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CRESTOR®
(Kres-tor)
(rosuvastatin calcium) Tablets

Read this information carefully before you start taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) . Each time you refill your prescription for CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) , read the patient information, as there may be new information. This summary does not include everything there is to know about CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) and does not take the place of talking with your health care professional about your medical condition or treatment.

If you have any questions about CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) , ask your health care professional. Only your health care professional can tell you if CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) is right for you.

What is CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) ?

CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) is a prescription medicine that belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins. Along with diet, CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) lowers “bad” cholesterol (LDL-C), increases “good” cholesterol (HDL-C). If bad cholesterol levels are left untreated, fatty deposits (plaque) can build up in the walls of the blood vessels. This plaque buildup over time, can lead to narrowing of these vessels. This is one of the most common causes of heart disease. By lowering bad cholesterol in your blood, CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) can slow this plaque buildup in the walls of blood vessels. CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) has been proven to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in older adults without known heart disease.

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance, also called a lipid, normally found in your bloodstream. Your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to function properly. But high cholesterol can lead to health problems. LDL-C is called bad cholesterol because if you have too much in your bloodstream, it can become a danger to your health and can lead to potentially serious conditions. HDL-C is known as good cholesterol because it may help remove excess cholesterol.

Common health factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, family history of early heart disease, and age can make controlling your cholesterol even more important.

What is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is the progressive buildup of plaque in the arteries over time. One major cause is high levels of LDL-C. Other health factors, such as family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, or if you smoke, or are overweight, may also play a role in the formation of plaque in arteries. Often this plaque starts building up in arteries in early adulthood and gets worse over time.

How Does CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) Work?

Most of the cholesterol in your blood is made in the liver. CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) works by reducing cholesterol in two ways: CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) blocks an enzyme in the liver causing the liver to make less cholesterol, and CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) increases the uptake and breakdown by the liver of cholesterol already in the blood.

Who Should Not Take CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) ?

Do not take CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) if you:

• are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant. CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) may harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant, stop taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) and call your health care professional right away
• are breast-feeding. CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) can pass into your breast milk and may harm your baby
• have liver problems
• have had an allergic reaction to CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) or are allergic to any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is rosuvastatin calcium. The inactive ingredients are: microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate, tribasic calcium phosphate, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, triacetin, titanium dioxide, yellow ferric oxide, and red ferric oxide

The safety and effectiveness of CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) have not been established in pediatric patients under the age of 10.

What should I tell my health care professional before taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) ?

Tell your health care professional if you:

• have a history of muscle pain or weakness
• are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant
• are breast-feeding
• drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol daily
• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• have thyroid problems
• are Asian or of Asian descent

Tell your health care professional about all medicines you take or plan to take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) , causing side effects. It is particularly important to tell your health care professional if you are taking or plan to take medicines for:

• your immune system
• cholesterol/triglycerides
• blood thinning
• HIV/AIDS
• preventing pregnancy

Know all of the medicines you take and what they look like. It's always a good idea to check that you have the right prescription before you leave the pharmacy and before you take any medicine. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your health care professional.

If you need to go to the hospital or have surgery, tell all of your health care professionals about all medicines that you are taking.

How Should I Take CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) ?

Take CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) exactly as prescribed by your health care professional. Do not change your dose or stop CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) without talking to your health care professional, even if you are feeling well.

Your health care professional may do blood tests to check your cholesterol levels before and during your treatment with CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) . Your dose of CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) may be changed based on these blood tests results.

CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) can be taken at any time of day, with or without food.

Swallow the tablets whole.

Your health care professional may start you on a cholesterol lowering diet before giving you CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) . Stay on this diet when you take CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) .

Wait at least 2 hours after taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) to take an antacid that contains a combination of aluminum and magnesium hydroxide.

If you miss a dose of CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) , take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take 2 doses of CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) within 12 hours of each other.

If you take too much CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) or overdose, call your health care professional or a Poison Control Center right away or go to the nearest emergency room.

What Should I Avoid While Taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) ?

Talk to your health care professional before you start any new medicines. This includes prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) and certain other medicines can interact, causing serious side effects.

Talk to your health care professional if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not use CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) , stop taking it and contact your health care professional immediately.

What are the Possible Side Effects of CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) ?

CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) can cause side effects in some people.

Serious side effects may include:

Muscle Problems. Call your health care professional right away if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially with fever. This may be an early sign of a rare muscle problem that could lead to serious kidney problems. The risk of muscle problems is greater in people who are 65 years of age or older, or who already have thyroid or kidney problems. The chance of muscle problems may be increased if you are taking certain other medicines with CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) .

Liver problems. Your health care professional should do blood tests before you start taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) and during treatment to check for signs of possible liver problems.

The most common side effects may include:

Headache, muscle aches and pains, abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea.

This is not a complete list of side effects of CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) . Talk to your health care professional for a complete list or if you have side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

How Do I Store CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) ?

Store CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) at room temperature, 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C) and in a dry place.

If your health care professional tells you to stop treatment or if your medicine is out of date, throw the medicine away.

Keep CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) and all medicines in a secure place and out of the reach of children.

What are the Ingredients in CRESTOR?

Active Ingredient: rosuvastatin calcium

Inactive Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose NF, lactose monohydrate NF, tribasic calcium phosphate NF, crospovidone NF, magnesium stearate NF, hypromellose NF, triacetin NF, titanium dioxide USP, yellow ferric oxide, and red ferric oxide NF.

General Information About CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium)

It is important to take CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) as prescribed and to discuss any health changes you experience while taking CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) with your health care professional. Do not use CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) to other people, even if they have the same medical condition you have. It may harm them.

This leaflet summarizes important information about CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) . If you would like more information about CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) , ask your health care professional. You can also go to the CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) website at www.crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) .com or call 1-800-CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) .

Last reviewed on RxList: 1/6/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.