10 Crestor Side Effects You Should Know About

Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is one of the most commonly prescribed cholesterol medications. It belongs to a class of medications called statins. Statins have many health benefits, including lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This is why they’re considered a first choice for lowering cholesterol.

But no medication is without risks. And statins have some side effects that may make people leery of taking them. The good news is that most people tolerate Crestor and other statins well. And if you’re concerned about Crestor side effects you’re experiencing, there are several options to help you stick with treatment.

Crestor side effects at a glance

Crestor is generally well tolerated. In fact, many people who take statins experience no side effects. But they’re still possible. And it’s good to know which Crestor side effects you can handle at home and which you should contact your healthcare team about.

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Common or generally mild Crestor side effects include:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Constipation

• Joint pain

• Muscle pain

• Weakness

• Dizziness

• Mild and reversible liver enzyme elevations

• Small amounts of protein or blood in the urine

• Stomach pain

Rare but serious side effects of Crestor include:

• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown that can cause kidney failure)

• Confusion

• Raised blood glucose (sugar), which can lead to Type 2 diabetes

• Liver damage

• Large amounts of protein or blood in the urine

• A risk of birth defects when Crestor is taken during pregnancy

It’s also possible to have an allergic reaction to Crestor. These are very rare and can range from mild to severe. While allergies are different from side effects, it’s still good to know that they can happen. If you experience trouble breathing or swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, seek emergency medical help. These are symptoms of a severe allergic reaction.

Here, we'll discuss more details about 10 notable Crestor side effects and how you might manage them.

1. Headache

Headache is a common side effect for many medications, including statins such as Crestor. These headaches tend to happen more when you first start the medication. They should be mild and usually go away as you get used to taking Crestor.

Ask a pharmacist about over-the-counter (OTC) headache medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). These can be helpful in managing this Crestor side effect until it resolves.

If you start having frequent or severe headaches, let a healthcare professional know. These aren’t typical and may require medical care.

2. Nausea

Nausea is also a common Crestor side effect. Usually, this happens shortly after taking a dose. Nausea may also be more noticeable when first starting Crestor. It should go away as you get used to the medication.

Try taking Crestor with food if you’re experiencing nausea. You may find eating bland foods, such as crackers or toast, to be helpful as well. You can also discuss OTC nausea medications with your prescriber or pharmacist.

If your nausea doesn’t improve, talk to your prescriber. They may suggest trying a different dose of Crestor, or switching to another statin.

3. Constipation

Another common Crestor side effect people report is constipation. As with other digestion-related side effects, constipation should improve with time.

If you’re experiencing constipation, try to eat foods that are high in fiber and drink plenty of fluids. These dietary changes can help get things moving again. There are also OTC constipation relief options available, such as polyethylene glycol (Miralax). Ask a healthcare professional if these options would be OK for you to try.

If these tips don’t help ease your constipation, talk to your prescriber. They may have additional suggestions for relief. They may also advise changing your prescription if this Crestor side effect is too bothersome.

4. Joint pain

Joint pain is another common side effect of Crestor. In fact, it’s commonly reported for all statins. But joint pain is rarely so severe that people feel like they need to stop taking Crestor.

Joint pain can be frustrating and interfere with your daily activities. Resting or applying ice packs to painful joints can help relieve pain. OTC joint pain creams, gels, and patches may also be helpful.

If you start experiencing bothersome joint pain after starting Crestor, talk to your prescriber. They may suggest lowering your current dose. They might also prescribe a different statin or other cholesterol-lowering medication.

5. Muscle pain

One of the most commonly-reported Crestor side effects is muscle pain. But evidence suggests that in most cases, the muscle pain isn’t actually being caused by the statin.

Muscle pain symptoms can happen at any time while taking Crestor, but typically occurs shortly after starting it. Many people describe it as weakness or pain in their muscles. The risk of experiencing this may be greater with higher doses of Crestor.

Muscle pain is a common reason why people stop taking Crestor. But stopping a statin can raise your risk of cardiovascular complications. If you start experiencing muscle pain or weakness, talk to your prescriber first. Other medications could be interacting with Crestor, increasing the risk of this side effect.

If needed, your prescriber can lower your dose, or change you to another statin. Other options may include alternate-day dosing and scheduled breaks from the medication.

