Heart Side Effects of Crestor®

The cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor® is a member of a group of drugs called "statins." (Crestor®'s generic name is rosuvastatin.) Statins are prescribed to people whose blood levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) are too high. Statins such as Crestor® are in the news lately because it is suspected by some researchers that statins have serious potential heart side effects.

Crestor®: "Super Statin"

Crestor® was first made available in the U.S. in 2003, and it was marketed by its manufacturer, AstraZeneca, as a "super statin" that provided improved cholesterol reduction — more so than its rivals Lipitor® and Zocor®. It has been prescribed to millions of people around the world since then, and some of the Crestor®-treated patients have developed heart problems, possibly as a side effect of Crestor® treatment.

FDA Advisory for Heart Damage

In 2005, the FDA strengthened its prior warning that high doses of Crestor® (e.g., 40 mg/day) could increase the risk of muscle damage (including heart muscle damage, which can be life-threatening). The FDA also stated, in a public advisory, that Asian-Americans treated with Crestor® were at greater risk of muscle damage compared to Caucasian patients treated with the same dosage. The FDA advised that patients of Asian heritage who are to be prescribed Crestor® be given the lowest approved dose, 5 mg/day.

Types of Heart Side Effects

Other types of drugs can damage the heart, too. There are many types of heart side effect that can be caused by drugs, such as:

  • weakening of the heart muscles
  • stiffening of the heart muscles
  • inflammation of the heart muscles (myocarditis)
  • arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)

If You're Being Treated with Crestor®

You can learn more about the Crestor® issues from an attorney or law firm that represents individuals who have been harmed by Crestor®, especially if:

  • you're being treated with Crestor® and you're worried about potential heart side effects, or
  • you have experienced heart problems during a Crestor® treatment regimen, or
  • your family member died or is suffering from heart trouble after being treated with Crestor®

To learn more, contact our Crestor® lawyers and schedule a free case review today.