Crestor | Heart Disease Drug
Crestor®
(generic name: rosuvastatin) is a widely-prescribed drug from the class of statins, used to treat high
cholesterol and to prevent heart disease. Crestor, made by AstraZeneca,
and was FDA-approved and launched in 2003 and was prescribed
to more than four million patients by the end of 2004.
When Crestor was first before the FDA
(Food and Drug Administration) for approval, the
process was delayed due to safety concerns. These concerns
included kidney
damage, as well as a potentially-fatal condition
known as rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis is a breakdown of muscle fibers which
results in kidney damage due to muscle content entering
the bloodstream.
Since its introduction, there have been reports of kidney
damage, renal failure, rhabdomyolysis and at least one
death.
The most common side-effects of alendronate are:
• Weakness
• Nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea
• Sore throat, runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Pain or burning when you urinate.
Less common, but more severe side-effects are listed
as:
• Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever
or flu symptoms and dark colored urine
• Urinating more or less than usual, or not at
all
• Jaundice
(yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Chest pain
• Swelling in your hands or feet
Signs of possible rhabdomyolysis are:
• Abnormal urine color (dark, red, or cola colored)
• Muscle tenderness
• Weakness of the affected muscle(s)
• Generalized weakness
• Muscle stiffness or aching (myalgia)
• Weight gain (unintentional)
• Seizures
• Joint pain
• Fatigue
If you believe your Crestor use has put you or a loved
one in danger, please fill out our Case Review Contact Form to the right
on this page to find out what your case is worth.
