Patients taking the cholesterol drug Crestor have a higher rate of kidney failure or damage than patients taking all other statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, Lescol, Pravachol and Mevachor), according to a Public Citizen analysis of government data.
In a press release, Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, said that it sent the information on Friday to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and renewed its call for the drug to be taken off the market.
“It becomes clearer by the day that this drug is uniquely toxic but offers no unique benefit, and must be removed from the market,” wrote Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, to FDA Acting Commissioner Lester Crawford.
According to the analysis, the rate of reports to the FDA of acute renal failure or renal insufficiency per million prescriptions in patients using Crestor is approximately 75 times higher than the rate for all other statin drugs combined.
“The FDA had evidence before approving the cholesterol drug Crestor that it caused an increased incidence of rhabdomyolysis, severe muscle deterioration, yet the agency approved it anyway, erroneously believing that this toxicity was limited to an 80 milligram dose that was not ultimately approved,” Public Citizen said.
Crestor was approved in September 2003.
(via Public Citizen)
3 responses so far ↓
Stanford Beebe // Nov 20, 2004 at 7:29 pm
started crestor in spring 04, 2 mo. later started having pain in area of kidneys. normal blood test june, but back pain increased. discontinued crestor in July but pain increasing
Jeanette Oliver // Nov 21, 2004 at 5:11 pm
I have been on Crestor for several months, and over the last couple of months I have had increased fatigue, feelings of unwellness, headaches, pain in my muscles, and in the strangest places, ie my toes. Cramping of my hands, legs, feet and toes. I feel awful and have taken myself off the Crestor, and will be attending my physician within 24 hrs. I suffered from Lupus for many years, and this isn’t the same pain or malaise.
I feel really really unwell and very very tired. Thank you for sharing and informing, I would not have corrolated the two, Crestor and feeling unwell.
CIndy // Dec 9, 2004 at 5:02 pm
I have been sick for about 8 MO with my feet, I been to many doctor’s
all have different opinion I finally found two doctors that seems to think It maybe
From a cholesterol medicine called CRESTOR. They think it may have destroyed
the ligaments and muscle tendon around my Ankles rhabdomyolysis, severe muscle deterioration
There so tender and fragile. they can erupt anytime. Im so worried..
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