Rosuvastatin is a generic drug that’s prescribed for high cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to treat other conditions. As with other drugs, rosuvastatin can cause side effects, such as muscle pain and headache.

Rosuvastatin is prescribed along with diet to:

Rosuvastatin is available as the brand-name drug Crestor. Rosuvastatin comes as an oral tablet. If rosuvastatin works for you, your doctor will likely recommend that you take it long term.

Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of rosuvastatin, including details about its uses, refer to this article. Your doctor can also tell you more about rosuvastatin.

Rosuvastatin can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took rosuvastatin in clinical trials:

  • abdominal pain
  • weakness
  • mild pain in the muscles*
  • headache*
  • nausea*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Rosuvastatin: Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with rosuvastatin use. This list does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to rosuvastatin’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that people taking rosuvastatin have reported include:

  • constipation
  • abdominal pain
  • weakness
  • joint pain
  • mild pain in the muscles*
  • headache*
  • nausea*
  • mild allergic reaction*

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking rosuvastatin and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Rosuvastatin: Side effect specifics” below.

Rosuvastatin may cause serious side effects. Most often, serious side effects are rare, but they still can occur.

The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to rosuvastatin’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking rosuvastatin, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Rosuvastatin: Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using rosuvastatin. This side effect was reported in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Rosuvastatin: Side effect specifics” section below.

You may have an increased risk of side effects from rosuvastatin if you take a higher dose of the medication. This is because if you take a higher dose, more drug is present in your body, which can increase your risk of side effects.

Rosuvastatin comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablet strengths. So, someone taking a dose of 10 mg daily may have fewer side effects than someone taking 40 mg daily.

If you’re concerned about the side effects that you may experience from rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor.

Rosuvastatin may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Is hair loss a side effect of rosuvastatin?

No, you should not experience hair loss from taking rosuvastatin. Hair loss was not a side effect that people taking the drug reported in clinical trials.

However, it’s possible for other drugs used to treat high cholesterol, such as pravastatin, to cause hair loss.

If you experience hair loss while taking rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing your hair loss. They may also recommend ways to manage hair loss. This may include using an over-the-counter treatment, such as minoxidil (Rogaine).

Are side effects of rosuvastatin and Crestor the same?

Yes, side effects of rosuvastatin and Crestor are the same. Both of these medications contain the same active ingredient, called rosuvastatin. So, their side effects should also be the same.

If you have questions or concerns about switching between Crestor and rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Weight gain and weight loss are not known side effects of rosuvastatin. People taking the drug in clinical trials did not report weight changes.

Sometimes, your doctor may recommend taking rosuvastatin along with changes in diet, such as limiting saturated fat. So, it’s possible that this may cause weight changes.

If you notice weight gain or weight loss while taking rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing your weight changes. They can also recommend ways to help manage your weight.

Learn more about some of the side effects that rosuvastatin may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for rosuvastatin.

Pain in muscles

Some people may develop muscle pain from taking rosuvastatin. In fact, mild muscle pain was one of the most common side effects that people taking rosuvastatin reported in clinical trials.

In rare cases, muscle pain can be a symptom of a more serious side effect, such as rhabdomyolysis or immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. With rhabdomyolysis, you have a breakdown of muscle, which may cause kidney problems. With immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy, you have a breakdown of muscle that may be related to an autoimmune disease. Symptoms of these conditions may include nausea, vomiting, dark urine, or muscle pain and weakness.

What you can do

If you develop muscle pain while taking rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor. You should also be aware of symptoms of rhabdomyolysis so that you can report them to your doctor right away. Your doctor can help ensure that you’re not experiencing a more serious side effect of this medication.

Sometimes, your doctor may be able to recommend ways to treat muscle pain. Or, they may recommend you stop taking rosuvastatin and try a different medication to treat your condition.

Headache

Headache may occur while taking rosuvastatin. This was one of the most common side effects that people taking rosuvastatin reported in clinical trials.

What you can do

If you experience headache while taking rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend using over-the-counter medications to treat your headache. Or they may suggest that you stop taking rosuvastatin and try a different medication to treat your condition.

