Seems Crestor (Rosuvastatin) has taken its rightful place under the scrutinizing microscope. That's because the powerful cholesterol-lowering statin drug was found to cause more side effects than any other statin available.
Specifically, researchers found Crestor induced markedly more cases of rhabdomyolysis -- a serious muscle disorder -- and kidney problems than rivals Zocor, Pravachol or Lipitor. In fact, patients taking Crestor suffered six times the number of side effects than those using Lipitor.
But this furor isn't the first time Crestor, launched by AstraZeneca, has hit a few road bumps.
Other Strikes Against Crestor
In 2004, the advocacy group Public Citizen raised concerns that Crestor was linked to rhabdomyolysis (a serious muscle disorder) and to a higher rate of kidney damage; the group called for the drug to be pulled from the market.
In that same year, Crestor was one of several drugs bashed by FDA scientist David Graham, who said the drug merited further scrutiny.
So what does AztraZeneca have to say about the negative publicity? The company disputed the study, claiming Crestor's safety profile is equal with other statins on the market and is a highly effective cholesterol-lowering therapy.
Circulation May 23, 2005 (Free Full-Text Article)
USA Today May 24, 2005.
First of all, it is important to understand that cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease and no drug will ever change that. If you find this hard to believe, then please read Dr. Rosedale's outstanding article that ran in May 2005.
If you go back another 12 weeks, you will find a warning about Crestor issued by Public Citizen that details many of the concerns in this report.
How the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could possibly have made the decision that Crestor did not increase the risk of muscle damage any more than other cholesterol-lowering drugs, when they reviewed the same data that not one, but two, different research groups used to determine otherwise, is clear evidence of the influence of further FDA conflict of interest. The nearly $1 billion that Crestor sales amount to each year provides plenty of potential to influence purchasing.
Not only would you be better off with Crestor off the market, but statins of any kind, whether or not they are safer than Crestor, are rarely needed to control high blood cholesterol anyway.
The best way to treat high cholesterol isn't with a drug that could potentially do great harm (and ALL statins are risky, not just Crestor). Two primary strategies that work well over 99 percent of the time, if properly implemented, are:
Daily cardiovascular exercise.
A low-grain, low-sugar diet (as elevated insulin levels -- often caused by diets high in grains and sugar -- are a primary driving force behind high cholesterol).
Related Articles:
Crestor and Other Statins: Are They Really Worth the Risk? The Truth About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs (Statins), Cholesterol and Health USA Today Exposes Conflicts of Interest in FDA Drug Approvals
Crestor and Other Statins: Are They Really Worth the Risk?
The Truth About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs (Statins), Cholesterol and Health
USA Today Exposes Conflicts of Interest in FDA Drug Approvals