Crestor Facts

Introduction

Crestor is the brand name for Rousuvastatin, a drug marketed by AstraZeneca that treats high cholesterol and prevents cardiovascular disease.

How does Crestor work?

Crestor is an inhibitor that helps to slow the production of cholesterol. The manufacturer notes that this inhibiting of cholesterol production must be accompanied by lifestyle changes and better dietary habits to reduce the risk of health disease. As of 2004, there were over 4 million individuals using Crestor.

What are the side effects of Crestor?

Crestor causes some common side effects such as constipation and heartburn and also some very serious ones such as chest pain and difficulty breathing. Patients with liver disease cannot take Crestor, nor can moderate to heavy drinkers. There is tremendous risk in misusing Crestor so it is important to inform the doctor of any side effects associated with taking this drug. The manufacturer also notes that Asian American patients process the drug differently and should start at a lower dose to avoid complications.

What is rhabdomyolysis and how does it relate to Crestor?

Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers that releases myoglobin into the blood stream. This results in severe kidney damage as well as symptoms of muscle pain, weakness and vomiting. Dark brown urine discoloration is a sign that this condition is present. Crestor is believed to cause this condition in some patients as it may exacerbate risk factors for myopathy which eventually leads to kidney failure.

What do I do if I believe that Crestor has caused liver or kidney damage?

There has been controversy over whether medications such as Crestor are safe for consumers as similar medications have been linked to liver and kidney damage. Some specialized lawyers can take cases involving damage caused by Crestor if it can be proven that Crestor is a direct cause or contributor to the patient’s organ failure. Due to controversy of AstraZeneca’s clinical trials, where evidence of rhabdomyolysis were present, the case can be made that the drug company has not done enough to protect consumers and inform them of the risks of taking their otherwise popular drug.

Crestor and birth defects

Additionally, the FDA classifies Crestor as a drug that may cause birth defects for pregnant mothers. If a pregnant mother has been prescribed Crestor without being informed of the potential risks by her doctor, then the doctor is liable for negligence on his part. This is why it is important that women that are pregnant or who may become pregnant must inform their doctor of that fact. Should the doctor fail to recognize that danger, then a negligence case can proceed against the doctor.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000242/