New Drug To Lower Cholesterol

Crestor (rosuvastatin) is the latest addition to the class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). These drugs work by partially blocking the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver, which helps remove cholesterol from the blood.

The most frequent side effects seen in people treated with Crestor include muscle aches, stomach pain, constipation, nausea, and weakness. In rare instances, severe muscle pain and muscle weakness resulting in kidney damage have been associated with statin drugs. If general muscle aches persist, people taking these drugs should call their physicians. Patients should be monitored for abnormalities of liver function before treatment, at 12 weeks following initial therapy, and with any elevation of dose. Monitoring is recommended periodically after that.

In clinical trials, most people reached target low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, levels as recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program on either the 5-milligram or 10-milligram starting dose. The 20-milligram dose may be prescribed as the starting dose for people with very high cholesterol levels. A 40-milligram dose also is available.

Crestor is marketed by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP of Wilmington, Del.

source: FDA Consumer magazine