Crestor: Adverse Drug Reactions: Drug Side Effects: Rhabdomyolysis, Myoglobinuria, Kidney Damage

Crestor and Rhabdomyolysis

Adverse Reactions from Crestor Include Rhabdomyolysis and Kidney Failure

Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood circulation. This process can be toxic to the kidneys and can result in myoglobinuria and kidney damage. Rhabdomyolysis and kidney problems are associated with the use of drugs in the statin class, including AstraZeneca's cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor.

Another potential side effect is myoglobinuria. Myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein pigment found in the skeletal muscle. When the skeletal muscle is damaged, the myoglobin is released into the bloodstream. It is filtered out of the bloodstream by the kidneys. Myoglobin may occlude the structures of the kidney, causing damage such as acute tubular necrosis or kidney failure. Myoglobin breaks down into potentially toxic compounds, which will also cause kidney failure. Myoglobinuria may be caused by any condition that results in damage to skeletal muscle, and symptoms include:

Abnormal urine color (dark, red, or cola colored)

Muscle tenderness

Weakness of the affected muscles

Generalized weakness

Muscle stiffness or aching (myalgia)

In studies, Crestor also was linked to some cases of kidney abnormalities not seen with other statins.

There are currently six statin drugs on the market:

atorvastatin (Lipitor)
fluvastatin (Lescol)
lovastatin (Mevacor)
pravastatin (Pravachol)
simvastatin (Zocor)
rosuvastatin (Crestor)
A seventh statin, cerivastatin (Baycol) was removed from the market in 2001 because of adverse reactions and serious side effects, including rhabdomyolysis.

Statins work by reducing production of cholesterol in the liver and by increasing the ability of the liver to remove LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) from the blood. Statins reduce the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood and can reduce triglyceride levels and increase levels of HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol.) The newest statin, rosuvastatin (Crestor) has been marketed as a "superstatin" because AstraZeneca claims it reduces LDL cholesterol to a greater degree than the other approved statin drugs.

The approval of rosuvastatin is somewhat controversial since it follows the recall of cerivastatin (Baycol), by Bayer, which was also a superstatin and which was removed from the market in 2001 because of reports of a fatal muscle disorder (rhabdomyolysis) caused by the drug. Side effects were reported with rosuvastatin that appeared reminiscent of the Baycol experience. Cases of rhabdomyolysis were seen with this new statin during drug trials, particularly with the 80 mg dose. Crestor won FDA approval in August 2003 in 5, 10 20, and 40 mg doses, but not the 80 mg dose.In recent months there have been reports of serious side effects resulting from use of Crestor, such as:

Seven patients with rhabdomyolysis, including the 39-year-old American who died after using a 20-mg dose, and a second death from an unspecified country
Four patients with acute kidney failure, including a 79-year-old U.S. man who died
Five additional patients with kidney damage.
Crestor interacted dangerously with the blood-thinner Coumadin, commonly used by heart-disease patients; one Crestor-Coumadin interaction resulted in a hemorrhage