9 Crestor Side Effects Doctors Say Every Woman Should Know Before Taking This Statin
Crestor is highly effective at lowering cholesterol, but has similar side effects to other statins
Key Takeaways
- Most Crestor side effects that occur are mild and often improve over time.
- Muscle aches, headache and nausea are among the most common side effects.
- Certain warning signs, like dark urine or severe muscle pain, need urgent care.
You just got the green light from your doctor to start taking a statin to help move your health in the right direction. The statin of choice for you? Crestor. And you wouldn’t be alone. ClinicCalc says more than 11 million Americans were taking Crestor in the United States in 2023. The first thing you did after leaving your doctor’s office was hit up Google to ask all of your burning questions, with one of the biggest likely being, “What are the side effects?” We asked experts to break down the Crestor side effects you should know, including the most common ones plus the sneaky ones you might mistake for something else.
What is Crestor?
“Crestor, also known by its generic name rosuvastatin, is a prescription drug that lowers your levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often called ‘bad’ cholesterol,” says Amy Fitzpatrick, MD, chief medical officer at Bedrock Recovery and assistant professor of medicine at Boston University. “In addition to lowering bad cholesterol levels, Crestor reduces the risks associated with having a heart attack, a stroke or suffering from cardiovascular disease.”
What type of statin is Crestor?
Crestor works like other statins by blocking a liver enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which the body uses to make cholesterol, explains Kardie Tobb, DO, MS, FASPC, FACC, a board-certified preventive cardiologist and the medical director for the Cone Health HeartCare Women’s Heart Health and Cardio-Obstetrics Clinic. When HMG-CoA reductase is blocked and the liver makes less cholesterol, it pulls more “bad” LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream.
So if Crestor works like other statins, what makes it unique? “Crestor is considered a high-intensity statin,” says Dr. Tobb. “Along with atorvastatin, it is one of the most potent statins available. One advantage of Crestor is that it can achieve substantial LDL reduction even at relatively low doses. It also has fewer drug interactions than some other statins because it is metabolized differently by the liver.”
Common Crestor side effects to watch for
While Crestor is a highly effective statin, like all medications, it’s not without side effects. Dr. Tobb and Dr. Fitzpatrick say the most common Crestor side effects include:
- Soreness and muscle pain or weakness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Mild joint pain
- Abdominal discomfort and constipation
“These occur due to statins’ interference with cholesterol formation,” explains Dr. Fitzpatrick. “Since cholesterol is involved in the functioning of all cells within the body, particularly those in the muscles, it can cause issues when statins reduce its availability.”
Sneaky Crestor side effects
Crestor can also result in side effects you might not immediately connect to the medication. Dr. Fitzpatrick says the sneaky ones include:
- Memory changes, such as difficulty remembering new words
- Slightly higher blood sugar levels
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Muscle weakness
“Most individuals will not experience these side effects; however, they need to discuss them with their healthcare providers [if they do],” adds Dr. Fitzpatrick.
Are you at risk for Crestor side effects?
Dr. Tobb says your risk of experiencing side effects from statins such as Crestor is higher if you are:
- An adult over 65
- Living with kidney disease
- Taking a higher dose of Crestor
- Living with untreated hypothyroidism
- Someone with statin intolerance or a previous history of statin intolerance
Serious side effects from Crestor, including severe muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) and liver injury, are uncommon. If you do experience any severe side effects, it’s important to seek urgent medical attention. Dr. Fitzpatrick says the warning signs for these conditions include:
- Extreme muscle pain
- Dark- or cola-colored urine
- Extreme exhaustion or weakness
- Yellow eyes or skin
- Persistent vomiting
- Swelling in the head and neck area
- High fever
What to do if you do experience Crestor side effects
While experiencing Crestor side effects can be a scary, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Crestor isn’t a great fit for you. “Many people who initially experience mild side effects find that they improve over several weeks,” says Dr. Tobb. “Others may do well with a lower dose or a different statin.”
If you do experience Crestor side effects, Dr. Tobb recommends three quick steps:
- Pay attention to when your symptoms started and how severe they are.
- Keep track of your symptoms, whether that’s in a diary or the notes app on your phone.
- Continue taking your medication unless your symptoms are severe or your doctor tells you to stop.
The bottom line on Crestor side effects
Taking care of your health requires thinking outside the box and tailoring your treatment plan to what makes the most sense for you, and that extends to your medication. That said, experiencing mild side effects on Crestor, or any other medication for that matter, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not a good fit for you. Whether the solution is adjusting the dose, switching to a different statin or skipping a statin altogether for a more natural option, you and your doctor can work together to find the best fit.
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