Generic Crestor availability, cost, and dosage

In this article:

• Is there a generic for Crestor?
• What are the differences between brand-name and generic Crestor?
• How much is generic Crestor?
• Is Crestor covered by insurance?
• How do you get Crestor covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Crestor
• Expert takeaway

In this article

• Is there a generic for Crestor?
• What are the differences between brand-name and generic Crestor?
• How much is generic Crestor?
• Is Crestor covered by insurance?
• How do you get Crestor covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Crestor
• Expert takeaway

Crestor sits atop the list of statin drugs on the market as one of the most potent among them. It’s one of only two popular cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, along with Lipitor, to be recommended by the American College of Cardiology as a high-intensity therapy option for people with existing heart disease or those at high risk of heart disease. While it’s an effective brand-name drug for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), many people opt for its generic version, rosuvastatin, which works just as well. 

Is there a generic for Crestor?

The generic name of Crestor is rosuvastatin. It was first approved as a generic medicine in 2016, 13 years after AstraZeneca received the green light for the brand-name Crestor from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Today, generic Crestor products are readily available and preferred by health insurance formularies over the brand-name alternative. It belongs to a drug class called statins (or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) and continues to be a leading treatment when dietary changes haven’t helped enough for people with high cholesterol.

What are the differences between brand-name and generic Crestor?

Brand-name and generic drugs have the same active ingredient. In this case, rosuvastatin can lower your LDL cholesterol level and keep it from building up on the walls of arteries, regardless of whether it is brand-name Crestor. Crestor and rosuvastatin generally come as 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg pills, and they’re taken at the same dosages. However, the appearance can vary with generic pills due to different manufacturers.

According to a clinical study, brand-name and generic Crestor are equally effective. When taken as prescribed, the generic version should help manage cholesterol levels just as well as the brand-name form. Still, the generic version may contain different inactive ingredients, such as fillers and dyes, which some people may negatively react to. 

Both versions also share common and serious side effects, with muscle problems among the most common side effects. This drawback is typical of the statin class of medications. Other serious but less frequent side effects include pancreatitis, kidney failure, and liver damage.

Drug information	Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium)
Uses	High cholesterol, including inherited high cholesterol High triglycerides  Heart attack risk reduction  Stroke risk reduction  Heart disease prevention
Standard dosage	5–40 mg once daily
Common side effects	Muscle pain Joint pain Nausea Headache Weakness Constipation
Contraindications	Advanced cirrhosis Acute liver failure Muscle disease Pregnancy History of hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to rosuvastatin or other statins
Other considerations	Use caution if you have a history of liver problems or severe kidney damage, or if you are an older adult, as these may be risk factors for possible side effects People of Asian descent may need a lower dose due to a higher risk of muscle-related side effects Tell your doctor, healthcare provider, or pharmacist about all medicines you take, since some drugs may lead to interactions  Rosuvastatin may cause unexplained muscle pain, aches, tenderness, or weakness, which may be signs of myopathy, a rare but serious muscle condition  Contact your provider immediately if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe fatigue, dark urine, or other symptoms that may indicate liver problems Routine blood tests may be needed to monitor liver health, especially when starting treatment or after a significant change in dose Seek urgent care for severe allergic reactions, such as swelling, trouble breathing, or rash Tell your provider if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, as rosuvastatin may harm an unborn baby Avoid breastfeeding while using rosuvastatin

How much is generic Crestor?

The similarities end abruptly with price. The cost difference between generic and brand-name Crestor can be as drastic as night and day. Generic rosuvastatin can often be nearly 90% less. A SingleCare discount card can help with the expense for either version of these prescription drugs.

Brand vs. generic Crestor prices
Cost information	Brand-name Crestor	Crestor generic (rosuvastatin calcium)
Average cost without insurance	$361 for 30, 10 mg tablets of brand-name Crestor	$228 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic Crestor
SingleCare’s lowest price	$272 for 30, 10 mg tablets of brand-name Crestor at Kroger	$8 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic Crestor at Kroger
Free coupons	Crestor coupons	Rosuvastatin coupons

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of December 4, 2025. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available.

Is Crestor covered by insurance?

Most commercial insurance and Medicare plans cover Crestor when it’s taken as the generic version. Plans are more likely to prefer generic rosuvastatin over the brand-name version due to lower costs. In some cases, the brand-name form may be covered, but it may come with higher copays or prior authorization requirements. 

If you don’t have insurance or sufficient coverage, you can still save using a prescription discount card. A SingleCare prescription discount card could save you up to 80% on medications at participating pharmacies.

How do you get Crestor covered by insurance?

Getting Crestor covered by insurance depends on your plan. Most plans prefer the generic, but if your healthcare provider prescribes Crestor as medically necessary, you may be able to get coverage through prior authorization. In other words, your provider will have to submit documentation on why you need it. 

What are the off-label uses for Crestor?

When proper dietary and lifestyle changes have failed to lower cholesterol or the risk of heart attack or stroke, taking Crestor makes perfect sense. There aren’t many off-label uses for Crestor beyond its FDA-approved uses. Off-label uses for statins may include:

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
• Worsened disease of the blood vessels in a transplanted heart (Cardiac allograft vasculopathy)
• Prevention of contrast-induced kidney damage

In these cases, healthcare providers may use Crestor to help lower cholesterol and reduce the chance of complications, even though these uses are not officially approved by the FDA.

Rosuvastatin interactions with other medications

People taking rosuvastatin need to be aware of potential drug interactions. While prescription medicines like cyclosporine can greatly increase rosuvastatin levels, interactions are not limited to transplant drugs. It’s important to discuss prescription drugs, herbal supplements, and vitamins with a healthcare provider before taking rosuvastatin. 

Managing high cholesterol and triglycerides sometimes involves more than one medication, but not all combinations are safe. On a cholesterol panel, elevated LDL-C and high triglycerides increase the risk of heart disease. While Tricor (fenofibrate), Lopid (gemfibrozil), red yeast rice products, and niacin can help support healthy cholesterol levels, they can increase the risk of muscle problems with rosuvastatin.

Other pairings can also cause problems. Colcrys (colchicine), a gout medication, and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir), the COVID-19 antiviral drug, can be problematic if taken with Crestor. Besides medications, alcohol use should also be avoided or limited to less than two drinks per day while taking Crestor. On the other hand, Crestor does not require you to restrict grapefruit juice, an issue with other statins. 

Generic alternatives to Crestor

For people who can’t take Crestor or need another option to manage a medical condition like high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease, several other statins are available. A doctor or healthcare provider can recommend the best option, especially if you’ve had muscle aches, elevated liver enzymes, or trouble tolerating higher doses of rosuvastatin. 

Generic alternatives to Crestor include:

• Atorvastatin (brand name: Lipitor)
• Simvastatin (brand name: Zocor)
• Pravastatin (brand name: Pravachol)
• Lovastatin (brand name: Mevacor)
• Fluvastatin (brand name: Lescol)

While these options have been shown to be effective in clinical trials, they’re often used alongside a healthy diet, managing fats, and regular follow-up visits. Always seek medical advice or medical help if you notice any concerning symptoms or side effects. 

Expert takeaway 

Gerardo Sison, Pharm.D., and a member of the SingleCare Medical Board, says, “Rosuvastatin is a strong statin medication that works just as well as its brand-name version, and it works best when used as prescribed alongside healthy lifestyle changes. Although it’s an effective drug, it can still come with side effects like muscle aches and weakness.”