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Key takeaways
Crestor and its generic version, rosuvastatin, significantly lower bad cholesterol levels and are recognized by the American College of Cardiology as high-intensity therapy options for heart disease risk management.
Generic rosuvastatin, approved in 2016, offers a cost-effective alternative to Crestor, with both versions showing equivalent efficacy and side effect profiles.
The cost of generic rosuvastatin is nearly 90% less than the brand-name Crestor, making it a preferred choice among patients and health insurance formularies.
Switching from Crestor to generic rosuvastatin is straightforward, with no tapering required, and pharmacists can substitute the prescription if permitted, offering a seamless transition for patients seeking a more affordable option.
Crestor sits atop the list of statin drugs on the market as the most potent among them. Crestor is one of only two popular cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, along with Lipitor, to be mentioned by the American College of Cardiology as a high-intensity therapy option for those with existing heart or vascular disease or at high risk of heart disease. You can pack that kind of punch with either brand-name drugs or their generic version. Crestor and its generic version, rosuvastatin, can bring low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the bad cholesterol, levels down over 60% with their maximum 40 mg daily dose. With that kind of power comes popularity. In 2020, Crestor rose to the 17th most popular medicine in the U.S., with over 29 million annual prescriptions.
Is there a generic for Crestor?
The surge in popularity among patients in recent years is likely a result of the growing availability of generic rosuvastatin. Based on clinical trials, the generic option was first approved in 2016, 13 years after AstraZeneca received the green light for the brand-name Crestor from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Now, generic rosuvastatin products are readily available and preferred by health insurance formularies over the brand-name alternative. The statin class of drugs continues to be the preeminent cholesterol-lowering treatment when low-fat, low-cholesterol, or low-carbohydrate diets have not worked for people.
What are the differences between brand name and generic Crestor?
Brand-name and generic drugs have the same active ingredient. In this case, rosuvastatin can lower your LDL cholesterol level and keep it from building on the walls of arteries, regardless of whether it is brand-name Crestor. Crestor and rosuvastatin come as 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg pills, and both are round or oblong salmon-colored tablets. The appearance can vary with generic pills due to different manufacturers.
According to a clinical study, brand-name and generic rosuvastatin are equally successful. Both versions also have the same common and serious side effects, muscle problems being among the most common side effects. This drawback is typical of the statin class of medications. Serious but less frequent side effects of the drug class include pancreatitis, kidney failure, liver damage, and damage to muscles or tendons. If a severe adverse reaction to Crestor occurs, seek emergency medical attention.
| Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) | |
|---|---|
| Uses | Primary hypercholesterolemia, heterozygous and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, cardiovascular event risk reduction, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease |
| Standard dosage | 5 – 40 mg once daily |
| Common side effects | Muscle pain, joint pain, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cognitive impairment, elevated liver enzymes, constipation, dizziness, diabetes |
| Contraindications | Advanced cirrhosis, liver failure, muscle disease, pregnancy, history of hypersensitivity to the drug class |
| Other considerations | Caution with alcohol abuse, history of liver disease, severe renal impairment, or older adults. People of Asian descent may need a lower dose. Women may be at higher risk of muscle side effects. |
How much is generic Crestor?
The similarities end abruptly with price. The cost difference between generic and brand name Crestor is as drastic as night and day. Generic rosuvastatin is nearly 90% less. A SingleCare discount card can help with the expense for either version of these prescription drugs.
| Brand vs. generic Crestor prices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brand-name Crestor | Crestor generic (rosuvastatin calcium) | |
| Average cost without insurance | $350 for 30, 10 mg tablets of Crestor | $40 for 30, 10 mg tablets of rosuvastatin calcium |
| SingleCare’s lowest price | $280 for 30, 10 mg tablets of Crestor | $10 for 30, 10 mg tablets of rosuvastatin calcium |
| Free coupons | Crestor coupons | Rosuvastatin calcium coupons |
What are the off-label uses for Crestor?
When proper dietary and lifestyle changes have failed to lower cholesterol or the risk of heart attack, taking Crestor makes perfect sense. Off-label use of the drug is limited from its official indications as outlined by the FDA. The off-label use consists of prescriptions for heart and kidney transplant recipients to reduce cardiovascular events.
Rosuvastatin interactions with other medications
Transplant recipients taking rosuvastatin or any statin drug must exercise great caution to avoid drug interactions, such as cyclosporine, but they are not alone. All rosuvastatin users must know the potential for this pitfall of interactions with prescription and nonprescription drugs and over-the-counter supplements. Seek medical help if a medical condition worsens with the use of rosuvastatin.
In addition, combination therapy for high cholesterol and triglycerides is a concern. Two different numbers on a cholesterol panel, LDL-C, and triglycerides, are bad actors when it comes to your cardiovascular health. Fortunately, rosuvastatin can raise good cholesterol high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. However, getting LDL, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol all in line can be tricky. While Tricor, Lopid, red yeast rice products, and niacin are a group of drugs that assist with lipid management, they interact with rosuvastatin and are best avoided in combination.
Other pairings can be problematic too. Colchicine, a gout medication, and Paxlovid, the COVID-19 antiviral drug, can be problematic if taken with Crestor. Besides medications, alcohol use should also be avoided, or use should be kept to less than two drinks per day while taking Crestor. On the other hand, Crestor does not require you to restrict grapefruit juice, an issue with other statins.
How to switch from Crestor to rosuvastatin calcium
By this point, you have a handle on Crestor’s power and usefulness, as well as generic rosuvastatin’s lower price point, equivalent efficacy, and similar risk of side effects. If you are ready to change from Crestor to generic rosuvastatin, your next step is to call your healthcare provider for medical advice. The prescriber will send a new prescription for rosuvastatin if they agree with the switch, and you should not have any problems getting it since there are no current shortages.
The transition is easy. Pharmacists can automatically change a prescription from Crestor to rosuvastatin if the order states “Substitution Permissible.” You can always switch back if it is not working out. No tapering is needed during switchovers from Crestor to rosuvastatin. No withdrawal symptoms are felt if you stop, but you should get your doctor’s advice beforehand. If you are still unsure about substituting rosuvastatin for Crestor, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare professional to get all your questions answered.