Special Information on Crestor

Most Important Fact about Crestor
It is advised to report promptly unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, particularly if accompanied by malaise or fever.

When taking Crestor with an aluminum and magnesium hydroxide combination antacid, the antacid should be taken at least 2 hours after Crestor administration.

CrestorPrecautions if you are pregnant or breastfeeding:
Cholesterol and other products of cholesterol biosynthesis are essential components for fetal development. Since HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors decrease cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol, they may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Therefore, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are contraindicated during pregnancy and in nursing mothers. Crestor should be administered to women of childbearing age only when such patients are highly unlikely to conceive and have been informed of the potential hazards. If the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, therapy should be discontinued immediately and the patient apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

It is not known whether Crestor is excreted in human milk. Studies in lactating rats have demonstrated that Crestor is secreted into breast milk at levels 3 times higher than that obtained in the plasma. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from Crestor a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or administration of Crestor taking into account the importance of the drug to the lactating woman.

Special warnings about Crestor
Crestor may cause dizziness. Avoid driving and operating machinery if affected.

Crestor may very rarely have side effects on the muscles. For this reason you should inform your doctor immediately if you experience any muscular symptoms such as pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness while taking Crestor, particularly if it is accompanied by a fever or feeling generally unwell. Your doctor may need to check for side effects on the muscles by taking a blood test to measure the level of a compound called creatinine kinase in your blood. If this is the case, the test should not be done following strenuous exercise.

Crestor is not recommended for use in children.

You should have blood tests to monitor your liver function (liver function tests) before starting treatment and regularly throughout treatment with Crestor.

You should continue eating a cholesterol-lowering diet during treatment with Crestor. Discuss this with your doctor.

People who are taking a 40 mg dose of Crestor should have their kidney function monitored.

A 40 mg dose of Crestor should only be used in people with very high cholesterol levels and a high risk of heart disease, whose cholesterol is not lowered sufficiently with 20 mg and when routine follow-up can be performed. Crestor should not be used in Japanese or Chinese people, moderately decreased kidney function, hypothyroidism, alcohol abuse, people with a personal or family history of hereditary muscle disorders, people taking fibrate medicines or those with a history of muscle side effects on previous statin or fibrate medicines.

Why Crestor should not be prescribed?
Crestor should not be taken by anyone who:
- is allergic to Crestor or any ingredient of this medication has active liver disease or has unexplained increases in certain liver function tests
- is taking cyclosporine