Public Citizen petitioned the FDA in 2004 and 2005 to recall Crestor. The advocacy organization's health research group documented cases of patients who developed rhabdomyolysis after taking the drug. Rhabdomyolysis is a severe form of muscle damage that can lead to permanent kidney damage, coma and sometimes death.

It's possible to experience rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) during treatment with Crestor. This is a severe condition that can become life threatening without treatment. In clinical trials, this side effect was rare. Symptoms may include severe muscle pain, extreme fatigue, and dark-colored urine.

Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or rosuvastatin will not be as effective. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. Some antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb rosuvastatin.

Crestor is the more potent cholesterol-lowering drug, and it's also newer than Zocor. Both simvastatin and rosuvastatin have similar side effects, including headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle pain. Rarely, both drugs may cause liver, muscle, and kidney damage.

If you're taking a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, you will need to keep taking your prescription, or your cholesterol will likely go back up. Stopping your statin can put you at risk of having heart disease and other preventable health problems like stroke and heart attack from high cholesterol.

Rosuvastatin is a generic drug, which means it's an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. A generic drug is considered to be as safe and effective as the original drug. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. Rosuvastatin is available as the brand-name drug Crestor.

According to a research review people who take simvastatin (Zocor) or pravastatin (Pravachol) may experience fewer side effects.

Many statins work more effectively when they are taken at night. This is because the enzyme which makes the cholesterol is more active at night. Also, the half-life, or the amount of time it takes for half the dose to leave your body, of some statins is short.

You can take rosuvastatin at any time of the day. But healthcare providers often prefer that you take statins before bedtime. This is because statins interfere with the process of making cholesterol in your liver. This process happens at night.

The most common side effects may include: Headache, muscle aches and pains, abdominal pain, weakness, and nausea. Additional side effects that have been reported with CRESTOR include memory loss and confusion.

If you've had a heart attack or stroke and your doctor prescribes a statin, it's best to stick with the medication, even if you're living a healthier lifestyle. On the other hand, if you haven't had a heart attack or stroke and are taking statins to reduce your cholesterol, ending statin use can be an option.

If you've been taking statins and would like to stop, you'll need to do so with your doctor's guidance. This is because it can be dangerous to stop taking statins. These drugs are highly effective in preventing heart problems such as heart attack and stroke.

We often tell patients to take statins in the evening because most cholesterol is produced at night. But this isn't always necessary. Lipitor, Crestor, and Pravachol can be taken at ANY time of the day.

Take CRESTOR, by mouth, one time each day. You can take CRESTOR any time of day, with or without food. The CRESTOR tablet should be swallowed whole. Do not take 2 doses of CRESTOR within 12 hours of each other.

According to a research review people who take simvastatin (Zocor) or pravastatin (Pravachol) may experience fewer side effects.

Both Crestor and Lipitor are generally well tolerated with a similar rate of side effects. In the end, you should consult your healthcare provider to determine which one is right for you. Take into account cost, side effects, other medications you are taking, and any pre-existing conditions.