Primary Disease Name: Cholesterol
Primary Drug Name: Crestor
Chemical Drug Name: Rosuvastatin Calcium
Crestor Information - What is Crestor?
Crestor (Rosuvastatin Calcium) is a prescription drug for lowering
cholesterol. For people with high cholesterol, Crestor, in combination
with diet, can reduce Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
and triglycerides levels significantly.
Crestor reduces your cholesterol by blocking the liver from manufacturing
cholesterol. In humans, the liver creates cholesterol at night while
you are sleeping. For this reason, Crestor (as well as all of the
other statins) should be taken at night. Crestor is marketed by
the AstraZeneca Corporation, a large British pharmaceutical company.
Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) is a synthetic lipid-lowering agent. Rosuvastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis.
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Crestor Canada - Is Crestor from Canada Safe?
Canadian Interenet Pharmacies with the CIPA
seal are a part of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association
Canada and only ship drugs that are of the highest quality, and
as safe as in the United States.
CIPA Certified Canadian Pharmacies dispense only Health Canada approved
prescription drugs such as Crestor from Canada.
Health Canada is the equivalent to the US FDA and has standards
that match those of the FDA.
Prescription drugs from a Cipa Certified Canadian pharmacies are
just as good as those purchased in the United States and the generic
drugs, commonly purchased from online Canadian pharmacies, are of
the highest standard in the world. When purchasing your prescriptions
from an online Canadian Pharmacy you will notice that generic versions
of many popular brand names drugs are readily available.
Crestor from Canada and other Prescription drugs from Canada
points to note:
- All Drugs are approved by Health Canada
- Health Canada is Canada's equivilent to the FDA
- Canadian Generics are of the highest quality in the world
- Prescrition medications from Canada really are of the highest
quality in the world
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Crestor Side Effects
Crestor Side Effects: If you are prescribed Crestor
cholesterol medication, be sure to alert your doctor as soon as
possible if you have any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or
weakness. Crestor cholesterol medication is generally very well-tolerated.
The side effects reported most often are gas, stomach pain, indigestion,
and constipation. These Crestor side effects are usually mild and
temporary. DO NOT USE Crestor IF YOU ARE PREGNANT.
Other Possible Crestor Side Effects: Crestor is
a prescription medication for use in lowering high cholesterol.
In clinical studies, it was generally well-tolerated. The most common
side effects are muscle pain, constipation, weakness, stomach pain
and nausea. These are usually mild and tend to go away. Your doctor
will do blood tests before and during treatment with Crestor to
monitor your liver function. Tell your doctor if you are taking
any medications, including cyclosporine, warfarin, gemfibrozil or
antacids. Crestor is not right for everyone, including women who
are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant, or anyone with
liver problems. Unexplained muscle pain and weakness could be a
sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to
your doctor right away. Crestor has not been determined to prevent
heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes.
Additionally, the following Crestor side effects
were reported in less than 1% of the patients:
Body as a Whole:abdominal pain, accidental injury,
chest pain, infection pain pelvic pain, neck pain,
Cardiovascular System: hypertension, angina pectoris,
vasodilatation, palpitation
Digestive System: constipation, gastroenteritis,
vomiting, flatulence, periodontal abscess,gastritis
Endocrine: Diabetes mellitus, Hemic
Lymphatic System:Anemia and ecchymosis
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders:Peripheral
edema
Musculoskeletal System:Arthritis, arthralgia pathological
fracture
Nervous System:Dizziness , insomnia , hypertonia
, paresthesia , depression , anxiety , vertigo , neuralgia
Respiratory System: bronchitis , cough increased
, dyspnea , pneumonia
asthma
Skin and Appendages:Rash , pruritus
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Crestor Cholesterol Medication Mechanism of Action
Crestor works by blocking the enzyme HMG-Co A Reducatse. This
enzyme is required to make cholesterol in the liver. Therefore,
less cholesterol is made and the levels of cholesterol in the blood
decrease. By blocking this enzyme, Crestor also helps the liver
to increase the breakdown of the “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Reduction of cholesterol levels in the blood has been shown to reduce
the risks associated with heart disease such as heart attacks and
strokes.
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Why is LDL Cholesterol "Bad"?
When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, it can cause a heart attack or stroke. The levels of HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the blood are measured to evaluate the risk of having a heart attack. LDL cholesterol of less than 100 mg/dL (or total cholesterol levels of 4.7 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) is the optimal level. Less than 130 mg/dL (total cholesterol of 5.2 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) is near optimal for most people. A high LDL level (more than 160 mg/dL (6mmol/L) or 130 mg/dL (>5.2m/mol) or above if you have two or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease) reflects an increased risk of heart disease. That's why LDL cholesterol is often called "bad" cholesterol. Prescription drugs such as Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), and Lescol (fluvastatin) have been shown to interfere in the synthesis of LDL by blocking an enzyme that helps produce cholesterol in the body.
