Crestor Medication for Cholesterol

Crestor is a brand name for the oral prescription medication rosuvastatin calcium. Doctors commonly prescribe Crestor for use in patients with elevated low-density lipoprotein levels or high cholesterol.

Function

• Crestor functions by disrupting the production of cholesterol in your liver and increasing the amount of cholesterol that your body processes or breaks down.

Benefits

• When combined with changes in diet and increased exercise, taking Crestor may delay or prevent the onset of heart disease due to hardening of your arteries, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Time Frame

• Doctors commonly prescribe between 5mg and 40mg of Crestor to be taken once per day, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Once you begin to take Crestor, you will likely continue treatment for the rest of your life in order to keep your cholesterol levels within a safe range.

Risks

• Common side effects of Crestor include headaches, muscle or abdominal pain, weakness and nausea, and occur in more than 2 percent of patients, according to FDA clinical trials published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Risks associated with Crestor include breakdown of muscle tissue, kidney damage and decreased liver functioning.

Considerations

• Because Crestor has the potential to cause fetal harm, doctors avoid prescribing the drug for pregnant women. If you have a history of alcohol abuse, kidney or liver disease, hyperthyroidism, convulsions, electrolyte imbalances, hypertension or metabolic enzyme deficiency, it may not be safe for you to take Crestor, warns the Mayo Clinic.