Medical Editor: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
What Is Crestor?
Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) is a statin drug, that works by slowing the production of cholesterol by the body, used to lower cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood and is used to reduce the chances of developing problems like heart disease and strokes that can be caused, in part, by high cholesterol levels. It is often recommended to use Crestor in conjunction with a diet low in fats and cholesterol, and exercise (about 30 min. per day). Crestor is available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Crestor?
Crestor may cause serious side effects including:
- unexplained muscle pain
- muscle tenderness
- muscle weakness
- confusion
- memory problems
- upper stomach pain
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- dark urine
- yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice)
Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Side effects of Crestor include
- headache,
- depression,
- muscle aches or pains,
- joint pain,
- sleep problems (insomnia or nightmares),
- constipation,
- nausea,
- stomach pain,
- indigestion, or
- diarrhea.
Infrequent but serious side effects of Crestor include rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage or destruction) that can lead to acute renal failure and liver damage.
Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:
- Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
- Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
- Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
Dosage for Crestor
Crestor is available in tablets of 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg strengths. Usual dose ranges from 5 to 20 mg per day. Crestor should be taken with water once a day at the same time of day, with or without food. Dosage may be adjusted depending on what medicines the patient is already taking.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Crestor?
Crestor may interact with birth control pills, cimetidine, blood thinners, spironolactone, niacin, or other "statin" medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Crestor During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Crestor should not be taken during pregnancy or during breastfeeding because of potential birth defects.
Additional Information
Our Crestor Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

SLIDESHOW
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Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;
- muscle weakness in your hips, shoulders, neck, and back;
- trouble lifting your arms, trouble climbing or standing;
- confusion, memory problems; or
- liver problems--upper stomach pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Common side effects may include:
- headache;
- weakness;
- muscle aches; or
- nausea, stomach pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

QUESTION
What is cholesterol? See AnswerSIDE EFFECTS
The following important adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in the labeling:
- Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Hepatic Dysfunction [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Proteinuria and Hematuria [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
- Increases in HbA1c and Fasting Serum Glucose Levels [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice.
Adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients in placebo-controlled clinical studies and at a rate greater than placebo are shown in Table 2. These studies had a treatment duration of up to 12 weeks.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with CRESTOR and > Placebo in Placebo-Controlled Trials
Adverse Reactions | Placebo N=382 % |
CRESTOR 5 mg N=291 % |
CRESTOR 10 mg N=283 % |
CRESTOR 20 mg N=64 % |
CRESTOR 40 mg N=106 % |
Total CRESTOR 5 mg-40 mg N=744 % |
Headache | 5.0 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 8.5 | 5.5 |
Nausea | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 0 | 3.4 |
Myalgia | 1.3 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 2.8 |
Asthenia | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 2.7 |
Constipation | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
Other adverse reactions reported in clinical studies were abdominal pain, dizziness, hypersensitivity (including rash, pruritus, urticaria, and angioedema) and pancreatitis. The following laboratory abnormalities have also been reported: dipstick-positive proteinuria and microscopic hematuria; elevated creatine phosphokinase, transaminases, glucose, glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin; and thyroid function abnormalities.
In the METEOR study, patients were treated with CRESTOR 40 mg (n=700) or placebo (n=281) with a mean treatment duration of 1.7 years. Adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients and at a rate greater than placebo are shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with CRESTOR and > Placebo in the METEOR Trial
Adverse Reactions | Placebo N=281 % |
CRESTOR 40 mg N=700 % |
Myalgia | 12.1 | 12.7 |
Arthralgia | 7.1 | 10.1 |
Headache | 5.3 | 6.4 |
Dizziness | 2.8 | 4.0 |
Increased CPK | 0.7 | 2.6 |
Abdominal pain | 1.8 | 2.4 |
ALT greater than 3x ULN2 | 0.7 | 2.2 |
2 Frequency recorded as abnormal laboratory value. |
In the JUPITER study, patients were treated with CRESTOR 20 mg (n=8901) or placebo (n=8901) for a mean duration of 2 years. In JUPITER, there was a significantly higher frequency of diabetes mellitus reported in patients taking CRESTOR (2.8%) versus patients taking placebo (2.3%). Mean HbA1c was significantly increased by 0.1% in CRESTOR-treated patients compared to placebo-treated patients. The number of patients with a HbA1c >6.5% at the end of the trial was significantly higher in CRESTOR-treated versus placebo-treated patients [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and Clinical Studies].
Adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients and at a rate greater than placebo are shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥2% of Patients Treated with CRESTOR and > Placebo in the JUPITER Trial
Adverse Reactions | Placebo N=8901 % |
CRESTOR 20 mg N=8901 % |
Myalgia | 6.6 | 7.6 |
Arthralgia | 3.2 | 3.8 |
Constipation | 3.0 | 3.3 |
Diabetes mellitus | 2.3 | 2.8 |
Nausea | 2.3 | 2.4 |
Pediatric Patients With HeFH
In a 12-week controlled study in pediatric patients 10 to 17 years of age with HeFH with CRESTOR 5 to 20 mg daily [see Use In Specific Populations and Clinical Studies], elevations in serum CK greater than 10 x ULN were observed more frequently in CRESTOR-treated patients compared with patients receiving placebo. Four of 130 (3%) patients treated with CRESTOR (2 treated with 10 mg and 2 treated with 20 mg) had increased CK greater than 10 x ULN, compared to 0 of 46 patients on placebo.
