If you are struggling to keep your cholesterol under control, no doubt you have considered taking a statin. Crestor is one of these popular cholesterol-lowering drugs. What do you know about Crestor side effects?
Considering Crestor?
Q. My doctor reviewed my laboratory results today and tried to convince me that I need to take Crestor for high cholesterol. I have heard a lot about statin side effects, but my doctor was quite emphatic that they are mostly invented by people who have an axe to grind.
What can you tell me about statins in general and Crestor in particular? A friend has suggested niacin as an alternative, but I am reluctant to try something without my doctor’s approval and I am afraid that if I don’t take Crestor I will make him angry.
A. Crestor (rosuvastatin) is one of the most potent statins on the market. That means a lower dose packs a bigger punch and lowers cholesterol quite dramatically. According to Consumer Reports Health Best Buy Drugs, 40 mg of lovastatin (Mevacor) is likely to reduce LDL cholesterol on average about 31% whereas 5 mg of Crestor would lower LDL cholesterol between 39% and 46%. In other words, one-eighth the dose of Crestor produces a bigger cholesterol-lowering bang.
We have heard from many people that the lowest dose of Crestor (5 mg) lowers their cholesterol, makes their doctor happy and doesn’t produce side effects. They may be naturally resistant to Crestor side effects. We have heard from many others, however, who have experienced pretty dramatic complications.
Crestor Side Effects:
- Headache
- Muscle aches, muscle cramps, muscle pain, fatigue, weakness
- Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea
- Blood sugar elevation, diabetes
- Back pain
- Sore throat, flu symptoms, sinusitis
- Dizziness
- Itching, rash
- Liver damage, liver failure, kidney damage
- Insomnia, sleeping difficulties, nightmares
- Forgetfulness, memory problems, amnesia, confusion
- Peripheral neuropathy, nerve tingling, nerve burning
- Pancreatitis
- Cataracts
A long list of side effects can be dry reading, though. It doesn’t truly reveal the reality of what it is like to experience an adverse drug reaction. We have received thousands of reports of Crestor side effects over the last two decades. They are remarkably similar.
One reader reported muscle cramps:
” I am 57 years old. I was put on Crestor (10 mg a day) 7 years ago. Since then I’ve always had very serious, reoccurring cramps in the front of my thigh(s). I assumed it was just me. Not drinking enough water, and/or a lack of potassium. The pain would be so severe at times that I’ve even jumped in my hot tub fully clothed in an effort to relieve the pain. Due to my profession, I was shot in the hand with a 45 caliber bullet, (soft tissue, no bone) and I can tell in all confidence that this cramp pain is worse!
“This last year, I fell on hard financial times, and had to quit paying for my health insurance. Long story short, I was forced to stop taking Crestor. To my surprise the cramps are totally gone!
“Nonetheless, I was able to keep my cholesterol in check by nearly eliminating all sugar in my diet, and eating mainly vegetables, and lean meats (very little bread and pasta) and riding a stationary bike every day for 30 minutes.
“I’ll never go back on Crestor again!”
Another reader had eye problems:
“I started taking Crestor November 2010. I developed cataracts in both eyes and had surgeries in May 2011. My primary physician and my ophthalmologist both disagreed that Crestor could have caused it. Because I was 58 at the time, I don’t think these were old-age cataracts. Instead, I believe the cataracts were due to the Crestor.”
Did Crestor cause diabetes?
“My husband has been taking statins for years and didn’t do well with any of them until he took Crestor. After about 6 years on Crestor he developed diabetes which I believe may have been caused by Crestor. At the same time, he was experiencing muscle weakness and soreness but the doctor didn’t believe that Crestor could have been the cause.
“Because I am aware of the data that you at the People’s Pharmacy have been reporting for years, I insisted that my husband be taken off of Crestor and be put on something else that is not so harmful. The only thing his doctor could come up with was Livalo, which I am told does not work like a statin, but is it a statin? [It is-pitavastatin.]
“The kicker is that even though my husband does have high cholesterol, he does not have heart disease. He went into surgery a few years ago thinking they were going to find blocked arteries, and they found that his arteries are completely clear. The cardiologist released him from his care, but told him he should still take statins.”
This person had a range of problems:
“I was put on Crestor and within a month my cholesterol had been lowered from nearly 300 to 131. Not long after, I began to experience the side effects. I could not walk without limping with horrible pain from the waist on down; memory problems; stuttering; mood swings. Crestor turned my stomach in to mush; I could not process food. One night while jogging (through the pain) I fell down totally exhausted and could not continue! I have been running and lifting weights for over 40 years (I am 49 now), and I knew something bad was wrong with me.
“I threw the Crestor in the trash! Now I take everything I can to stay healthy including Red Yeast Rice supplement, flaxseed oil, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, etc. I am not sure if it works or not, but my blood pressure is in the 115-120 range top number and 75-86 bottom number.”
There is no way to predict how any given individual will react to a statin like Crestor. As mentioned earlier, some people experience no side effects whatsoever. Others, however, can be disabled by muscle pain and weakness. We worry about cataracts, elevated blood sugar and nerve pain. We have also received reports of memory problems, confusion and cognitive dysfunction.
Doctors may change their minds about statins when they experience serious side effects themselves (Koslik et al, Drug Safety – Case Reports, Dec. 2017). Occasionally they may find that their physicians have dismissive attitudes towards problems such as muscle pain, exercise intolerance, neuropathy or cognitive dysfunction. But when they have experienced such trouble in person, they re-evaluate when statins should be used.
Keeping Your Heart Healthy:
In conclusion, you will have to pay attention to your body to see whether Crestor is safe for you. We would also suggest some other options to talk over with your physician. There are many nondrug ways to get cholesterol under control and lower the risk of heart disease. Here are just a few:
- Mediterranean diet
- Anti-inflammatory foods
- Nuts
- Chocolate (dark and in moderation)
- Grape juice (& pomegranate juice)
- Cinnamon
- Psyllium
- Magnesium
Don’t forget that regular exercise is critical to maintaining heart health, whether it lowers cholesterol or not. You will find more details in our Guide to Cholesterol Control & Heart Health. Good luck whichever path you choose!
Revised 7/10/17
