Crestor, also known as rosuvastatin, is a statin medication prescribed to treat high cholesterol. Statins are medications that work by blocking the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which is necessary for the body to produce cholesterol. In addition, statins are effective in helping the liver to collect and remove low density lipoprotein (LDL), known as bad cholesterol. Crestor can cause some serious side effects including liver damage, rhabdomyolysis (the breakdown of muscle tissue) and kidney damage, according to the Mayo Clinic. If the risks outweigh the benefits, it may be necessary to find another cholesterol-lowering medication as an alternative to Crestor.
Other Statins
Several other medications belong to the family of statin drugs, and these have their own side effects. Simvastatin most commonly causes the side effect constipation. Atorvastatin is a commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication that may cause mild side effects of constipation, diarrhea, gas and headache. Another statin, pravastatin, may cause heartburn and headache. As with Crestor, however, these other statins do have a risk of the more serious side effects of liver and kidney damage.
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Bile acid sequestrants (BAS), also called bile acid resins or just resins, are medications that bind to bile in the gastrointestinal system inhibiting it from being used in the digestion process. Cholesterol is used by the liver to produce bile. The resins binding to bile trigger the liver to produce more bile which uses more cholesterol, leaving less cholesterol flowing in the blood.
Medications in this classification include cholestyramine, colestipol and colesevelam HCL. The most common complaint of patients taking BAS medications is the taste, which is gritty and bitter. These drugs may also induce heartburn, gas, constipation and nausea. BAS medications are effective in lowering LDL levels and may be used in combination with statin medications to enhance this effect.
Nicotinic Acid
Nicotinic acid is often prescribed to not only lower LDL but also lower triglyceride (a form of fat) levels and increase HDL (high density lipoprotein and known as 'good' cholesterol) levels, according to the American Heart Association. Nicotinic acid works by inhibiting the production of fats in the liver. This medication can be used with a statin medication to help reduce LDL levels using lower doses of the statin drug and thereby reducing the risk of serious side effects.
Fibrates
Fibrates, such as fenofibrate, gemfibrozil and fenofibric acid, are medications that effectively lower triglyceride levels while increasing HDL levels. These medications do not significantly lower LDL levels on their own so they are often prescribed with statin medications to boost their effectiveness without increasing the dosage. Common side effects of fibrates include headache, dizziness and constipation.
Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
The only cholesterol absorption inhibitor medication approved for use in the United States is ezetimibe. This medication blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines to lower the level of LDL in the blood. This medication also lowers triglycerides and has a modest effect on increasing levels of HDL. The most common side effects reported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are stomach pain and fatigue.
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