Crestor Side Effects

While Crestor Definitely Lowers Cholesterol, You Should
Evaluate Crestor Side Effects Before Usage

Even though the FDA approved Crestor on August 13, 2003, seven people had already reported serious Crestor side effects during the pre-approval drug trials. Following the drug's approval, three more patients experienced potentially lethal Crestor side effects, including muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis) and kidney failure. It has been reported that one 39-year old woman died related to Crestor side effects. Two of the largest health insurance providers in the country have left the Crestor drug off their recommended lists, due to the serious nature of reported Crestor side effects, and a consumer watchdog group is calling for the FDA to ban the drug entirely.

Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is a serious disorder that causes kidney damage resulting from toxic effects of the contents of muscle cells. Myoglobin is an iron-containing pigment found in the skeletal muscle. When the skeletal muscle is damaged, the myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. It is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys. Myoglobin may obstruct the structures of the kidney, causing damage such as acute tubular necrosis or kidney failure. Myoglobin breaks down into potentially toxic compounds; these compounds can lead to kidney failure and more.

Rhabdomyolysis was also a side effect of another cholesterol drug, Baycol, which has since been removed from the market. While Crestor side effects appeared prior to its approval, Baycol's side effects only appeared after the drug had been approved for the market.

The Crestor side effects listed on the web site of drug manufacturer AstraZeneca do not include the possibility of muscle damage and the associated kidney failure. Rather, AstraZeneca lists a few signs of Crestor side effects and recommends that patients experiencing these symptoms contact a physician immediately.

Are Crestor Side Effects Severe Enough To Warrant A Ban?

Non-profit public interest group, Public Citizen claims that Crestor side effects are severe enough to warrant a ban on the drug. They state that the FDA should never have approved Crestor in the first place, since at least seven incidences of severe Crestor side effects were reported during the drug's trial phase.

Crestor side effects could prove crippling or even deadly. Rhabdomyolysis occurs when a large number of skeletal muscle cells die, resulting in the release of a massive amount of muscle protein into the bloodstream. This leads to the deadliest of Crestor side effects, when the muscle protein becomes trapped in the kidneys, affecting the filtering process of the kidneys, leading to kidney failure. Another related Crestor side effect includes the chance of cardiac arrest resulting from potassium released from the damaged muscle cells, causing malignant heart rhythms.

These Crestor side effects could lead to debilitating medical conditions, or even death. For persons suffering from Crestor side effects, the financial costs can be enormous, not to mention the mental and emotional strain.

The Bottom Line, Crestor has many Serious Side Effects.

At the same time, despite Crestor’s side effects, you may believe Crestor is a drug that you might need to lower your cholesterol. As you know if you don't lower your cholesterol the risks of heart attack and stroke increase dramatically.

It is a well known fact that cholesterol build up in the arteries will result in the blockage of arteries, raising blood pressure, restricting blood flow which may ultimately lead to heart attack or stroke.

Natural Alternatives without Crestor Side Effects

While it is imperative to lower your cholesterol levels, remember that Crestor and other cholesterol lowering drugs are not your only solutions to lowering your cholesterol levels.

Sometimes even a simple change of diet and exercising regularly may lower your cholesterol levels and risk of build up. If diet and exercise are not enough you may want to look at natural alternatives, which are proven to lower cholesterol without Crestor side effects.

Click here to learn how to lower your total cholesterol naturally in 8 weeks or less, without Crestor or side effects.

NEXT: Natural Cholesterol Lowering Supplements