Is Rosuvastatin (Crestor) Linked to Loss of Taste?
Rosuvastatin is not commonly associated with loss of taste, and this side effect is not documented in major clinical trials or guideline literature as a recognized adverse effect of the medication. 1
Evidence from Clinical Trials and Safety Data
- Large-scale clinical trials of rosuvastatin at doses of 10-40 mg have not identified taste disturbances as a significant adverse effect 2, 3
- The documented side effects of rosuvastatin include myalgia, elevated liver enzymes, and a small increased risk of diabetes, but taste disorders are notably absent from these safety profiles 4
- In comparative analyses with other statins, rosuvastatin's adverse effect profile is similar to other agents in the class, none of which are strongly associated with taste loss 2, 3
Alternative Causes to Consider
If a patient on rosuvastatin reports loss of taste, investigate other more likely etiologies before attributing it to the statin:
- Viral infections, particularly COVID-19, cause taste/smell loss in 59-86% of cases and should be the primary consideration 4, 1
- Other medications the patient may be taking concurrently are more likely culprits, as drug-induced taste disorders are common but typically associated with different medication classes 1, 5, 6
- Immunologic/rheumatologic medications are the leading cause of drug-induced gustatory dysfunction, accounting for 36.3% of taste-related adverse drug reactions 5
- Antineoplastic agents such as lenalidomide and sunitinib are most commonly associated with gustatory dysfunction in pharmacovigilance data 5
- Drug-drug interactions that increase systemic drug concentrations through P-glycoprotein or cytochrome P450 inhibition can induce taste disturbances, though rosuvastatin has minimal CYP450 metabolism and low interaction potential 6, 3
Clinical Approach
- Review the patient's complete medication list for known taste-altering drugs, particularly zinc products, fluticasone, immunomodulating agents, and chemotherapy drugs 5
- Consider recent viral illness, especially COVID-19, as the temporal relationship may coincide with statin initiation 4
- Evaluate for underlying medical conditions affecting taste perception 1
- Do not discontinue rosuvastatin based solely on taste complaints without investigating more probable causes, as the cardiovascular benefits of statin therapy far outweigh unsubstantiated concerns about taste disturbance 4