Crestor - drug interactions

What other drugs will affect Crestor?

Before taking Crestor, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

*cimetidine (Tagamet);
*cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral);
*ketoconazole (Nizoral);
*lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra);
*niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Nicotinex, others);
*spironolactone (Aldactazide, Aldactone);
*a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
*other cholesterol-lowering medications, such as clofibrate (Atromid-S), fenofibrate (Tricor), or gemfibrozil (Lopid).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Crestor. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Crestor Drug - cholesterol-lowering medication.

Crestor is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol in the body. It works by reducing levels of "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol.

Crestor is used to treat high cholesterol. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

Crestor may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Follow the directions for using this medicine provided by your doctor. This generic may be taken on an empty stomach or with food. Do not take antacids for at least 2 hours after taking this medicine. This generic should be taken regularly to get the most benefit from it. Taking this medicine at the same time each day will help you remember. It is important to continue taking this medicine even if you feel well. Most people with high cholesterol or triglycerides do not feel sick.

Crestor belongs to a class of drugs, called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, more commonly referred to as "statins". Other drugs in this class include simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and fluvastatin (Lescol). These drugs reduce cholesterol levels by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that produces cholesterol in the liver. Crestor and other statins lower blood total cholesterol as well as blood LDL cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is the "bad" type of cholesterol that increases the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks. Lowering LDL cholesterol levels slows the progression of coronary artery disease and may even reverse it. Statins also increase HDL cholesterol, the "good" type of cholesterol, and reduce triglycerides.

Do not take Crestor if you:

* Have liver problems or have persistently high liver enzymes

* Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Crestor may harm your unborn baby. If you get pregnant, stop Crestor and call your healthcare professional right away.

* Are breast-feeding. It is not known if Crestor can pass into your milk, and if it can harm your baby. You should choose to either take Crestor or breastfeed, but not both.

* Are allergic to Crestor or any of its ingredients

Crestor has not been studied in children.