Crestor is used along with dietary changes to lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol. Its common side effects tend to be mild, but some more serious complications may rarely occur.

Crestor is an HMG-CoA inhibitor, also known as a statin. Drugs in this class help treat high cholesterol by blocking a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol. They also work with your liver to break down the cholesterol in your blood.

Crestor helps increase your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol. Additionally, the drug helps lower triglyceride (fat in your blood) and slow plaque buildup in the walls of blood vessels.

Crestor can help prevent heart disease, heart attack, and stroke in some people. However, sometimes it causes unwanted side effects. Learn what they are and tips to ease or stop them.

Crestor may create some mild or serious side effects, though you may not experience any. Serious side effects may also be possible, but they are less common. Other side effects are rare.

Common side effects

Common side effects can include:

  • headache
  • muscle pain
  • stomach pain
  • feeling weak
  • nausea

Serious side effects

The following side effects are serious and require immediate medical attention:

Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis)

Rhabdomyolysis is a breakdown of the muscles attached to your bones (skeletal muscles). It can be serious and can lead to severe kidney damage from the buildup of protein from the muscle tissue that is processed through your kidneys.

Your chance of muscle breakdown is higher if you:

  • take certain other medicines while you take Crestor
  • are 65 years old or older
  • have hypothyroidism that isn’t controlled
  • have kidney problems
  • are taking a higher dose of Crestor than is typically prescribed

Talk with your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pains, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you have a fever or feel more tired than usual while you take Crestor. Your doctor may have you stop taking Crestor. If you have muscle problems that don’t go away even after you stop taking Crestor, let your doctor know.

Liver disease

Liver disease can also be a severe side effect of Crestor. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking Crestor.

They should also do these tests if you have symptoms of liver disease while you take the drug. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver disease:

  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • loss of appetite
  • pain in your upper abdomen
  • dark urine
  • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes

Rare side effects

In rare cases, you could develop the following:

  • Immune-mediated necrotizing myositis (IMNM): A type of myositis that causes necrosis and cell death.
  • Kidney injury: This can develop from statin-associated rhabdomyolysis.
  • Rise in blood sugar, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
  • Memory loss or confusion

If you do have side effects, you can take steps to help relieve them or even make them go away. Talk with your doctor about the following actions:

  • Consult with your doctor: Make sure that your doctor believes Crestor is the best medication for you, given your symptoms and health history.
  • Slow down when you exercise: If you exercise more vigorously than usual while taking Crestor, your risk of muscle injury may be higher. It is best to change your exercise routine gradually. Exercise may cause muscle pain, so it may sometimes be hard to know if your pain is from heavy exercise or from taking Crestor.
  • Take a short break: Stopping Crestor for a short time can help you decide whether your aches and pains are due to the medication or something else. Talk with your doctor before you stop taking your medication, however.
  • Change your dose: Lowering your dose may reduce some of your side effects. But it may also reduce some of the cholesterol-lowering benefits. Another option may be to take Crestor every other day. Your doctor needs to approve these dosage changes before you try them.
  • Switch to another statin drug: It’s possible that switching statins may reduce your side effects. If nothing else has worked, talk with your doctor about trying a different cholesterol drug.

What foods should be avoided when taking Crestor?

While taking Crestor, you should eat foods low in fat and low in cholesterol. Otherwise, the drug may not be as effective. In addition, avoid eating grapefruit, which can cause higher absorption of the drug and can lead to toxicity.

What fruit to avoid when taking Crestor?

A low cholesterol diet can include many fruits and vegetables. Here are some low cholesterol foods and food groups you can choose from.

Can I eat eggs while taking Crestor?

Eggs are very nutritious. However, they can raise your cholesterol and interfere with the effect of Crestor. Limit your egg yolk consumption to four times a week. You may eat egg whites as much as you like.

Crestor is a statin medication used to treat high cholesterol. You may experience some mild side effects while taking Crestor. In less common cases, serious side effects have been known to occur.

That said, in most cases taking this medication while making sure to eat a balanced, low cholesterol diet is safe. If you have other underlying medical conditions, your chance of serious consequences is greater. Speak with your doctor to make sure Crestor is right for you.