Crestor vs Other Cholesterol Medications

Author Scott

Posted on June 14, 2022

Scott is passionate about health and wellness, and enjoys writing on various topic surrounding these fields. Scott lives in Seattle and spends his free time restoring old furniture and playing pickleball with his friends.

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States? Every one in four deaths is related to cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol is one of the primary risk factors.

While genetics plays a role, processed and high trans-fat foods in a Western diet contribute to rising high cholesterol numbers. If you deal with high cholesterol, medications and lifestyle changes can help!

Crestor is one of those medications and is a widely used statin. If you have wondered how Crestor stacks up against other prescription drugs, we have you covered! In our complete guide, we will go over what Crestor is and how it compares to other commonly prescribed medications.

Keep reading on for more information!

What Is High Cholesterol?

Nearly 94 million adults in the United States are at risk for high cholesterol and already have borderline numbers. Unfortunately, this condition can sometimes be hard to diagnose since it doesn't present with definitive symptoms.

Cholesterol is a naturally produced lipid that is broken down into two primary types:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

When LDLs build up in your bloodstream, it creates plaque that builds up on your arterial walls. Increasing amounts of plaque along arterial walls is what narrows arteries, leading to hypertension, blood clots, heart attacks, or strokes.

Higher levels of LDLs are considered high cholesterol and can be caused by obesity, genetics, or lifestyle. Incorporating a healthy diet and regular exercise is important for optimal heart health. Other diseases may put you at risk of high cholesterol, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism.

What Is Crestor?

Crestor is a prescription medication used for patients with high cholesterol levels. It falls under an umbrella term: statins. Statins are a classification of drugs that decrease triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Statins also help boost HDL levels, which helps remove cholesterol from the bloodstream and return it to your liver.

Crestor contains the active ingredient rosuvastatin and is only available via prescription by a qualified physician. Rosuvastatin is also the generic version of the medication. It is used to block liver enzymes that create cholesterol, lowering the availability in your blood.

Here are a few common side effects to watch out for:

Headache
Abdominal pain
Muscle pain
Nausea
Weakness

Crestor may react with other medications like warfarin or acid-reducing prescription drugs. In some instances, you may combine Crestor with another cholesterol prescription medication.

Does Crestor Work?

In short: yes! Crestor is an effective statin that has proven results in lowering elevated lipid levels.

Researchers also found that Crestor can prevent cardiovascular disease. One of Crestor's largest risks is drug-to-drug interactions, so notify your physician of any unusual side effects with other medications you take.

How Much Does Crestor Cost?

Crestor is available in a generic version, saving you money in the long term. Crestor's prices are as low as $1.75 per tablet through an online pharmacy. If you shop through PricePro Pharmacy, you can find rosuvastatin prices for under $0.30 per tablet!

Crestor vs Lipitor

Lipitor is another statin and arguably one of the most popular high cholesterol medications. It is used to help treat or manage:

High cholesterol
Stroke risk
Heart attack risk
Cardiac complications

Since Lipitor is a statin, it has similar mechanisms of action to Crestor. Although, it has a different active ingredient - atorvastatin.

In short, it decreases cholesterol production. Lipitor comes with a few different side effects like diarrhea, insomnia, and urinary tract infections.

Crestor vs Zetia

Zetia is a medication also used for patients with high cholesterol. The primary difference is Zetia is not a statin. It belongs to a classification of drugs known as cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Zetia works by targeting intestinal absorption of cholesterol. When you take this prescription medication, it inhibits intestinal absorption so that it can be excreted.

Since Zetia is not a statin, your doctor may prescribe it with Crestor or another type. Some common side effects when taking Zetia are:

Respiratory infection
Sinus infection
Diarrhea
Joint pain

How much does Zetia cost? In the United States, Zetia can cost nearly $415 for a 30 tablet supply.

Since you take this medication daily, it can quickly increase your yearly prescription costs. PricePro Pharmacy has affordable Zetia costs at $58 for a 28 tablet supply.

Crestor vs Tricor

Like Zetia, Tricor is another cholesterol-lowering medication known as a fibrate. It also comes in a generic version called fenofibrate. It can be used independently or with another statin.

Tricor and other fibrates limit liver production of triglycerides, lowering LDL levels and boosting HDL levels. Experts recommend that Tricor should always be used with healthy living habits such as eating a balanced diet and regularly exercising.

Some of Tricor's common side effects include:

Headache
Back pain
Abdominal pain
Flu symptoms

If you haven't responded favorably to other cholesterol-reducing medications, your doctor may recommend trying fibrates. They aren't as popular as statins but are an excellent alternative to use in conjunction or after failing other methods.

How To Know Which Medication Is Right for You

Ultimately, your physician will help you determine which cholesterol-lowering medication is right for you. Remember, you should always combine medication to lower cholesterol with healthy lifestyle habits.

Crestor and other statins are usually a front-line approach toward treating high cholesterol. Since they have been on the market for several years, you will also find lower costs. Other medications may be needed alongside Crestor and may have a higher price tag.

For help with all your cholesterol medication, PricePro Pharmacy has you covered. Check out our medications today!