Yes, you can typically switch from Lipitor to Crestor immediately, as there is generally no waiting period required between stopping atorvastatin (Lipitor) and starting rosuvastatin (Crestor). Both are part of the same drug class (statins) and work similarly.
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors also increase the amount of cholesterol removed from your bloodstream. Since the medications produce the same results, you can safely switch between Crestor and Lipitor. However, your cholesterol levels may temporarily increase if you begin with Crestor and then change to Lipitor.
Key Takeaways
Data shows that Crestor (rosuvastatin) increased “good” cholesterol and lowered “bad” cholesterol by a higher percentage than Lipitor (atorvastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), and Pravachol (pravastatin).
Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help. If these symptoms carry on, or if you're in a lot of pain, speak to your pharmacist or doctor. If rosuvastatin makes you feel dizzy or weak, stop what you're doing and sit or lie down until you feel better.
Although atorvastatin is widely used across the world, rosuvastatin has come into widespread clinical use in Western countries because it has been reported to exhibit a stronger LDL-C lowering effect and a higher rate of achievement of therapeutic goals than atorvastatin [9], [10].
Even though rosuvastatin and atorvastatin work the same way, their potency isn't the same. Rosuvastatin is about twice as potent as atorvastatin. This means you need a lower dose to achieve the same cholesterol-lowering effects.
Switching from any statin to another non-equipotent lipid lowering treatment (LLT) may cause a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increase and has been associated with a higher probability of negative cardiovascular outcomes.
Rosuvastatin starts to work within a week to reduce cholesterol, but it can take up to a month to achieve its full effect. Your cholesterol levels should drop within 4 weeks if you take your medicine regularly, as prescribed. Are there any long-term side effects? Rosuvastatin is safe to take for a long time.
Statin psychiatric effects can include irritability/aggression, anxiety or depressed mood, violent ideation, sleep problems including nightmares, and possibly suicide attempt and completion.
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.
The 40 mg dose is reserved for patients who do not achieve the LDL goal with the 20-mg dose. One significant difference between atorvastatin and rosuvastatin is their metabolism pathway. Atorvastatin is metabolized extensively in the liver by CYP3A4 – an enzyme that resides in the liver and gastrointestinal tract.
It has been hypothesized that hydrophilic/water-soluble statins (i.e., rosuvastatin and pravastatin) are less likely to cause muscular side effects than lipophilic/fat-soluble statins (e.g., simvastatin or atorvastatin) due to lower passive diffusion into muscle cells.
Conditions treated: Lipitor and Crestor are both used to treat high cholesterol and reduce certain cardiovascular risks, including heart attack and stroke. However, Crestor is also used to slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries. (See “Uses of Lipitor vs. Crestor” below.)
How soon will CRESTOR work? You may see results for lowering LDL cholesterol as soon as 2–4 weeks after starting the cholesterol-lowering medicine CRESTOR.
According to the FDA, side effects of statins may also include neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms, including: dizziness or vertigo.
Natural interventions, such as vitamin D, calcium, ginkgo biloba, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) have shown promise for the management of vertigo.
Benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan) and diazepam (Valium), are known to affect coordination. These effects can be more pronounced in older adults. Similarly, sleep medications like zolpidem can cause coordination problems that may persist into the following day.
Inner ear problems, which affect balance, are the most common causes of vertigo. It can also be caused by problems in certain parts of the brain. Common causes of vertigo may include: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – where certain head movements trigger vertigo.
Physicians have prescribed CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin) over 15 million times – ask if it's right for you. When diet and exercise alone are not enough, CRESTOR is prescribed along with diet in adults to lower high cholesterol and to slow plaque buildup in arteries as part of a treatment plan to lower cholesterol to goal.
of a 30–40% reduction in LDL-cholesterol for high-risk patients. Indeed, the lowest dose of rosuvastatin that is marketed, 5 mg, reduces LDL-cholesterol by 45% on average, still more than initially necessary for many patients.
From the data of published studies, it is clear that total cholesterol and LDL-C levels gradually decrease and reach a steady state after 6 to 8 weeks of statin therapy. Alternate-day dosing of statins seems to be as effective as daily dosing in many patients, with cost savings and possibly fewer side effects.
Rosuvastatin is more efficacious in improving lipid profile, atherogenic index and modulation of inflammatory biomarkers in dyslipidemic T2D patients compared with atorvastatin. Both statins are equivalent as cardioprotective agents in dyslipidemic T2D patients.
According to the “rule of 7” that appears to apply to each of these agents, for each doubling of statin dosage, one should expect to see a 7% reduction in LDL-C.