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Crestor and Stomach Pain

Crestor is the brand name for rosuvastatin calcium, a statin drug, designed to lower cholesterol levels in the body. It's often prescribed to fight atherosclerosis, more commonly known as "clogging of the arteries," and is part of an overall plan that includes a low-cholesterol diet. Though it has been shown to reduce LDL levels by as much as 52 percent, Crestor may have some side effects, one of which is stomach pain.

  1. How Crestor Works

    • The liver is responsible for making most of the cholesterol found in blood, and Crestor works in the liver. By blocking the enzyme HMG-CoA, Crestor causes the liver to make less cholesterol. It also increases cholesterol uptake and breakdown of cholesterol already in the blood. In this way, Crestor lowers bad cholesterol (LDL), while at the same time it raises the good (HDL). It is classified as an HMG Co-A reductase inhibitor.

    Dosage

    • Crestor is a pill, taken orally. The dosage may range from 5 to 40mg. If you are prescribed Crestor, the doctor will usually begin with a 10mg dose, unless you are in a "high risk" group, in which case you will probably begin at 5mg. You fall in this group if you are Asian-American, take Cyclosporine, have had severe kidney failure, or are 65 or older. The 40mg dosage is prescribed only to patients who haven't responded to the 20mg pill and diet. Typically, after two to four weeks, your doctor will check your lipid levels, and your dosage may be adjusted.

    Abdominal Pain

    • Abdominal pain, along with headache, muscle pain, nausea, and weakness, is listed by Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, the creator of Crestor, as among the most common, yet infrequent, side effects. These may pass without altering your treatment. However, the FDA issued an alert in March 2005 warning that serious muscle damage had been found in patients taking statin drugs, to include Crestor. To reduce the risk, Crestor revised its recommendations for safe use and dosage.

    Precautions

    • Before beginning treatment with Crestor, tell your doctor if you're pregnant or plan to be. You should also let your doctor know if you are breast feeding. If you have a history of muscle weakness or pain, or have liver, thyroid or kidney problems, Crestor may not be for you. Again, share this information with your doctor. Finally, tell your doctor if you drink more than two glasses of alcohol daily, or take any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

    Warnings

    • If you have abdominal pain, or any of the other side effects, while taking Crestor, contact your physician. He or she may change your dosage or recommend you stop taking Crestor altogether. The National Institutes of Health recommend you not change the dosage of, or stop taking Crestor, without first contacting your doctor.

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