.
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