Individuals may be prescribed either Crestor® or Rosuvastatin depending upon their health care provider, but it is the same medication. As noted above, it is the newest Statin on the market, and it is used to lower levels of bad cholesterol generated by the liver. Crestor® is most often prescribed to individuals who have extremely high levels of cholesterol, or for whom other drugs have not been effective.

Crestor® is said to work directly on the liver, which is why many of its possible side effects are so intense, but this is an issue we will discuss a bit later. Statin drugs, such as Crestor®, are often the first line of defense when it comes to lowering cholesterol levels, due to their effectiveness, as well as intense marketing by the pharmaceutical giants who produce them. Crestor® is said to work in the liver, where it inhibits the actions of HMG-CoA reductase – the enzyme which is responsible for creating cholesterol, and which adapts cholesterol production to the quickly changing needs of the body.

Cholesterol is used to create cells; produce hormones, such as testosterone and estrogen; and create bile, which plays a vital role in digestion. By inhibiting this enzyme, Crestor® may effectively lower LDL-cholesterol levels in a relatively quick period of time, as well as reduce triglycerides levels and increase HDL, or “good” cholesterol levels. While its action is swift, its side effects may be equally as intense for some, an issue we will discuss below.

For the most part, the potential side effects associated with Crestor® are a result of systemic exposure. The liver may only metabolize a certain amount of any element into another form, before it’s eliminated. It is believed that 60% of all prescribed drugs use one, rather small, liver pathway for synthesis. This creates a situation in which if there is another medication, herb or grapefruit juice that limits the liver's ability to synthesize Crestor®, it will keep circulating in areas of the body where it should not necessarily be, thereby causing possible side effects. Some of the less severe side effects are headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, headache, rash, weakness and muscle pain.

Two of the more dangerous possible side effects associated with this class of drug are liver and muscle damage. Crestor® and other Statins may cause some individuals to experience muscle pain and weakness, because when they get into muscle tissue, it begins to break down. For some individuals, this may cause irreversible harm to their muscular system. Rhabdomyolysis is also a very real complication said to be associated with this medication; beginning as muscle pain, which then may progress into loss of muscle cells, kidney failure and death.

Also, some individuals have experienced liver damage and failure, which is a very dangerous and life-threatening condition. Often, liver damage has no symptoms, so it is said to be important that people who use this drug have their liver function tested periodically, and these medications should be stopped at the first sign of a problem.

• May lower cholesterol levels

• Reported to potentially have many severe side effects for some people
• May cause irreversible liver and muscle damage for some
• Rhabdomyolysis said to be a possible side effect for some individuals, which may even lead to kidney failure or death

Many pharmaceutical companies simply stick with the facts when talking about drugs like Crestor® – they are purported to be safe for many people, and they may lower cholesterol to prevent heart attack and stroke. However, this is only one part of the story, and it is important to keep in mind that safe does not necessarily mean they don’t potentially have intense side effects. As we see above, these side effects may be fairly wide-ranging, and may include liver failure, irreversible muscle damage, kidney failure and in some rare cases, death.

We believe it is important when starting these kinds of medications to know exactly what these side effects may be, so that you may be on the lookout for them to minimize their effects. However, more and more individuals have started doing their own research after realizing exactly how medications, such as Crestor®, may negatively impact their quality of life and health.

In fact, there are some very effective holistic alternatives available, which may generate results and are on par with those found in pharmaceutical-grade medications. Clinical research shows one of the most effective is Plant Sterols, which have been shown to mimic cholesterol in the intestines, so they are absorbed, and the cholesterol is flushed out - all without side effects. Use of Plant Sterols have been supported by the American Heart Association to lower risk of heart attack, and recently, the FDA allowed developers of this supplement to highlight its benefits.