Crestor, a member of the Statin family, (rosuvastatin) was FDA approved in August 2003 for the treatment of high cholesterol. By lowering the "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides and raising "good" cholesterol in the blood, Crestor was intended as part of a treatment program that should also include a low-fat diet and exercise. The approval of Crestor was initially delayed for about a year after the FDA expressed concern over Crestor side effects when taken using 80-milligram doses. When FDA approval of Crestor was granted, the agency concluded it was safe for use at doses up to 40-milligrams.

On Crestor labeling, there are warnings about the potential for muscle and kidney problems, but the Public Citizen consumer group does not feel warning labels are adequate action for the dangers Crestor poses. On March 4, 2004, not even a year after FDA approval, Public Citizen called on the FDA to immediately remove Crestor from the market. The petition was prompted after a 39-year old woman using Crestor died from kidney damage caused by a rare muscle destroying disease called rhabdomyolysis.

In addition, two other U.S. Crestor-using patients have suffered from rhabdomyolysis. Data from the U.S., the UK, and Canada show seven cases of rhabdomyolysis and nine cases of kidney damage or failure has occurred after FDA approval. According to the Public Citizen press release, in studies before the Crestor approval, seven people suffered from rhabdomyolysis. In its petition, the Public Citizen noted the Crestor side effects were suffered with doses between 10 and 40 milligrams. The rare muscle-damaging disease that can lead to kidney failure and death has been tied to other statins and was the reason for the 2001 Baycol recall.

Marketed by AstraZeneca, Crestor's toxicity is far greater than other statins on the market. If you or a loved one has been injured while taking Crestor, please submit the accompanying form. You may be entitled to monetary awards for your injury!