Crestor, Astra Zeneca’s statin has been reviewed by the European Regulators who have decreed that it should be prescribed at the lowest possible dose. A spokesman for the company said: "Crestor is still equivalent in its safety profile to other currently marketed statins". The caution is associated with rhabdomyolysis, a breakdown of muscle tissue. Already Bayer’s Baycol has been withdrawn in 2001, after being linked with over 30 deaths, many from severe cases of rhabdomyolysis. Zocor, from Merck has just been given OTC status; 1.5 million Britains currently take statins.