Crestor less safe than competing statins

Researchers announced that in a head-to-head study, the cholesterol-lowering drug Crestor had more side effects than Lipitor, Zocor, or Pravachol, though it remained generally safe to take. The researchers reviewed reports of 145 adverse events, including kidney and muscle damage, for Crestor out of 5 million prescriptions. ''Although (Crestor) was found to be less safe than others, it does not mean patients should immediately stop taking this medication," the lead author of the study, Dr. Richard H. Karas, stated in a release. ''In fact, the overall risks of (Crestor) remain low." An earlier FDA review of AstraZeneca's Crestor found it equally safe as other statins.

- read this story from the Boston Globe for more on the study