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Diet and Benefits of Crestor
Dietary intake of cholesterol includes the contribution of animal
fats found in red meat, cheese, cream and whole cream milk and from
cooking oils. Oils that possess a high concentration of saturated
fats such as palmitic oils (palm & cottonseed oils), stearic
oils (lards & dairy fats), myristic and lauric oils (coconut
and palm kernel oils & dairy fats) are known to contribute more
towards the development of heart disease as compared to the lower
saturated fat based oils such as those containing oleic acids (olive,
safflower & sunflower oils) and lioleic acids (Seed oils; grape
seed oil & walnut oil). Health care professionals discourage
the use of cooking oils that possess higher levels of saturated
fats (as these assist oxidation of LDL and foam cell formation).
In addition, animal fats are rich in saturated fatty acids that
promote the accumulation of cholesterol. Rich animal fats have an
inverse effect on the production of LDL receptors in the liver,
so the individual with a diet that is high in animal fat is increasing
the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Drugs such as the statins
(Lipitor, Crestor, Lescol, Crestor, Crestor, and Advicor) can help
to reduce the process of atherosclerosis by reducing LDL cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is known as "the bad cholesterol." Excess
LDL builds up on your arteries (called a fatty streak) and may lead
to heart disease. The higher the level of LDL cholesterol, the higher
the risk for developing heart disease. Lowering elevated LDL cholesterol
can reduce the risk of heart attacks. Crestor can help to reduce
LDL cholesterol.
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol, has earned the nickname
"the good cholesterol." That's because it is believed
to remove cholesterol from the blood. High levels of HDL in your
blood may help to reduce your risk of heart disease. A low level
can increase your risk of heart disease. Crestor can help to increase
HDL cholesterol.
Triglycerides are another type of fat in your bloodstream. Persons
with a high blood-triglyceride level have an increased risk of heart
disease. Crestor helps to reduce triglyceride levels.
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Why is HDL Cholesterol "Good"?
About one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol because a high level of it seems to protect against heart attack. (Low HDL cholesterol levels [less than 40 mg/dL] increase the risk for heart disease.) Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it's passed from the body. Some experts believe that HDL removes excess cholesterol from plaque in arteries, thus slowing the buildup.
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Crestor Dose and Supply
Crestor is available in three doses. Crestor comes as a 10mg tablet,
20mg tablet, and 40mg tablet in Canada. Crestor is usually recommended
to be taken once daily at bedtime. As a cost saving measure, some
patients cut a higher dosage of their Crestor in half to save money.
Crestor can be taken with or without regards to meals.
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Crestor Storage
Crestor should be stored away from direct sunlight and kept in
a tightly closed container (vial) in order to prevent moisture from
affecting the tablet stability.
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How To Take Crestor
The patient should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering
diet before receiving Crestor (rosuvastatin) and should continue
on this diet during treatment. Crestor (rosuvastatin) can be administered
as a single dose at any time of day, with or without food.
Hypercholesterolemia (Heterozygous Familial and Nonfamilial) and
Mixed Dyslipidemia (Fredrickson Type IIa and IIb)
The dose range for Crestor (rosuvastatin) is 5 to 40 mg once daily.
Therapy with Crestor (rosuvastatin) should be individualized according
to goal of therapy and response. The usual recommended starting
dose of Crestor (rosuvastatin) is 10 mg once daily. Initiation of
Crestor (rosuvastatin) therapy with 5 mg once daily may be considered
for patients requiring less aggressive LDL-C reductions or who have
predisposing factors for myopathy. For patients with marked hypercholesterolemia
(LDL-C > 190 mg/dL) and aggressive lipid targets, a 20-mg starting
Crestor (rosuvastatin) dose may be considered. The 40-mg dose of
Crestor (rosuvastatin) should be reserved for those patients who
have not achieved goal LDL-C at 20 mg. After initiation and/or upon
titration of Crestor (rosuvastatin), lipid levels should be analyzed
within 2 to 4 weeks and dosage adjusted accordingly.
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia
The recommended starting dose of Crestor (rosuvastatin) is 20 mg
once daily in patients with homozygous FH. The maximum recommended
daily dose is 40 mg. Crestor (rosuvastatin) should be used in these
patients as an adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (e.g.,
LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable. Response to
Crestor (rosuvastatin) therapy should be estimated from pre-apheresis
LDL-C levels.
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Crestor Precautions and Contraindications
You should be advised to report promptly unexplained muscle pain,
tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise
or fever.
When taking Crestor (rosuvastatin) with an aluminum and magnesium
hydroxide combination antacid, the antacid should be taken at least
2 hours after rosuvastatin administration.
Crestor (rosuvastatin) is contraindicated in patients with active
liver disease or with unexplained persistent elevations of serum
transaminases.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, like some other lipid-lowering therapies,
have been associated with biochemical abnormalities of liver function.
The incidence of persistent elevations (>3 times the upper limit
of normal [ULN] occurring on 2 or more consecutive occasions) in
serum transaminases in fixed dose studies was 0.4, 0, 0, and 0.1%
in patients who received rosuvastatin 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg, respectively.
