Crestor Diabetes Linked to High Doses of the Drug: Study

High doses of Rosuvastatin (Crestor), according to a recent study by the American Medical Association, lead to a greater risk of developing diabetes when compared with smaller doses. Crestor is part of the class of drugs called statins, used to lower cholesterol. Crestor, manufactured by Astra Zeneca, is one of the most popular drugs in the world. Astra Zeneca is the world’s seventh biggest drug manufacturer, and Crestor sales reached $4.5 billion in 2009.

The now widespread usage of Crestor is worrisome to some in the medical community.

The research involved studying the results of five earlier trials of 32,752 patients, and the results were mixed. While patients were 16% less likely to have a heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular surgery, or related fatality, patients were also 12% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those who took a smaller dosage. This comes on the heels of previous FDA reports that patients who took Crestor or another statin were more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who took a placebo. Crestor has also been linked to other dangerous side effects, such as rhabdomyolysis and myopathy (muscular tissue damage), as well as kidney failure.

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Crestor for patients who are at risk of heart disease, even if they do not have elevated cholesterol yet. The preceding study financed by Astra Zeneca was called Jupiter, and it studied the effects Crestor had on 15,000 people who were relatively healthy but had modest levels of bad cholesterol. The study was planned to last for five years but was stopped early after researchers purportedly realized the “unequivocal” benefits of the statin in preventing major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. The now widespread usage of Crestor is worrisome to some in the medical community who believe that the limited research and published risks make Crestor usage possibly dangerous for the general public. These professionals stress that lifestyle changes are a safer and more proven alternative.

If you or a loved one has experienced the onset of diabetes while taking Crestor, you may be eligible to participate in a Crestor lawsuit against the manufacturer Astra Zeneca. Knowledgeable Crestor attorneys will review your case for free and determine if you could possibly pursue legal recourse for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.