Nausea

It’s possible to feel nauseous from taking rosuvastatin. Nausea was one of the most common side effects that people taking rosuvastatin reported in clinical trials.

What you can do

If you feel nauseous while taking rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor. They may suggest taking the drug with food to find out whether that eases your nausea. (You may take rosuvastatin with or without food. To learn more, see this article.) Your doctor may also recommend other ways to help reduce this side effect.

Increased liver enzymes

Rosuvastatin may cause increased liver enzymes. A doctor can detect this with liver function tests. Sometimes, increased liver enzymes may indicate liver damage.

Symptoms can include:

  • nausea or vomiting
  • abdominal pain
  • jaundice

What you can do

It’s important that you’re aware of the symptoms of liver damage so that you can tell your doctor right away if you develop any. They can order a blood test to find out how well your liver is working.

In addition, your doctor will recommend a liver function test before you start taking rosuvastatin. That way, they can monitor and compare any liver enzyme changes that occur while taking the drug.

If you develop increased liver enzymes while taking rosuvastatin, your doctor may recommend stopping the drug. In this case, they’ll recommend a different medication for you.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, rosuvastatin can cause an allergic reaction in some people. In clinical trials, allergic reaction was a rare, but serious side effect.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking rosuvastatin. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take rosuvastatin. This drug may not be the right medication for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Kidney problems: If you have any kidney problems, tell your doctor before starting rosuvastatin. This medication may cause muscle problems. And, if you have kidney problems, you may have an increased risk of this side effect. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a lower dose of rosuvastatin. However, if you have serious kidney problems, your doctor may recommend a different medication for you.

Liver problems: Tell your doctor if you have any liver problems before starting rosuvastatin. This medication may cause increased liver enzymes, which can increase your risk of liver damage. If you already have a liver condition, taking rosuvastatin may worsen your condition. In this case, talk with your doctor to find out whether rosuvastatin is safe for you.

Muscle problems: Before starting rosuvastatin, tell your doctor if you have any conditions that affect your muscles or cause muscle weakness. This medication can cause muscle pain and weakness as side effects. And if you already have a condition that affects your muscles, taking rosuvastatin may worsen it. Your doctor can help determine if rosuvastatin is safe for you to take.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to rosuvastatin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe rosuvastatin. Taking rosuvastatin could cause you to have another allergic reaction. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Thyroid problems: Tell your doctor about any thyroid conditions that you have. If you have hypothyroidism, you may have an increased risk of developing muscle side effects from rosuvastatin. In this case, your doctor may recommend managing your thyroid levels before you start taking rosuvastatin.

Alcohol with rosuvastatin

There aren’t any known interactions between alcohol and rosuvastatin. However, tell your doctor if you frequently drink alcohol or drink more than two glasses of alcohol per day.

Both rosuvastatin and alcohol can cause liver problems. And, if you drink alcohol often, you may have an increased risk of developing liver problems.

Also, both alcohol and rosuvastatin can cause nausea and headaches. So, drinking alcohol while taking rosuvastatin may increase your risk of these side effects. (For more details about these side effects, see the “Rosuvastatin: Side effect specifics” section above.)

Before you start taking rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor to find out whether it may be safe to drink alcohol while you’re taking the drug.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin is not safe to take during pregnancy or while you’re breastfeeding.

It’s possible that exposure to rosuvastatin during pregnancy can cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) in a developing fetus. Due to this risk, your doctor will likely recommend stopping rosuvastatin if you become pregnant. And if you’re planning to become pregnant, they won’t typically prescribe this drug.

In addition, rosuvastatin passes into breast milk. So a child who is breastfed will likely be exposed to the drug. However, it’s unknown what effects rosuvastatin may have on a child who’s breastfed.

If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking rosuvastatin.

Rosuvastatin may cause side effects. Typically, these side effects are mild. However, rosuvastatin’s side effects can be serious.

If you’d like to learn more about rosuvastatin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Referring to the following articles about rosuvastatin can provide you with additional information:

  • More information about rosuvastatin: For details about other aspects of rosuvastatin, refer to this article.
  • Cost: If you’d like to learn about rosuvastatin and cost, see this article.
  • A look at your condition: For details about your condition, see our cholesterol hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.