Crestor Cholesterol Results - AST Question

I have just received my first test results since being on Crestor 10mg for 3 months. I had been on Lipitor10mg for about 12 months, then went off for about 12 months, and have now been on Crestor for 3 months.

While on Lipitor 10mg my AST level after 3 months was 34U/L and dropped to 28 U/L 5 months later. My CK on Lipitor was 101 U/L.

Off Lipitor for 6 months my AST was 25 U/L and CK was 89 U/L

Now on Crestor for 3 months and my first results show AST as being just above the upper limit at 41 U/L and my CK as being 157 U/L

On Lipitor after 8 months my LDL and HDL were 78.73 and 50.5 mg/dL respectively.

On Crestor after 3 months my LDL and HDL are 70.25 and 57.12 mg/dL respectively.

My triglycerideshave always been pretty low and my HDL was 53.65 mg/dL before starting the Statin this time (I work out a lot). My LDL was
133 mg/dL before beginning treatment.

I prefer not to go into why I am on a Statin in the first place (no heart attack or heart disease though)

My question relates to the AST and CK levels. My CK is still normal but higher than it was before, and my AST has risen to 41 from 25.

I realise that according to the literature there is no great concern for AST levels less than 3 times upper normal limit.

When I saw my family doctor today and went over the results I didn't notice the AST nor did he mention them.

I am seeing my cardiologist this this Friday and plan to discuss this with him as well as whether he thinks trying 5mg of Crestor would be appropriate given my quite low LDL test levels now (would have to use a pill splitter) .

How bad is an AST increase from 25 to 41 after 3 months on Crestor?
CK from 89 (off statins) to 101 on Lipitor to 157 on Crestor.
Again is this something to factor in when balancing the risk/reward argument?

Will it (AST) come down as I take Crestor longer? (on Lipitor it went down from 34 to 28, 5 months later)

Appreciate any informed replies.

Please no Statin bashing in this thread, it is irrelevant to this discussion.

Crestor hasn't been on the market long enough for a lot of *user* information, but you may find some information here, mid-article: http://www.publiccitizen.org/publications/release.cfm? ID=7305#_ednref1

And here, if you do a search on drug name:

You have seen your gp, consulted your sister (whom you have said is a doctor) and will be seeing your own cardiologist on Friday. Still you post your question here where it is open to answer by the only

I think you must be very worried and I would be too in your situation:
a possible stroke, or perhaps a genetic condition, correct?

Andrew may yet answer you. He is unfailingly generous, gracious...and forgiving.

I was actually hoping for some information on moderate rises in AST levels. Thanks for the spam links though much appreciated.

This doesn't answer your q - but in my case 5 mg Crestor worked as well as 10 mg Lipitor. The general rule is to use as small a dose as possible of any medicine to get your desired result. I used a pill splitter on 10mg Crestor. BTW Crestor costs the same in all dosages.
If you have to pay $$$ consider getting a 40 mg dose and split away.

I was hoping for some feedback on the AST numbers, since I thought this was a cardiology group.

Thanks for your input, disappointed at no other replies though.