Compare Crestor vs. pravastatin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers cholesterol.
Crestor (rosuvastatin) is one of the most effective statins to improve cholesterol. It's also available as a generic.
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3.7/ 5 average rating with 751 reviewsforCrestor
Lowers cholesterol.
Pravachol (pravastatin) can improve cholesterol, but it's not as strong as other statin medicines. It does cause fewer side effects and is safer for your kidneys and liver.
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3.5/ 5 average rating with 426 reviewsforpravastatin
Upsides
- It's a good first choice medicine for lowering cholesterol levels when diet and exercise aren't enough.
- Slows down the buildup of fatty deposits in your blood vessels, otherwise known as a hardening of the arteries.
- In clinical studies, Crestor (rosuvastatin) has the strongest effect on lowering "bad" cholesterol compared to other statins.
- Can lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and death, particularly if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or a history of smoking.
- Available as a generic drug.
- Compared to other statins, Pravachol (pravastatin) has fewer interactions with medicines.
- Pravachol (pravastatin) is less likely to cause muscle and kidney damage than other statin medicines.
- If you have liver problems, Pravachol (pravastatin) is the safest statin to use.
- It's available as a generic.
Downsides
- You're more likely to have side effects if you're a female, are 65 years or older, drink alcohol every day, or take more than one medicine for cholesterol.
- People with liver disease, kidney disease, or diabetes are also more likely to have side effects from Crestor (rosuvastatin).
- Crestor (rosuvastatin) isn't safe to use if you're pregnant since it can hurt the fetus.
- Pravachol (pravastatin) isn't as strong as other statins in lowering your cholesterol.
- You'll still need to eat a low fat diet and exercise regularly to get the full benefit of Pravachol (pravastatin).
Used for
- High cholesterol
- High triglycerides
- Heart protection
- Atherosclerosis
- Hereditary hypercholesterolemia
- Post-heart attack treatment
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$8.44
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$175.81
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Reviews
751 reviews so far
60%
saidit'sworth it
47%
saiditworked well
15%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Crestor (rosuvastatin)?
Leave a review426 reviews so far
54%
saidit'sworth it
44%
saiditworked well
19%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Pravachol (pravastatin)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Crestor (rosuvastatin) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
20possible side effects
- Muscle, joint or ligament/tendon pain10%
- Nausea, vomiting7%
- Diarrhea7%
- Headache6%
- Upper respiratory infection6%
- Chest pain5%
- Rash5%
- Dizziness4%
- Stuffy nose4%
- Muscle damage4%
- Flatulence3%
- Indigestion, heartburn3%
- Fatigue3%
- Cough3%
- Increased liver enzymes3%
- Abdominal swelling2%
- Influenza2%
- Muscle pain2%
- Sore throat2%
- Bile duct disease2%
Risks and risk factors
- Elevated INR
- Taking Coumadin (warfarin)
- Muscle pain
- Age 65 or older
- Taking higher doses of Crestor (rosuvastatin)
- Increased blood sugars
- Diabetes
- Liver damage
- Heavy alcohol use
- Prior history of chronic liver disease
- Birth defects
- Pregnancy
- Muscle damage
- Kidney disease
- An underactive thyroid
- Over age 65
- Female gender
- Taking other medicines to lower your cholesterol
- Liver damage
- Heavy alcohol use
- History of chronic liver disease
- Harm to fetus
- Pregnancy
- Breast feeding
- Endocrine function
- Spironolactone use
- Cimetidine use
- Ketoconazole use