Crestor and Liver Damage Side Effects

Serious concerns have been raised about the safety of the cholesterol drug, Crestor, due to information about potential Crestor side effects, including liver damage. Crestor (rosuvastatin) has been available in the U.S. since 2003, when it garnered FDA approval for the treatment of elevated cholesterol, and is currently manufactured by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. Crestor is one of group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, which are commonly used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart problems in patients with diabetes or coronary heart disease. Since its inception, Crestor has become one of the most commonly prescribed statin drugs available in the U.S. Unfortunately, in light of recent Crestor side effect information, the drug may no longer be considered safe in treating high cholesterol. If you took Crestor and have since suffered from a serious side effect, contact an experienced Crestor attorney for legal guidance.

Liver Damage Symptoms

The liver is responsible for a number of important bodily functions, including digestion, protein synthesis and detoxification. The liver produces and secretes bile which assists in the digestion of fats, changes harmful chemicals into harmless ones, and produces important substances like proteins. When pharmaceutical drugs interfere with the liver's functioning, severe liver damage may occur. Common symptoms of liver damage include:

• Jaundice
• Easy bruising
• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite

Liver Damage Treatment and Prognosis

Liver dialysis can sometimes provide short-term benefits for patients with liver damage, but there is currently no way to compensate for the absence of a functioning liver. Unfortunately, some patients with liver damage may require a liver transplant if deterioration of the liver progresses. Historically, mortality associated with liver damage has been in excess of 80%. In recent years, advances in medical support for liver damage have improved chances of survival significantly. Currently, overall short-term survival with transplant is 65%.

Crestor Side Effect Studies and FDA Warnings

According to researchers, Crestor has the poorest safety profile of the top three most frequently prescribed statin drugs on the market. In 2005, the FDA issued a public health advisory warning patients and healthcare professionals about the increased risk of kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis, or severe muscle damage, in patients taking Crestor or other statin drugs. In response to Crestor side effect information, the FDA required AstraZeneca to update the Crestor warning label to include the risk of muscle damage and the possible effects it may have on the kidneys.

Researchers have indicated that most patients with elevated cholesterol have only mild or moderate elevations, which require only modest doses of statin drugs like Crestor. However, the standard starting dosage for Crestor is so high that AstraZeneca claims the drug can reduce bad cholesterol by 46-52%, when most patients require only a 20-30% reduction. Experts fear that even the standard doses of Crestor may expose patients to unnecessarily high doses of the drug, potentially resulting in serious side effects.

Crestor Attorneys for Liver Damage Side Effects

Liver damage is extremely dangerous and can even be life-threatening. If you or a loved one has suffered from a side effect which you believe to be linked to the cholesterol drug, Crestor, contact a Crestor attorney to discuss your legal options. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, which you can collect by filing a Crestor lawsuit against AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. You are not at fault for any injuries caused by a dangerous pharmaceutical drug, and you should not be held accountable for any resulting consequences. Pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca are responsible for the safety of their medications, and should be held liable for any adverse side effects sustained by consumers of their products. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. With the help of an experienced Crestor lawyer, victims of alleged Crestor side effects can protect their rights and collect the compensation they deserve.