Key takeaways
Repatha (evolocumab) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) are both medications used to treat high cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, they belong to different medication classes. Repatha is a PCSK9 inhibitor, which works by helping your body remove extra cholesterol from your blood, while Crestor is a statin that blocks the enzyme in your liver that makes cholesterol. Repatha is given as an injection every two weeks or once a month, whereas Crestor is taken as an oral tablet once a day. Repatha is only available as a brand-name medication, while Crestor is available in a lower-cost generic form. Common side effects of Repatha include cold- or flu-like symptoms and injection site reactions, while Crestor can cause muscle or joint pain and headaches. Crestor has many drug interactions and is not recommended during pregnancy.
