How to Change From Lipitor to Crestor

Statins, medications that lower cholesterol, are a relatively new class of drugs that are being widely prescribed. Statins work by inhibiting a substance your body uses to produce cholesterol and also may help clear up blood vessels that are already partially blocked by accumulated deposits. Statins include many brand name and generic drugs. Because of genetic differences, the particular statin and dosage level that works best for each patient varies, and it may take some experimentation by a physician to find the best solution. Patients with very high levels of cholesterol may benefit from recent clinical studies that suggest Crestor appears to be at least two times as potent as Lipitor.

Instructions

How to Change From Lipitor to Crestor

• 1

  See a health care professional, since only medical professionals can change statin prescriptions. If Lipitor is not successfully adjusting a patient's cholesterol levels, doctors can choose to prescribe Crestor instead. Clinical trials suggest that Crestor is at least twice as potent as Lipitor.

• 2

  Have blood work done to measure cholesterol levels. Blood analysis, after 10 to 12 hours of fasting, will show levels of "good" cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and "bad" cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The risk of heart disease increases for men and women when HDL levels are under 60 milligram per deciliter. Generally, LDL levels below 100 mg/dL are considered ideal for people at risk of heart disease, while levels below 70 mg/dL are considered optimal for people who have a very high risk of heart disease.

• 3

  Under the care of a health care professional, switch from Lipitor to Crestor. No "washout" period between use is usually required. Generally, a patient stops taking one statin and immediately begins taking the new one, following instructions specific to the new statin. Patients who were advised not to take Lipitor with meals should be advised that Crestor is not affected by food intake.

• 4

  Repeat blood work every three months, under the advice of a health care professional. Blood work will probably be required every three months until optimal cholesterol levels are achieved. Once a patient's cholesterol levels are considered under control, lab work is usually only necessary every six months.

• 5

  Continue to adjust Crestor dosage, if optimal cholesterol levels have not been achieved, with the assistance of a health care professional. Patients should not stop taking a statin without talking to their health care provider first.