Crestor (Rosuvastatin Calcium)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Quick Facts
What Is Crestor Used For?
Crestor contains rosuvastatin calcium and belongs to a group of medicines called statins. It works by lowering 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and raising 'good' cholesterol (HDL) when diet and exercise alone aren't enough.
Primary Uses
Crestor is used to lower high cholesterol levels. Even if you have normal cholesterol, it can reduce your risk of stroke or heart attack if you're a man 50+ years old or woman 60+ years old with at least 2 risk factors like high blood pressure, low good cholesterol, smoking, or family history of heart disease.
How It Works
Crestor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that blocks cholesterol production in your body. It lowers bad cholesterol that can block blood vessels to your heart and brain, while helping remove bad cholesterol from blood vessels through good cholesterol.
Good to know: You'll need to continue following a low-fat diet, control your weight, and exercise regularly while taking Crestor, as it doesn't reduce cholesterol from dietary fat.
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How to Take Crestor
Take Crestor exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The dose depends on your condition and ethnic background, and your doctor will monitor your cholesterol levels to adjust if needed.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is 5mg to 20mg taken once daily, but some patients may need 40mg once daily. For high cholesterol, doctors typically start with 5mg or 10mg daily. For stroke/heart attack prevention with normal cholesterol, the starting dose may be 20mg. Swallow tablets whole with water. You can take at any time of day, with or without food. Maximum daily dose is 40mg.
What If You Miss a Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, as long as it's more than 6 hours before your next dose. If less than 6 hours remain, wait until your next scheduled dose. Take it as normal – don't double up on doses.
Important: Never increase or adjust your Crestor dose yourself. Don't take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- headache
- constipation
- dizziness
- nausea (feeling sick)
- stomach pain
- unusual tiredness or general weakness
- muscle pain
- stiff or painful joints
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- significant increase in urination, hunger, or thirst
- muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness not from exercise (especially with fever)
- difficulty breathing or coughing
- swelling of face, eyelids, or lips
- widespread rash with high fever and enlarged lymph nodes
- skin rash or mouth sores
- breathing problems with general unwellness (fatigue, weight loss, fever)
Important Warnings
Certain people should not take Crestor, and others need special monitoring. Always tell your doctor about all medical conditions and medications.
Who Should Not Take Crestor
Don't take Crestor if you're allergic to rosuvastatin calcium or any ingredients, are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or have active liver disease or elevated liver enzymes. Don't take the 40mg dose if you have low thyroid levels, personal/family history of muscle disorders, previous muscle problems from cholesterol medications, heavy alcohol use, Asian heritage, are taking fibrates or fusidic acid, have severe kidney problems, or other conditions that increase Crestor blood levels.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to other statins, liver or kidney problems, low thyroid levels, personal/family history of muscle disorders, history of muscle problems from cholesterol medications, unexplained muscle aches, or if you regularly drink large amounts of alcohol.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Don't take Crestor if pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Crestor, stop immediately and see your doctor. Ask about effective contraception methods. The medicine can pass into breast milk and may harm your baby.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines can interfere with Crestor and affect how it works. Your doctor may need to adjust doses or monitor you more closely.
- ciclosporin (used after organ transplant)
- antacids (take Crestor 2 hours before or after antacids)
- warfarin (blood thinner)
- clopidogrel or ticagrelor (prevent blood clots)
- gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, or ezetimibe (lower blood lipids)
- fusidic acid (treats infections)
- febuxostat (treats high uric acid)
- teriflunomide (treats multiple sclerosis)
- antiviral medications (atazanavir, darunavir, glecaprevir, lopinavir, pibrentasvir, ritonavir, sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, voxilaprevir)
- anti-cancer medications (regorafenib, darolutamide)
- eltrombopag (increases platelet count)
- tafamidis (treats protein disorders)
Alcohol & Driving
Be cautious with alcohol consumption and driving while taking Crestor, as it may affect some people differently.
Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption may not be safe while taking Crestor. Tell your doctor if you regularly drink large amounts of alcohol.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Crestor affects you. While it generally doesn't cause problems, it may cause dizziness in some people.
Storage
Keep tablets in the blister pack until time to take them. Store in a cool, dry place below 30°C, away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Don't store in bathrooms, near sinks, in cars, or on window sills. Keep away from children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you or someone else has taken too much Crestor, get urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your doctor will monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels during treatment to see how well Crestor is working and may adjust your dose if needed.
Yes, you can take Crestor at any time of day, with or without food. It doesn't matter whether you take it with meals or on an empty stomach.
Don't stop taking Crestor unless you've discussed it with your doctor. If you stop, your cholesterol and triglyceride levels may rise again. You may need to take cholesterol-lowering medicines for the rest of your life.
Excessive alcohol consumption may not be safe while taking Crestor. Tell your doctor if you regularly drink large amounts of alcohol.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, as long as it's more than 6 hours before your next dose. If less than 6 hours remain, wait until your next scheduled dose and take it normally. Never take a double dose.
Your doctor will decide the most appropriate starting dose based on your condition and ethnic background. Special considerations apply for the 40mg dose in certain populations including those with Asian heritage.
Yes, while taking Crestor you need to follow a low-fat diet, control your weight, and exercise regularly. Crestor doesn't reduce cholesterol that comes from fat in food, so lifestyle changes remain important.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.