How Does Crestor Work?
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Purpose
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Crestor is the brand name for a drug called rosuvastatin. According to Patient Health International, Crestor reduces the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a patient's blood. It works directly on the lipids in the patient's blood when he hasn't been able to reduce them himself by using a modified diet and exercise routine. Crestor is effective even when lifestyle modifications aren't, because it has a direct chemical effect on the body.
Function
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Crestor is a statin, a type of medication known as an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. HMG-CoA reductase is a body enzyme that facilitates the production of cholesterol. By inhibiting this enzyme, Crestor causes a reduction in the amount of LDL cholesterol that's produced, resulting in a lower level. LDL cholesterol is considered to be the "bad" type that can lead to heart attacks and other health problems. The use of Crestor also leads to higher levels of HDL cholesterol, considered to be a healthy, beneficial type.
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Dose
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Crestor tends to work aggressively because it's typically given in high doses, according to the Medication Sense site. A standard starting dose is 10 mg., a high enough amount to slash LDL cholesterol levels by up to 52 percent. However, some patients don't need such a high reduction. For them, a lower dose might be just as effective for their needs while exposing them to fewer potential side effects.
Effectiveness
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Studies have shown that Crestor works very effectively in most patients. According to its manufacturer, it reduced the LDL cholesterol level in a study group by up to 52 percent, as compared to a 7 percent reduction in a group that received a placebo. At the same time, it boosted the HDL cholesterol level by up to 14 percent.
Side Effects
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Crestor has potentially dangerous, and even fatal, effects in some patients. According to the Public Citizen watchdog group, seven participants in the pre-release studies had an adverse reaction called rhabdomyolysis. This causes muscle tissue tissue to be destroyed, which can lead to kidney failure. If not caught and treated in time, this effect can be fatal due to renal failure. Because of this, the Food and Drug Administration requires a special warning on Crestor's label. It advises that certain high-risk patients, such as people who have renal problems or high blood pressure or are over age 65, should be put on a lower dose and monitored very carefully for rhabdomyolysis. Crestor can also have potentially serious interactions when taken with common antacid medications. Due to these problems, there have been many lawsuits involving Crestor.
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