Crestor, the brand name for the medication rosuvastatin, is classified as a statin medication because it inhibits the production of cholesterol in the body and may also help the body reabsorb cholesterol built up in the blood vessels. Doctors prescribe Crestor to patients with a high level of cholesterol, which includes those with a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or higher or a LDL cholesterol level of 130 mg/dL or higher, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol describes a fatty substance found in cells throughout the body. Although the body requires cholesterol in order to function, too much cholesterol stays in the blood where it can accumulate along the walls of the blood vessels. The body contains two types of cholesterol, classified based on the protein it binds to, known as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, or high-density lipoprotein, known as HDL. The levels of LDL and HDL impact the body and both can contribute to the need for cholesterol medications such as Crestor.
Levels
Since LDL cholesterol accumulates in the blood vessels and increases the risk for heart disease, doctors consider it 'bad' cholesterol. Patients with high cholesterol need to bring the level of LDL down, through medications and lifestyle changes. Doctors recommend lowering LDL levels to less than 100 mg/dL for optimal health but at least to less than 129 mg/dL for near optimal levels, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. HDL binds free cholesterol from the blood and carries it to the liver for removal. Because HDL promotes the removal of excess cholesterol doctors label it as 'good' cholesterol. Doctors desire high levels of HDL and consider any reading less than 40 mg/dL as a contributing factor in heart disease.
Factors
The body produces 75 percent of its cholesterol, with the other 25 percent provided through foods, according to the American Heart Association. Those with high cholesterol should follow a diet low in saturated fats to reduce the intake of additional cholesterol. Because other factors, such as heredity, contribute to high cholesterol levels, medications such as Crestor, which belong to the class of medications known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, inhibit the action of an enzyme necessary for cholesterol production.
Dosing
Doctors often prescribe low doses of Crestor to new patients and then gradually increase the dose, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Crestor, as a tablet, should be taken by mouth once a day with or without food. Doctors recommend taking Crestor at the same time each day to increase its effectiveness. Due to the chance of side effects, never take more or less medication than prescribed.
Side Effects
Crestor, and other statin medications, can produce unwanted side effects. Patients may experience stomach upset including nausea, diarrhea or constipation. Statin medications can also cause muscle weakness and pain. In rare cases, it can cause the muscle cells to break down, a condition known as rhabdomyolysis which can lead to kidney damage and kidney failure.