Very rarely, people taking Crestor can develop rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown). This serious Crestor side effect is extremely painful and can lead to other problems, such as kidney damage. If you notice severe muscle pain, weakness, and dark urine, seek medical attention immediately. Rhabdomyolysis requires urgent care in a hospital setting.

6. Weakness

Weakness is another commonly reported side effect of Crestor. For some people, this goes hand-in-hand with muscle pain. Weakness is usually mild. But it can be a reason why people stop taking the medication.

If you experience weakness while taking Crestor, listen to your body and rest when needed. Optimizing your current sleep hygiene can help you feel more energized during the day. And be sure to take breaks throughout the day to avoid putting extra strain on your body.

If weakness is interfering with your daily routine or seems severe, contact your prescriber. In rare cases, severe weakness can be a symptom of liver damage, a serious Crestor side effect.

7. Dizziness

Dizziness is another possible Crestor side effect, but it’s less common than those discussed above. While it shouldn’t be severe, any amount of dizziness can raise your risk of falls or accidental injury.

If you feel dizzy, find a place to sit or lie down. When standing, hold onto a steady surface. Drinking extra fluids can help ease this sensation. If you notice dizziness shortly after taking Crestor, consider taking your dose in the evening. That way, dizziness happens while you’re already in bed for the night.

If dizziness seems severe or causes you to fall or faint, contact your prescriber. This isn’t typical with Crestor, and your prescriber may want to evaluate you in person.

8. Confusion

People taking Crestor and other statins have reported confusion. However, this side effect was not seen in Crestor’s original clinical trials. So it’s hard to say how often it happens. But it’s likely uncommon.

The good news is that this side effect of Crestor is reversible. Let your prescriber know if you’ve started experiencing confusion after starting this medication. They may suggest lowering your dose or switching to another cholesterol medication.

Good to know: There isn’t a confirmed link between statins such as Crestor and dementia. There are some studies that suggest statins may raise the risk of dementia. But there are also studies that suggest statins help protect against dementia. If you’re concerned about your risks for memory-related side effects, speak with your prescriber.

9. Type 2 diabetes

Statins like Crestor can be helpful in preventing Type 2 diabetes complications, such as heart disease. But some studies suggest statins may raise the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The risk is greatest for people who have other risk factors for developing the condition. It may also be more likely to happen with high-intensity statins.

But for most people, the benefits of taking Crestor outweigh the risk of this side effect. If you’re concerned about this Crestor side effect, discuss it with your prescriber. Depending on your risks, they may recommend going for regular blood tests to watch for signs of diabetes. But they may also provide you with lifestyle tips, such as dietary changes or exercises, to help lower your risks.

10. Liver damage

Crestor is broken down in your liver. And it can cause changes to liver enzymes (a marker of how your liver is functioning). These changes usually don’t cause symptoms and often resolve on their own. But liver damage as a side effect from Crestor is rare. Higher dosages are more likely to affect the liver. Your prescriber should regularly check liver function tests to watch for signs of this rare Crestor side effect.

Be sure to report and symptoms of liver damage to your prescriber right away:

• Dark-colored urine

• Unexplained or severe stomach pain

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

• Extreme weakness or tiredness

• Appetite loss

Are Crestor side effects different for men and women?

Typically, Crestor side effects in men are similar to Crestor side effects in women. Outside of a risk of birth defects, there aren’t known side effects that are specific to men or women.

However, slightly more women taking Crestor in clinical trials reported side effects than men. Side effects that more women reported included:

• Headache

• Muscle pain

• Dizziness

• Stomach pain

Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean men don’t experience these Crestor side effects. The symptoms listed above were common for both men and women. Women just reported them more frequently.

This isn’t surprising. Men are generally less likely than women to report symptoms they’re experiencing or seek medical help. There are a number of reasons why this happens, including cultural beliefs and societal pressures. This makes it tough to say for sure whether women are more likely to experience Crestor side effects than men.

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Written by:

Timothy Aungst, PharmD

Timothy Aungst, PharmD, has worked in pharmacy practice for the past decade with different roles and responsibilities. He has served as an associate professor of pharmacy practice for almost a decade, a clinical pharmacist in outpatient cardiology management, and now in home healthcare.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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