All patients treated with crestor should be advised to promptly report any symptoms that may indicate liver injury, including fatigue, anorexia, right upper abdominal discomfort, dark urine, or jaundice. Crestor is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated totalc, ldlc, apob, nonhdlc, and triglycerides and to increase hdlc in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. The trick is to weigh the potential for serious side effects against the gain you can get from the medication. Dyslipidemia may involve an elevation of total cholesterol, a reduction of low density lipoprotein ldl cholesterol andor triglycerides, or.
Around 85% of all statin prescriptions in england are for simvastatin and atorvastatin, in roughly equal proportions, usually at moderate or low doses 98% of simvastatin is prescribed at. While there is such a thing as bad cholesterol, good cholesterol is actually important for heart health. Effectiveness and tolerability of everyotherday rosuvastatin dosing in patients with prior statin intolerance article pdf available in annals of pharmacotherapy 423. Modernized reference drug program hmgcoa reductase. Crestor rosuvastatin calcium tablets description crestor. The usual starting dose in adult patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is 20 mg once daily. Capitals indicate lifethreatening, underlines indicate most frequent. Atorvastatin lipitor 80 mg and crestor 20 mg both lower ldl about 55%. Lipitor and crestor are also used to reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and arterial revascularization procedures in patients with multiple risk factors for heart disease. Statin use for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults. Choosing a statin to lower cholesterol consumer reports. Questions and answers about a study that shows the cholesterol lowering drug crestor may cut heart risk even when cholesterol levels are already low. Sidney wolfe explains why he thinks the drug should have been withdrawn and why it should not be used last year, rosuvastatin crestor was the most prescribed brand name drug in the us, with 22. Dosing, side effects, drug interactions of lipidlowering drugs effects of lipid lowering drugs on serum lipids properties of statins drug ratings in pregnancy us food and drug administration cytochrome p450 3a inhibitors and inducers related topics.
The usual starting dose of crestor is 10 mg to 20 mg. Practice guidelines american academy of family physicians. The maximum crestor dose of 40 mg should be used only for those patients who have not achieved their ldlc goal. Statins are widely recognized as firstline therapy for cholesterol lowering and have been proven to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, they can have side effects and might not be right for everyone. Statin dose comparison the chart below shows statin doses expected to provide similar ldl reduction. Treatment failure with atorvastatin after change from. Hmgcoareductaseinhibitors statins pregnancycategoryx indications. Statin conversion chart % ldl reduction simvastatin zocor atorvastatin lipitor rosuvastatin crestor fluvastatin lescol lovastatin mevacor pravastatin. The balance sheet for crestor and other statins looks like this. In adults, crestor is prescribed along with diet to lower high cholesterol and to slow plaque buildup in arteries as part of a treatment plan to lower cholesterol to goal. Route onset peak duration atorvastatin atorevastatin. Learn about alternatives such as new drugs and lifestyle changes.
Statins are prescription drugs used to lower cholesterol. Yet the evidence of its health benefits has always been weak and there is growing evidence of harmful side effects. Both atorvastatin lipitor and crestor are high potency statins, and in many cases atorvastatin lipitor can be used in place of crestor. Zocor simvastatin and crestor rosuvastatin are both statins, a family of drugs that manage heart disease and cardiovascular disease by lowering bloodstream cholesterol levels. Statins inhibit 3hydroxy3methylglutarylcoenzyme a hmg coa reductase. Pdf effectiveness and tolerability of everyotherday. Hmg coa reductase inhibitors statins vha pharmacy benefit management strategic healthcare group and the medical advisory panel white zone available generically. Learn the other differences, including side effects, dosages, and more. Lipitor and rosuvastatin crestor, can match their ability to reduce triglyceride levels. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of hmgcoa to mevalonate, an early and ratelimiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. Crestor should be administered to women of childbearing age only when such patients are highly unlikely to conceive and have been informed of the possible harm. Lipidaltering agents should be used in addition to a diet restricted in saturated fat and cholesterol when response to diet and. High cholesterol and lipid treatment options beyond the basics. Lipitor the dose may be increased to a maximum recommended dose of 100 mg or decreased to 25 mg.
Statin dose intensity and equivalency chart statin intensity %ldlc reduction hmgcoa reductase inhibitor rosuvastatin atorvastatin pitavastatin simvastatin lovastatin pravastatin fluvastatin. Inhibitors of the enzyme 3hydroxy3methylglutarylcoenzyme a hmgcoa reductase, commonly called statins, block conversion of hmgcoa to mevalonate, an early ratelimiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. The dose range for crestor in adults is 5 to 40 mg orally once daily. Table 1, statin dosing and accaha classification of.
Information about crestor rosuvastatin calcium, a prescription cholesterol medicine that helps lower ldl cholesterol when diet and exercise alone are not enough. Comparative effectiveness of rosuvastatin versus other statins 5 reductions 1 to 4. Dosage adjustment may be needed based on renal function, race, or drug interactions. In order to assist in converting your patient from a nonpreferred statin to the preferred statin on arkansas medicaid, the following chart shows an approximate equivalent daily dose for statins with respect to their ldlc lowering abilities. There have been rare postmarketing reports of fatal and nonfatal hepatic failure in patients taking statins, including crestor. Compare crestor vs lipitor headtohead with other drugs for uses, ratings, cost, side effects, interactions and more. If you are taking a statin and have muscle aches, pain, or weakness, call your doctor right away.
Prescribing information with patient information pdf 152k. To discuss conversion to the preferred drug or to request authorization for a nonpreferred. Using crestor and all statins safely harvard health. Quick reference drug list statins buckeye health plan. Modernized reference drug program hmgcoa reductase inhibitors statins. Statins and dosages listed in italics are approved by the u. Find the truth about questions that pique your curiosity in our series, the short answer. When diet and exercise alone arent enough to lower cholesterol, adding crestor can help. Cholesterol and other products of cholesterol biosynthesis are essential components for fetal development including synthesis of steroids and cell membranes. When choosing a statin dose, expected ldl reduction is not the only factor to consider. Rosuvastatin is an inhibitor of 3hydroxy3methylglutarylcoenzyme a hmgcoa reductase.
Fenofibrate is more convenient, since it is taken once rather than twice a day, but generic. Gemfibrozil lopid and fenofibrate tricor appear equally safe and effective. Atorvastatin lipitor also has fewer drug interactions than simvastatin zocor and can be used. Statins hmgcoa reductase inhibitors signifies that equivalent tablet size is not available comparable dose is either too high or too low. Crestor 40 mg should be used only for those patients not achieving their ldlc. Lipitor atorvastatin and crestor rosuvastatin calcium are statin drugs used for the treatment of elevated total cholesterol, ldl, fats triglycerides, and to elevate hdl cholesterol, to reduce the chances of developing problems such as heart disease and strokes that can be caused, in part, by high cholesterol. Lipitor atorvastatin and crestor rosuvastatin are hmgcoa reductase inhibitors statin drugs that lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Lipitor atorvastatin, atorvastatin 10 mg, when is coadministered with an alphablocker. Help for your cholesterol when the statins wont do. Single packs come in 50 mg and 100 mg doses and have the same prescription coverage as pills you get in a bottle. Dosage equivalence of hmg coa reductase inhibitors. Some simple steps can help minimize or avoid muscle problems from crestor and other cholesterol lowering drugs. Statins or hmgcoa reductase inhibitors are a class of drugs that reduce cholesterol in individuals who have dyslipidemia abnormal fats in the blood and thus are at risk for cardiovascular disease.