Better Homes And Gardens 2010 02, page 199 read online

IM P O R T A N T IN F O R M A T IO N A B O U T C R E S T O R ® (R O S U V A S T A T IN C A L C IU M )

Please read this sum m ary carefully and then a sk your health care professional about CRESTOR. No advertisem ent can provide all

the information needed to determine if a drug is right for you. Th is advertisem ent does not take the place of careful discussion s

w ith your health care professional.

Only your health care professional has the training to help w eigh the risk s and benefits of a prescription drug.

W HAT IS C R E STO R ?

CRESTOR is a prescription medicine that belongs to a group

of cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins. Along with

diet, CRESTOR lowers “bad" cholesterol (LDL-C), increases

“good” cholesterol (HDL-C), and also slows the progression

of atherosclerosis in adults with high cholesterol, as part of a

treatment plan to lower cholesterol 1o goal.

W HAT IS CH O LESTER O L?

Cholesterol is a fatly substance, also called a lipid, normally

found in your bloodstream. Your body needs a certain amount

of cholesterol to function properly. But high cholesterol can

lead to health problems. LDL-C is called bad cholesterol

because if you have too much in your bloodstream, it can

become a danger to your health and can lead to potentially

serious conditions. HDL-C is known as good cholesterol

because it may help remove excess cholesterol. Common

health factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking,

obesity, family history of early heart disease, and age can

make controlling your cholesterol even more important

W HAT IS A TH ER O SC LER O SIS?

Atherosclerosis is the progressive buildup of plaque in the

arteries over time. One major cause is high levels of LDL-C.

Other health factors, such as family history, diabetes, high

blood pressure, or if you smoke or are overweight, may also

play a role in the formation of plaque in arteries. Often this

plaque starts building up in arteries in early adulthood and

gels worse over time.

HOW DO ES CR ESTO R W O R K ?

Most of the cholesterol in your blood is made in the liver.

CRESTOR works by reducing cholesterol in two ways:

CRESTOR blocks an enzyme in the liver causing the liver to

make less cholesterol, and CRESTOR increases the uptake

and breakdown by the liver of cholesterol already in toe blood.

WHO SHOULD NOT TA KE C R E S T O R ?

Do not take CRESTOR if you

■ are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are

planning to become pregnant. CRESTOR may harm

your unborn baby. If you become pregnant, stop

taking CRESTOR and call your health care

professional right away

■ are breast-feeding. CRESTOR can pass into your

breast milk and may harm your baby

■ have liver problems

■ have had an allergic reaction to CRESTOR or are

allergic to any of its ingredients. The active ingredient

is rosuvastatin calcium. The inactive ingredients are

microcrystalline cellulose, lactose monohydrate,

tribasic calcium phosphate, crospovidone, magnesium

stearate, hypromellose, ttacefin, titanium dioxide,

yellow ferric oxide, and red tonic oxide

The safety and effectiveness of CRESTOR have not been

established in children.

HOW SHOULD I TA KE C R E S T O R ?

■ Take CRESTOR exactly as prescribed by your health care

professional. Do not change your dose or stop CRESTOR

without talking to your health care professional, even if

you are feeling well

■ Your health care professional may do blood tests to check

your cholesterol levels before and during your treatment

with CRESTOR. Your dose of CRESTOR may be changed

based on these blood test results

■ CRESTOR can be taken at any time of day, with or

without food

■ Swallow the tablets whole

■ Your health care professional should start you on a

cholesterol-lowering diet before giving you CRESTOR.

Slay on tois diet when you take CRESTOR

■ Wait at least 2 hours after taking CRESTOR to fake an

antacid that contains a combination of aluminum and

magnesium hydroxide

■ If you miss a dose of CRESTOR, fake it as soon as you

remember. However, do not take 2 doses of CRESTOR

within 12 hours of each other

■ If you fake too much CRESTOR or overdose, call your

health care professional or Poison Control Center right

away or go to the nearest emergency room

W HAT SHOULD I T E L L M Y

HEALTH CA R E PRO FESSIO NAL

BEFO RE TAKING C R E S T O R ?

Tell your health care professional if you

■ have a history of muscle pain or weakness

■ are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, or are

planning to become pregnant

■ are breast-feeding

■ drink more than 2 glasses of alcohol daily

■ have liver problems

■ have kidney problems

■ have thyroid problems

■ are Asian or of Asian descent

Tell your health care professional about all medicines you

take or plan to take, including prescription and non-

prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines may interact with CRESTOR, causing side

effects. It is particularly important to tell your health care

professional if you are taking or plan to take medicines for

-your immune system

- cholesterol/triglycerides

- blood thinning

- HIV/AIDS

- preventing pregnancy

Know all of toe medicines you take and what they look like.

It’s always a good idea to check that you have toe right

prescription before you leave the pharmacy and before you

take any medicine.

(continued)

Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your health

care professional. If you need to go to toe hospital or have

surgery, tell all of your health care professionals about all

medicines that you are taking.

W HAT A R E TH E PO SSIB LE SID E

EFF E C T S OF C R E S T O R ?

CRESTOR can cause side effects in some people.

Serious side effects may include:

Muscle problems. Call your health care professional

right away if you experience unexplained muscle pain,

tenderness, or weakness, especially with fever. This

may be an early sign of a rare muscle problem that

could lead to serious kidney problems. The risk of

muscle problems is greater in people who are 65

years of age or older, or who already have thyroid or

kidney problems. The chance of muscle problems may

be increased if you are taking certain other medicines

with CRESTOR.

Liver problems. Your health care professional should

do blood tests before you start faking CRESTOR and

during treatment to check ter signs of possible

liver problems.

The most common side effects may include headache,

muscle aches and pains, abdominal pain, weakness,

and nausea.

This is not a complete list of side effects of CRESTOR.

Talk to your health care professional for a complete list

or if you have side effects that bother you or that do not

go away.

HOW DO I STO R E C R E STO R ?

Store CRESTOR at room temperature, 68-77°F (20-25°C),

in a dry place. If your health care professional tells you to

stop treatment or if your medicine is out of date, throw toe

medicine away. Keep CRESTOR and all medicines In a

secure place and out of the reach of children.

W HERE CAN I G ET MORE

INFORMATION ABOUT C R E S T O R ?

Talk to your health care professional. Full Prescribing

Information is available on CRESTOR.COM or by

calling 1-800-CREST0R.

GEN ERA L INFORMATION

It is important to take CRESTOR as prescribed and to discuss

any health changes you experience while taking CRESTOR

with your health care professional. Do not use CRESTOR for

a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give

CRESTOR to other people, even if they have toe same

medical condition you have. It may harm them.

NOTE: This summary provides important information

about CRESTOR. For more information, please ask your

health care professional about the full Prescribing

Information and discuss it with him or her.

V isit C R E S T O R .C O M o r c a ll th e Inform ation C e n te r

a t A stra Z e n e c a to ll-fre e a t

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