In most cases, the elevations were transient and resolved or improved
on continued therapy or after a brief interruption in therapy. There
were two cases of jaundice, for which a relationship to rosuvastatin
therapy could not be determined, which resolved after discontinuation
of therapy. There were no cases of liver failure or irreversible
liver disease in these trials.
It is recommended that liver function tests be performed before
and at 12 weeks following both the initiation of Crestor (rosuvastatin)
therapy and any elevation of dose, and periodically (e.g., semiannually)
thereafter. Liver enzyme changes generally occur in the first 3
months of treatment with rosuvastatin. Patients who develop increased
transaminase levels should be monitored until the abnormalities
have resolved. Should an increase in ALT or AST of >3 times ULN
persist, reduction of dose or withdrawal of rosuvastatin is recommended.
Crestor (rosuvastatin) should be used with caution in patients
who consume substantial quantities of alcohol and/or have a history
of liver disease. Active liver disease or unexplained persistent
transaminase elevations are contraindications to the use of Crestor
(rosuvastatin).
Myopathy/Rhabdomyolysis
Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary
to myoglobinuria have been reported with Crestor (rosuvastatin)
and with other drugs in this class.
Uncomplicated myalgia has been reported in rosuvastatin-treated
patients. Creatine-kinase (CK) elevations (>10 times upper limit
of normal) occurred in 0.2% to 0.4% of patients taking Crestor (rosuvastatin)
at doses up to 40 mg in clinical studies. Treatment-related myopathy,
defined as muscle aches or muscle weakness in conjunction with increases
in CK values >10 times upper limit of normal, was reported in
up to 0.1% of patients taking rosuvastatin doses of up to 40 mg
in clinical studies. Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis were seen with
higher than recommended Crestor (rosuvastatin) doses (80 mg) in
clinical trials. Factors that may predispose patients to myopathy
with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors include advanced age (>65 years),
hypothyroidism, and renal insufficiency. The incidence of myopathy
increased at doses of Crestor (rosuvastatin) above the recommended
dosage range.
Crestor / Rosuvastatin should be prescribed with caution in patients
with predisposing factors for myopathy, such as, renal impairment,
advanced age, and hypothyroidism.
Patients should be advised to promptly report unexplained muscle
pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise
or fever. Crestor (rosuvastatin) therapy should be discontinued
if markedly elevated CK levels occur or myopathy is diagnosed or
suspected.
The risk of myopathy during treatment with Crestor (rosuvastatin)
may be increased with concurrent administration of other lipid-lowering
therapies or cyclosporine. The benefit of further alterations in
lipid levels by the combined use of Crestor (rosuvastatin) with
fibrates or niacin should be carefully weighed against the potential
risks of this combination. Combination therapy with rosuvastatin
and gemfibrozil should generally be avoided.
The risk of myopathy during treatment with Crestor (rosuvastatin)
may be increased in circumstances which increase rosuvastatin drug
levels.
Crestor (rosuvastatin) therapy should also be temporarily withheld
in any patient with an acute, serious condition suggestive of myopathy
or predisposing to the development of renal failure secondary to
rhabdomyolysis (e.g., sepsis, hypotension, major surgery, trauma,
severe metabolic, endocrine, and electrolyte disorders, or uncontrolled
seizures).
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More Crestor Information
Crestor has shown to be one of the most potent cholesterol reducing
drugs on the market. It is also possible to use a higher dose of
the older, less expensive cholesterol reducing agents to get a similar
effect to that of Crestor. These drugs include LIPITOR (ATORVASTATIN),
MEVACOR, ALTOCOR, PRAVACHOL or ADVICOR (LOVASTATIN), ZOCOR (SIMVASTATIN),
LESCOL or LESCOL XL (FLUVASTATIN).
Crestor is generally well tolerated and can be taken with many
other medicines. However, Crestor may interact with certain other
cholesterol-lowering drugs (e.g. Lopid or gemfibrozol).
Crestor may also interact with other medications including some
antibiotics, some antifungal medicines, and immunosuppressive medications.
Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all prescription
and nonprescription drugs you are taking.
Other Lipid lowering agents that are available and work differently
than the “statin” drugs include ZETIA (EZITIMIBE), LOPID
(GEMFIBROZOL), COLESTID (CHOLESTIPOL), TRICOR (FENOFIBRATE) and
QUESTRAN (CHOLESTYRAMINE).
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Antidepressant
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Side Effects - Paxil
Side Effects - Paxil
CR Side Effects - Zoloft
Side Effects - Arthritis
Medication and Information - Arcoxia
Side Effects- Celebrex
Side Effects - Mobic
Side Effects - Asthma
Medication and Information - Advair
Side Effects - Cholesterol
Medication and Information - Advicor
Side Effects - Crestor
Side Effects -
Lescol Side Effects - Lipitor
Side Effects - Pravachol
Side Effects - Zetia
Side Effects - Zocor
Side Effects - Epilepsy
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Side Effects - Osteoporosis
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