Crestor and Grapefruit

Although most statin drugs should not be taken in combination with grapefruit products, Crestor is an exception. While grapefruit can increase the levels of certain statins in a person's blood, Crestor and grapefruit do not seem to have this interaction. As with any drug, it's still a good idea to discuss the specific precautions and warnings for Crestor with your healthcare provider.

 

Crestor and Grapefruit: An Overview

Unlike several other cholesterol-lowering statins, Crestor® (rosuvastatin calcium) does not appear to interact significantly with grapefruit, grapefruit juice, or grapefruit supplements. Therefore, most people taking Crestor do not need to avoid grapefruit products.
 

How Grapefruit Interacts With Other Statins

If you are taking a statin drug (other than Crestor), be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about whether you can drink grapefruit juice or use other grapefruit products.
 Grapefruit is known to affect a number of statin drugs.
 
It's believed that grapefruit products interfere with an enzyme the body uses to break down certain statins, such as Zocor® and to a lesser extent, Lipitor®. This means that when combined with grapefruit, these statins stay in the body longer than they normally would.
 
For example, in one clinical study, Lipitor levels increased by 83 percent in people who drank grapefruit juice four times a day compared to people who only drank water. For Zocor, the drug levels can increase up to 12-fold in people who drink high doses of grapefruit juice.
 
(Click Lipitor and Grapefruit and Grapefruit Juice and Zocor for more information.)
 
Having higher levels of a statin in your blood can increase your chances of developing serious muscle problems (myopathy or rhabdomyolysis) that can lead to kidney failure and other life-threatening complications.
 
Click the following links to learn more about these potential complications:
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;