Can You Eat Grapefruit While Taking Crestor?

Crestor and its generic form, rosuvastatin, are cholesterol-lowering drugs known as a statins 2. These medications lower low-density lipoprotein, or bad, cholesterol while increasing high-density lipoprotein, or good, cholesterol. Although statin medications have properties that can save your life, some can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

Grapefruit’s Effects

Grapefruit is a member of the citrus family of fruits and can resemble an orange. The typical grapefruit is bigger, though, and not as brightly colored as an orange. Grapefruit is rich in inflammation-fighting anti-oxidants. It also has enzymes that can affect other enzymes in your intestines that are responsible for breaking down medications you take. Eating grapefruit can be a concern, because it can cause more medication to be absorbed than your physician intended when she prescribed the drug.

Statins

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Statins belong to a category of medications associated with grapefruit-drug interactions. Statins known to have grapefruit interactions include Zocor, Lipitor and Mevacor. Each statin works via a different mechanism. Crestor does not appear to interact as negatively as other statins, according to eMedTV. However, Drugs.com warns that there is still potential for drug interaction with this medication, because some people tend to be more sensitive than others to grapefruit’s effects.

Talk to Your Doctor

If grapefruit is part of your daily routine, talk to your doctor about how this might affect your ability to take Crestor. Your doctor may ask you how much grapefruit you typically consume to evaluate your potential for drug interactions. If you decide to continue eating grapefruit, your doctor may discuss potential side effects.

Side Effects

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Crestor is commonly associated with musclar side effects such as pain, cramping, stiffness and spasms. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking Crestor could put you at risk for muscle disorders like myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, although these are more commonly associated with Lipitor and Zocor. Talk to your physician if you develop muscular issues while taking Crestor.