Crestor Death Rare – But Still Too Frequent

Crestor, also known as rosuvastatin, is considered the most dangerous – and yet most effective – of the “statin” drugs. But is effectivness worth the serious side effects of Crestor? A 20mg dose can reduce bad cholesterol in a patient by 50 to 55 percent, as compared to a 20mg dose of the less potent but similar drug Lipitor, which reduces bad cholesterol by 40 to 45 percent. However, Crestor seems to also bear a much higher risk of side effects than similar drugs.

Pittsburgh Medical Center internist and clinical pharmacologist Matthew F. Muldoon said in 2010 that most clinicians see statin side effects in at least 5 percent of patients and, in some cases, as many as 20 percent. This means that 1 in every 5 patients could be experiencing side effects. Most Crestor side effects are relatively mild – muscle and joint pain is the most common complaint, and is not difficult to treat – but sometimes other conditions manifest that have been linked to the drug, and these are much more serious. These side effects have led to a series of Crestor lawsuits.

Rhabdomyolysis, which is a severe kidney disorder, has been linked to Crestor, as has heart muscle disease, or cardiomyopathy. Although these side effects are rare, they can be particularly deadly, and are linked to Crestor deaths. Crestor is one of the most popular prescription drugs in the United States and because of this a broader range of people may be affected by the side effects associated with it.
There is an ongoing debate in the medical community regarding whether or not Crestor should be pulled from shelves. One argument is that it is the most effective cholesterol-reducing drug on the market today. The opposing side is quick to point out that drugs like Lipitor, while they have a lesser effectiveness, have a similar result and a lower risk for serious side effects.

Crestor death resulting from cardiomyopathy may be able to be prevented if a patient takes supplements that contain Coenzyme Q10, which can replenish the supply of this particular enzyme. Coenzyme Q10 is vital to the heart and seems to be destroyed when Crestor is taken.

It will likely be some time before the Food and Drug Administration initiates a Crestor recall, if it ever happens. Evidence suggests that far more people see the benefits of the medication than the more severe side effects. Even so, alternative medications such as Lipitor or Zocor may be safer.