Key takeaways

  • Crestor, a prescription medication for high cholesterol, can cause side effects ranging from mild issues like headaches and nausea to more serious problems like liver damage or muscle problems.
  • Most people taking Crestor experience mild side effects that often decrease over time. But some individuals may develop long-term side effects like muscle breakdown or liver damage.
  • Certain factors, such as being age 65 years or older, being of Asian descent, or having existing kidney or thyroid issues, can increase the risk of side effects from Crestor.

Crestor (rosuvastatin) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat high cholesterol levels and help prevent heart disease. Conditions it’s used to help manage include:

Crestor is also used to:

Crestor comes as a tablet that you swallow. It contains the active ingredient rosuvastatin. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Crestor can cause. To learn more about Crestor, including details about its uses, dosage, and cost, see this Crestor overview article.

Crestor can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult to tolerate.

Crestor’s commonly reported side effects include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Mild side effects have been reported with Crestor. These include:

  • weakness
  • dizziness
  • nausea
  • headache
  • constipation
  • mild muscle pain

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. And do not stop taking Crestor unless your doctor recommends it.

Crestor may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Crestor may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Crestor’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

If you develop serious side effects while taking Crestor, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Crestor and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Crestor can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction to Crestor can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Crestor.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Crestor, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

There may be things you can do to help make certain Crestor side effects more manageable.

If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Headache

Headaches were a common but mild side effect reported in Crestor’s studies. But keep in mind that other drugs you may be taking or other health conditions you may have could also cause headache.

What might help

If you have headaches while taking Crestor, tell your doctor. For mild cases, they may suggest:

  • taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen)
  • taking a warm bath
  • lying down in a quiet place
  • placing a cold pack on your forehead for 15 minutes

For a severe headache, call your doctor right away. They can check for the cause and determine whether it’s safe for you to continue taking Crestor.

Muscle pain

Muscle pain is a common and usually mild side effect of Crestor. But in rare cases, serious muscle problems were reported in the drug’s studies. These include:

What might help

If you experience muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness while taking Crestor, call your doctor. They can check for the cause. For mild muscle pain, they may try lowering your dose of Crestor to see if it helps.

If you have serious muscle pain, call your doctor right away. They’ll likely check to see if you have more severe muscle damage, such as rhabdomyolysis. They may have you stop taking Crestor and switch you to a safer treatment option.

Nausea

You may have nausea while taking Crestor. This was a common but mild side effect of the drug reported in studies.

Nausea may also be related to other side effects of Crestor or caused by other medications you’re taking. If you experience abdominal pain, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes) with nausea or vomiting, call your doctor right away. These may be signs of liver damage, a serious side effect of Crestor.

What might help

If you have mild nausea symptoms, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can determine the cause and may suggest ways to help manage mild nausea. Tips may include:

  • drinking plenty of fluids
  • avoiding spicy foods
  • avoiding strong odors or scents

If you have severe nausea or other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or dark urine with nausea, call your doctor right away. They’ll order tests to check your liver function and decide whether Crestor is safe for you.

Constipation

You may have constipation while taking Crestor. This was a common but mild side effect in Crestor’s studies. Keep in mind, this side effect may also be caused by other medications you’re taking.

What might help

In most cases, constipation with Crestor is mild, and your doctor may suggest ways to help manage it, such as:

  • eating more high fiber foods
  • drinking more water
  • limiting alcohol consumption (if you drink)
  • getting plenty of exercise

If you have constipation that’s ongoing or bothersome, call your doctor. They may have other suggestions to ease this side effect.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Crestor can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin (usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet)
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Crestor, they’ll decide if you should continue taking it.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Crestor, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Crestor’s side effects.

What is the most common side effect of Crestor?

It’s often difficult to pinpoint the most common side effect of Crestor (or any drug). This is because clinical studies are done under varying conditions, and participants in each study vary in individual characteristics.

That said, in clinical studies of Crestor, the three most common side effects reported were:

  • headache
  • muscle or joint pain
  • nausea

Can Crestor 10 mg cause more side effects than Crestor 5 mg?

It’s possible but not likely. In studies of the drug, most common side effects occurred at similar rates for 5-mg versus 10-mg doses. But there was a slightly higher rate of weakness reported among those taking the 10-mg dose compared to the 5-mg dose.

How you react to a certain dosage of a drug depends on individual factors such as your age, other medications you take, your ethnicity, and your overall health.

Crestor’s effects are stronger in people of Asian descent. This is because there are higher levels of the drug in their blood. If you’re of Asian descent, tell your doctor. They’ll likely start you on a lower dose of Crestor.

Do side effects of Crestor go away? Does Crestor cause long-term side effects?

Most people taking Crestor have mild side effects that ease as they continue taking the drug. But in Crestor’s studies, there were rare cases of people who experienced long-term side effects. These are side effects that may start at any time you’re taking the drug, even if you’ve taken it for a long time. It also includes side effects that may not go away, even after you stop taking Crestor.

Possible long-term side effects include:

Although rare, you may have an increased risk for certain long-term side effects based on certain factors such as:

  • being age 65 years or older (there may be a higher risk of muscle-related problems based on how well your kidneys work)
  • other medications you take
  • other health conditions you have

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects from Crestor, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Are side effects of Crestor in older adults different than those seen in younger adults?

It’s possible. In studies of Crestor, adults ages 65 years and older had similar side effects to younger adults taking the drug. But older adults may have a higher risk of muscle-related side effects, such as rhabdomyolysis, from Crestor. This is because their kidneys may not work as well, which can cause the drug to stay in their body for a longer period of time.

If you have questions about side effect risks based on your age, talk with your doctor. They can help determine whether Crestor is right for you.

Does Crestor cause teeth-related side effects?

No, teeth-related side effects were not reported in Crestor studies. In fact, a 2020 review study found that statin medications (the group of drugs Crestor belongs to) may benefit teeth and oral health. This includes possibly improving periodontitis. Research is ongoing to learn the effects of statins on oral health and your teeth.

For more information about the effects of Crestor on your teeth, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Before taking Crestor, discuss your health history with your doctor. Crestor may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.