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of CRESTOR. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Blood Disorders: thrombocytopenia
Hepatobiliary Disorders: hepatitis, jaundice, fatal and non-fatal hepatic failure
Musculoskeletal Disorders: arthralgia, rare reports of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with statin use
Nervous System Disorders: peripheral neuropathy, rare postmarketing reports of cognitive impairment (e.g., memory loss, forgetfulness, amnesia, memory impairment, and confusion) associated with the use of all statins. The reports are generally nonserious, and reversible upon statin discontinuation, with variable times to symptom onset (1 day to years) and symptom resolution (median of 3 weeks).
Psychiatric Disorders: depression, sleep disorders (including insomnia and nightmares)
Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: gynecomastia
Respiratory Disorders: interstitial lung disease
Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), lichenoid drug eruption
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Drug Interactions That Increase The Risk Of Myopathy And Rhabdomyolysis With CRESTOR
Rosuvastatin is a substrate of CYP2C9 and transporters (such as OATP1B1, BCRP). Rosuvastatin plasma levels can be significantly increased with concomitant administration of inhibitors of CYP2C9 and transporters. Table 5 includes a list of drugs that increase the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis when used concomitantly with CRESTOR and instructions for preventing or managing them [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Table 5: Drug Interactions that Increase the Risk of Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis with CRESTOR
Cyclosporine | ||
Clinical Impact: | Cyclosporine increased rosuvastatin exposure 7-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of cyclosporine or gemfibrozil with CRESTOR. | |
Intervention: | If used concomitantly, do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 5 mg once daily. | |
Teriflunomide | ||
Clinical Impact: | Teriflunomide increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.5-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
Intervention: | In patients taking teriflunomide, do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. | |
Capmatinib | ||
Clinical Impact: | Capmatinib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.1-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
Intervention: | In patients taking capmatinib, do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. | |
Fostamatinib | ||
Clinical Impact: | Fostamatinib increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 2.0-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
Intervention: | In patients taking fostamatinib, do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 20 mg once daily. | |
Febuxostat | ||
Clinical Impact: | Febuxostat increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 1.9-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
Intervention: | In patients taking febuxostat, do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 20 mg once daily. | |
Gemfibrozil | ||
Clinical Impact: | Gemfibrozil significantly increased rosuvastatin exposure and gemfibrozil may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of gemfibrozil with CRESTOR. | |
Intervention: | Avoid concomitant use of gemfibrozil with CRESTOR. If used concomitantly, initiate CRESTOR at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. | |
Tafamidis | ||
Clinical Impact: | Tafamidis significantly increased rosuvastatin exposure and tafamidis may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of tafamidis with CRESTOR. | |
Intervention: | Avoid concomitant use of tafamidis with CRESTOR. If used concomitantly, initiate CRESTOR at 5 mg once daily and do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. Monitor for signs of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis if used concomitantly with CRESTOR. | |
Anti-Viral Medications | ||
Clinical Impact: | Rosuvastatin plasma levels were significantly increased with concomitant administration of many anti-viral drugs, which increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. | |
Intervention: |
|
Avoid concomitant use with CRESTOR. |
|
Initiate with CRESTOR 5 mg once daily, and do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. | |
Darolutamide | ||
Clinical Impact: | Darolutamide increased rosuvastatin exposure more than 5-fold. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use. | |
Intervention: | In patients taking darolutamide, do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 5 mg once daily. | |
Regorafenib | ||
Clinical Impact: | Regorafenib increased rosuvastatin exposure and may increase the risk of myopathy. | |
Intervention: | In patients taking regorafenib, do not exceed a dose of CRESTOR 10 mg once daily. | |
Fenofibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and fenofibric acid) | ||
Clinical Impact: | Fibrates may cause myopathy when given alone. The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased with concomitant use of fibrates with CRESTOR. | |
Intervention: | Consider if the benefit of using fibrates concomitantly with CRESTOR outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of either drug. | |
Niacin | ||
Clinical Impact: | Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have occurred with concomitant use of lipid-modifying doses (≥1 g/day) of niacin with CRESTOR. | |
Intervention: | Consider if the benefit of using lipid-modifying doses (≥1 g/day) of niacin concomitantly with CRESTOR outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of either drug. | |
Colchicine | ||
Clinical Impact: | Cases of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis have been reported with concomitant use of colchicine with CRESTOR. | |
Intervention: | Consider if the benefit of using colchicine concomitantly with CRESTOR outweighs the increased risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. If concomitant use is decided, monitor patients for signs and symptoms of myopathy, particularly during initiation of therapy and during upward dose titration of either drug. |
Drug Interactions That Decrease The Efficacy Of CRESTOR
Table 6 presents drug interactions that may decrease the efficacy of CRESTOR and instructions for preventing or managing them.
Table 6: Drug Interactions that Decrease the Efficacy of CRESTOR
Antacids | |
Clinical Impact: | Concomitant aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacid administration decreased the mean exposure of rosuvastatin 50% [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. |
Intervention: | In patients taking antacid, administer CRESTOR at least 2 hours after the antacid . |
CRESTOR Effects On Other Drugs
Table 7 presents CRESTOR's effect on other drugs and instructions for preventing or managing them.
Table 7: CRESTOR Effects on Other Drugs
Warfarin | |
Clinical Impact: | Rosuvastatin significantly increased the INR in patients receiving warfarin [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. |
Intervention: | In patients taking warfarin, obtain an INR before starting CRESTOR and frequently enough after initiation, dose titration or discontinuation to ensure that no significant alteration in INR occurs. Once the INR is stable, monitor INR at regularly recommended intervals. |
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Crestor (Rosuvastatin Calcium)
© Crestor Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Crestor Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
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