Rosuvastatin and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Bun...
• December 16, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Rosuvastatin is the 4th cholesterol medication I have tried and I guarantee it will be the last. Because of my previous intolerance to statins, I was started on the lowest dose possible. I was on it for about 5 weeks and thought I was doing well as I didn't get the usual muscle and/or bone aches I got with the previous statins. However, one day I woke up and felt absolutely terrible. I started thinking about how I was feeling increasingly 'different' over the previous 2-3 weeks-bloated, entire abdomen distended, slightly dizzy with a feeling of being off balance, nauseous, belching, constipated, abdominal pain, intermittent chest pain. I truly felt like I was slowly being poisoned. Within 24 hours of stopping the medication, I already felt better and now, 8 days out, I'm feeling almost back to normal. I have no idea what it did to my cholesterol levels since I didn't have any follow-up blood work, but I'm not willing to live with the side effects."

• Bun...
• December 16, 2019

For High Cholesterol "Rosuvastatin is the 4th cholesterol medication I have tried and I guarantee it will be the last. Because of my previous intolerance to statins, I was started on the lowest dose possible. I was on it for about 5 weeks and thought I was doing well as I didn't get the usual muscle and/or bone aches I got with the previous statins. However, one day I woke up and felt absolutely terrible. I started thinking about how I was feeling increasingly 'different' over the previous 2-3 weeks-bloated, entire abdomen distended, slightly dizzy with a feeling of being off balance, nauseous, belching, constipated, abdominal pain, intermittent chest pain. I truly felt like I was slowly being poisoned. Within 24 hours of stopping the medication, I already felt better and now, 8 days out, I'm feeling almost back to normal. I have no idea what it did to my cholesterol levels since I didn't have any follow-up blood work, but I'm not willing to live with the side effects."

• Dka...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 17, 2023

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I’ve been taking generic Crestor for about a year. It’s the first time I’ve lasted that long on any statin. I have familial high cholesterol. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve started having extreme fatigue, dizziness, and depression/confused brain. Don’t really know how to describe it. I’m due for blood tests this week, but don’t know if I can take even one more dose. Will call the doctor tomorrow and see if I can come then for blood tests. I take 5mg every other day."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2022

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Upon stopping Lipitor for elevated liver enzymes after multiple years of use, I was started on Crestor at 2.5 mg daily. Lipids were still high after 6 weeks, so the dosage was increased to 5 mg daily. After 10 days, I was seen in the ED for vertigo; CT and labs all OK; started on prn Meclizine and Zofran and Medrol pack. Dizziness and horrific nystagmus continued. After discussing with the pharmacist, I learned 4% of Crestor users had to discontinue due to vertigo! I informed my PCP and also the ED docs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2022

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "Upon stopping Lipitor for elevated liver enzymes after multiple years of use, I was started on Crestor at 2.5 mg daily. Lipids were still high after 6 weeks, so the dosage was increased to 5 mg daily. After 10 days, I was seen in the ED for vertigo; CT and labs all OK; started on prn Meclizine and Zofran and Medrol pack. Dizziness and horrific nystagmus continued. After discussing with the pharmacist, I learned 4% of Crestor users had to discontinue due to vertigo! I informed my PCP and also the ED docs."

• Jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 17, 2022

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol, Familial Homozygous "I have had brutal neck, shoulder, and joint pain for about 7 years. I didn't associate it with Crestor. After reading a few comments on different sites, I decided to stop cold turkey. It has been about 10 days now, and I had incredible pain in the same places on days 4-5, plus I had actual liver pain. I couldn't even scratch my back or take my coat off, nor turn my neck. I thought about going back on them, the pain was so intense, but around day 7, pain is about 1/4 of what it was. It's remarkable. No more 30-minute showers to just get moving. I was walking around and felt like my body was worn out for the last few years, and today I'm starting to actually enjoy life again. Also, while on this, I had frequent dizzy spells, was cold all the time, and felt off balance. If I don't stroke out, this is the best thing I have done in a long time, but either way, the pain was so bad the quality of life was nil on Crestor and got worse every day."

• Jus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 17, 2022

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol, Familial Homozygous "I have had brutal neck, shoulder, and joint pain for about 7 years. I didn't associate it with Crestor. After reading a few comments on different sites, I decided to stop cold turkey. It has been about 10 days now, and I had incredible pain in the same places on days 4-5, plus I had actual liver pain. I couldn't even scratch my back or take my coat off, nor turn my neck. I thought about going back on them, the pain was so intense, but around day 7, pain is about 1/4 of what it was. It's remarkable. No more 30-minute showers to just get moving. I was walking around and felt like my body was worn out for the last few years, and today I'm starting to actually enjoy life again. Also, while on this, I had frequent dizzy spells, was cold all the time, and felt off balance. If I don't stroke out, this is the best thing I have done in a long time, but either way, the pain was so bad the quality of life was nil on Crestor and got worse every day."

