Crestor Drug Interactions

by on April 29, 2012

Crestor (Rosuvastatin) is a statin drug prescribed by physicians that studies reveal helps to lower a person’s cholesterol levels some 45 to 65 percent. It is the most potent of statin drugs.

Drugs That May Interact with Crestor

These following drugs may cause moderate to severe interactions when taken with Crestor.   Your health care professional may adjust dosages and monitor signs of any side effects through consultation.  So be sure to let your provider know about all other drugs and medications you are currently taking or plan to take.

  • Warfarin (Brand names Coumadin, Jantoven, Marevan, Lawarin, Waran, and Warfant) – Crestor taken together may increase this drug’s anti-coagulation
  • Fibrates (Brand names Lopid, Tricor, Antara, Lofibra and Trilipix) – may all have the occurrence of increased side effects when taken with Crestor
  • Nicotonic Acids (Niacin, Brand names Niacor, Slo-Niacin and Niaspan).  When taken with Crestor, these drugs can produce serious side effects. Although the cause for the adverse interaction is not known, it more than likely occurs in people of Chinese ethnicity suffering muscle weakness, aches and tenderness
  • Oral contraceptives (such as Yaz, Yasmin, Seasonique) – may have increased appearance of these hormones when taken with Crestor
  • Cyclosporine (Brand names Neoral, Gengraf and Sandimmune) and Indinivir (Brand name Crixivan) – when taken may increase the occurrence of Crestor in the blood stream
  • HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Brand names Oliprevin, Pravastatin (Pravachol), Lopid) – these drugs also have an adverse effect on the human body when taken with Crestor.  They may cause severe muscle problems as well as flu-like symptoms along with a noticeable decrease in urine output and should not be taken with Crestor.
  • Antibiotics (Brand name Cubicin) has an adverse effect upon muscles causing aching and tenderness
  • Crixivan, Neoral, Gengraf and Sandimmune may cause quite severe and harmful reactions and should not be taken with Crestor. These drugs will slow down the liver’s ability to process Crestor causing the amount of Crestor in the blood to increase significantly. A significant amount of non-processed Crestor causes a variety of muscle problems including weakness, tenderness and constant aching

Certain Drugs Reduce Crestor Effectiveness

There are some drugs that will reduce effectiveness when taking Crestor but can be remedied including:

  • Antacids containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium like Maalox may reduce Crestor in the blood stream. The best method for avoiding any adverse reaction is to take the medications at least two hours apart
  • Bile acid sequestrants that function as cholesterol-lowering agents may lower the amount of Crestor in the blood stream. In order to avoid any adverse reaction, take these medications at least four hours apart