Crestor is a type of statin, a group of prescription drugs used to lower high cholesterol and fight plaque buildup in arteries to prevent disease, according to FirstMed.com. Cholesterol, however, is a structural component of hair, according to Dr. Duane Graveline, a retired family physician and former NASA astronaut. The less cholesterol, the less available it is to make and maintain hair, says Dr. Graveline. Two percent of patients reporting side effects from Crestor to Patientsville.com, an internet drug side effects resource, say they have experienced some hair loss after starting Crestor.

On the Other: Lowers Cholesterol

Although diet and exercise can lower some patients' cholesterol, studies have shown that Crestor is one of the "strongest statin drugs in terms of its ability to lower cholesterol," according to WebMD.com. The 2008 Jupiter Study of nearly 18,000 people indicated that after two years, participants taking Crestor had half the number of "serious cardiovascular events"--heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease or stroke--as those in a placebo group," according to WebMD.com.

Bottom Line

Anecdotal evidence suggests that some patients experience some hair loss while taking Crestor. However, the drug, along with diet and exercise, is an important tool to fight plaque buildup in arteries and prevent heart attack and stroke.

Source:

FirstMed.com

WebMD.com

spacedoc.net

More Information:

What is Cholesterol?