• Rad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2018

For High Cholesterol "Side effects were overall muscular pain, especially at night. Burning hands sensation. Blood glucose levels (BGL) elevated. Dizziness to the point where I remained in my home, didn’t drive, or visit anyone. This aggravated my depression. I refuse to take this medication after about 3 months. Not worth the side effects."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 4, 2023

For High Cholesterol "Started taking Crestor (rosuvastatin) 5 mg per day about a year and a half ago. All I can say is I feel horrible now. I’m starting to get calf muscle cramps, fatigue, and a kind of dizziness (unsteady while walking). This has been going on for about two months. I’m going to stop taking this drug, I just can’t handle it anymore. Not for me! No benefits as far as quality of life, even if it lowers cholesterol. Learning now, as we age, cholesterol goes up, which is not necessarily a bad thing as long as you have low triglycerides and your HDL is good and within normal range. Going back to my doctor."

• Pja...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 17, 2020

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "My total cholesterol level was around 258, now at 148. This was after 2 years and 2 months. In 10 months, from 258 to 184. So Crestor worked for me. Do have some side effects: mild dizziness, some muscle pain, and occasional cramping in the legs. The effectiveness of this drug outweighs the side effects. So I'd have to give it a thumbs up despite the side effects."

• 202...
• December 29, 2020

For Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease "I took one rosuvastatin pill, a few hours later, dizzy, one leg swelled a lot, very dry mouth, very bad headache. It took 24 hours to ease, and I never get headaches. Never will I ever take even one more of these. The drug store refuses to give any kind of refund."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2018

For High Cholesterol "I had been on Vytorin for years with fabulous results. The results were so good my doctor said to take one Mon, Wed, and Friday. Results were still fantastic. Then I went on Medicare and was forced to switch to rosuvastatin calcium 40 mg. I have noticed I have been dizzy. I have never been dizzy. My stomach just feels weird all the time, like it needs an antacid. My stomach never felt weird before. I think the warning label for this product says DO NOT TAKE AN ANTACID. I will go back to buying my meds out of Canada if the insurance co. doesn't relent and let me go back to Vytorin."

• Jwe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2021

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I’ve taken both Crestor (Rosuvastatin) and Atorvastatin, and both have made my joints and muscles ache like mad. So much so, in fact, that I have trouble getting in and out of the car, and when walking downstairs, I feel like my legs could buckle at any second. Other side effects are spells of dizziness, loss of balance, and a distended stomach. My 2 teenage sons have noticed a material impact on my mobility and have said I hobble around like a 90-year-old. I’ve been on the tabs for 3 months but have had enough, and I’m stopping them today. I will report back with hopefully better news on the mobility front. Let’s just hope I don’t keel over with a heart attack in the interim. I’ve also asked my doctor about a new cholesterol-reducing injection I’ve read about, but not sure if it’s mainstream enough yet."

• Jwe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2021

Rosuvastatin for High Cholesterol "I’ve taken both Crestor (Rosuvastatin) and Atorvastatin, and both have made my joints and muscles ache like mad. So much so, in fact, that I have trouble getting in and out of the car, and when walking downstairs, I feel like my legs could buckle at any second. Other side effects are spells of dizziness, loss of balance, and a distended stomach. My 2 teenage sons have noticed a material impact on my mobility and have said I hobble around like a 90-year-old. I’ve been on the tabs for 3 months but have had enough, and I’m stopping them today. I will report back with hopefully better news on the mobility front. Let’s just hope I don’t keel over with a heart attack in the interim. I’ve also asked my doctor about a new cholesterol-reducing injection I’ve read about, but not sure if it’s mainstream enough yet."

• Nke...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2021

For High Cholesterol "I started this medication while recovering from COVID. What followed was six weeks of misery and a trip to the ER, which I attributed to a COVID-related setback. Things weren't improving, so in desperation I stopped taking rosuvastatin and felt normal within two days. So I am horrified, to say the least. My symptoms were increased fatigue, stomachache, awake every night from 2 AM for at least 3 to 4 hours, loss of appetite, anxiety, trouble thinking, breathing problems, heart palpitations, chest tightness and burning, unsteady, and hopelessness."

• Alm...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2022

For High Cholesterol "I was prescribed 5 mg of Crestor 18 months ago for high cholesterol. My story is much like everyone else’s on this site. I was 68 years old when I started this medication, in good health, active, exercising regularly, and at a normal body weight. Gradually, I began noticing back pain, hip, and leg pain. At first, I thought it was just due to the aging process, but the pain continually increased, where I could hardly stand up from a sitting position. I was laying on a heating pad each night to try to soothe the discomfort. It was hard to lay in one position very long. I went to an orthopedist, thinking my hips must be severely arthritic. I was eating Motrin like candy. He said my hips were fine. Each time I went walking 2 miles, the pain increased, so I stopped exercising. My neck became stiff, and the range of motion turning my head was impaired. It was hard to drive looking behind me. I was having frequent dizziness. I stopped the Crestor, 7 days later, I was better."

• JPI...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 24, 2019

Rosuvastatin for Atherosclerosis "After all these years on Crestor, I finally got side effects of nausea, tiredness, dizziness, disturbed sleep."

• Top...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2020

For High Cholesterol "Been taking rosuvastatin 10 mg together with metformin for 22 days now. The nausea, body weakness, and dizziness are unbearable now. Have to talk to my doctor to get rid of rosuvastatin."

• Ron...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 25, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Been on the medication for 2 years, the tinnitus in my ears has gotten worse, lots of pain and headache, dizziness and vertigo. Is this part of this?"

• Ron...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 25, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Been on the medication for 2 years, the tinnitus in my ears has gotten worse, lots of pain and headache, dizziness and vertigo. Is this part of this?"