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Red Yeast Rice
(Capsules)

Red yeast rice is a supplement that claims to help lower your blood cholesterol
in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. This supplement isn’t approved
by the FDA for medical use. If you have a condition that affects your
cholesterol, talk to a healthcare provider before taking this supplement.
What is Red Yeast Rice Extract?
Red yeast rice extract (RYRE) is a traditional Chinese
medicine believed to lower cholesterol. Several types of the
extract are sold as supplements.
RYRE is a substance that's extracted from rice that's been
fermented with a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus.
It's been used in China and other Asian countries for
centuries as a traditional medicine. It's also used as a
food coloring, additive, and preservative.
RYRE naturally contains several ingredients that may help
control cholesterol levels. These include a number of
monacolins, most importantly monacolin K. It also contains
sterols, isoflavones, and monounsaturated fatty acids, or
"healthy fats."
Red yeast rice may be appealing because it's "natural," but
you need to be careful. Experts have not studied it
extensively. The ideal dosing and its long-term safety are
unclear. It could be dangerous for some people. And because
the ingredients of different brands of RYRE might vary so
much, it's hard to make firm statements about its
effectiveness or safety.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care
provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
COMMON BRAND NAME(S):
Red Yeast Rice
Extract
What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
- Frequently drink alcohol
-
Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Muscle aches or weakness
- Other medical condition
- An unusual or allergic reaction to red yeast rice, went yeast,
lovastatin, other 'statin' medications, other supplements, foods,
dyes, or preservatives
- Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Breast-feeding
How should I use this medication?
Keep in mind that the amount of monacolin, perhaps the most
important ingredient, in a red yeast rice product can vary a
lot. There are many different strains of the yeast.
Different types of fermentation are used. One study of
different brands of red yeast rice supplements showed that
the amount of monacolin ranged from 0% to 0.58%.
So even though studies have shown that RYRE can lower
cholesterol, you can't really know if the supplement brand
you're using will have that effect.
As with other supplements, the typical daily dosage of red
yeast rice is high. Studies have evaluated the benefits of
600 milligrams taken two to four times a day, for a
total of 1,200 to 2,400 milligrams. Since there is no
way of knowing how much of the beneficial chemical compounds
are present in your supplement, it’s best to start with a
smaller dose and then have your cholesterol checked to see
if it’s working.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine
contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with
others.
How Well Does Red Yeast Rice Lower
Cholesterol?
Red yeast rice products can vary by type and chemical
composition, so they don't all work similarly. Some are
chemically similar to statins, which are medications known
to help lower cholesterol. Other strains may contain these
chemicals in varying concentrations.
Studies have shown that certain red yeast rice products
that contain statin can significantly lower levels of total
cholesterol, specifically LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. One
showed that taking 2.4 grams per day reduced LDL levels by
22% and total cholesterol by 16% in 12 weeks. Another study
showed that taking 1.2 grams per day lowered LDL levels by
26% in just 8 weeks.
However, the results of these studies depend on the
amount of statin that is in the extract, and it can vary
widely. The FDA considers extracts that contain statins to
be illegal in the U.S., but many are still available.
Herbal supplements don’t have regulations or
manufacturing protocols, so there is no guarantee that the
red yeast rice supplement you are taking has a certain level
of the component that helps lower cholesterol, monacolin K.
It could have high levels, or it could have close to none.
The label usually won’t say whether a particular supplement
has monacolin K, and it won’t specify the amount.
What may interact with this medication?
Do not take this medication with any of the following:
- Clarithromycin
- Delavirdine
- Erythromycin
- Grapefruit juice
- Protease inhibitors used to treat HIV infection
- Medications for fungal infections, such as itraconazole,
ketoconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole
- Mibefradil
- Nefazodone
- Other medications for high cholesterol
- Telithromycin
- Troleandomycin
This medication may also interact with the following:
- Alcohol
- Amiodarone
- Colchicine
- Cyclosporine
- Danazol
- Diltiazem
- Fenofibrate
- Fluconazole
- Gemfibrozil
- Mifepristone, RU-486
- Niacin
- St. John's Wort
- Verapamil
- Voriconazole
- Warfarin
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health
care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription
drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke,
drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your
medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
Visit your care team for regular check-ups. You may need regular tests
to make sure your liver is working properly.
Tell you care team right away if you get any unexplained muscle pain,
tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever and
tiredness.
Some medications may increase the risk of side effects from this
supplement. If you are given certain antibiotics or antifungals, you
should stop taking this supplement during those treatments. Check with
your care team or pharmacist for advice.
If you are scheduled for any medical or dental procedure, tell your care
team that you are taking this supplement. You may need to stop taking
this supplement before the procedure.
Do not use this supplement if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Serious side effects to an unborn child or to an infant are possible.
Talk to your care team or pharmacist for more information.
Herbal or dietary supplements are not regulated like medications. Rigid
quality control standards are not required for dietary supplements. The
purity and strength of these products can vary. The safety and effect of
this dietary supplement for a certain disease or illness is not well
known. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent
any disease.
The Food and Drug Administration suggests the following to help
consumers protect themselves:
- Always read product labels and follow directions.
- Natural does not mean a product is safe for humans to take.
- Look for products that include USP after the ingredient name. This
means that the manufacturer followed the standards of the US
Pharmacopoeia.
- Supplements made or sold by a nationally known food or drug company
are more likely to be made under tight controls. You can write to
the company for more information about how the product was made.
Side Effects?
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as
possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face,
lips, tongue, or throat
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea,
light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or
eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Muscle injury—unusual weakness or fatigue, muscle pain, dark yellow
or brown urine, decrease in amount of urine
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to
your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Dizziness
- Gas
- Headache
- Heartburn
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor
for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to
FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You can also
report online at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
Red Yeast Rice Brands to Avoid
Since 1998, the FDA has said that red yeast rice products
with significant amounts of monacolin K can't be marketed as
dietary supplements. In recent years, the FDA has warned
companies found to be selling these products and alerted
consumers. The following brands of red yeast rice
supplements were found to contain lovastatin:
- CholesLo, a product promoted to lower cholesterol
- Cholestene, a product promoted for cholesterol
management
- Cholestrix, sold by Sunburst Biorganics
- Red Yeast Rice and Red Yeast Rice/Policosonal
Complex, sold by Swanson Healthcare Products, Inc. and
manufactured by Nature’s Value Inc. and Kabco Inc.
Red Yeast Rice FAQ's
What does red yeast rice do for the body?
The benefits of red yeast rice include:
-
Lower cholesterol. The monacolin K
in red yeast rice helps lower the amounts of "bad"
cholesterol (also known as LDL) in the body by lowering
its production in the liver.
-
Lower stroke risk. Low cholesterol
resulting from red yeast rice's effect on your body can
also reduce your risk of developing blood clots that
cause stroke and heart attacks.
-
Improved blood circulation. Red
yeast rice has been shown to help improve circulation,
allowing wounds to heal more quickly and letting your
body function at its best.
When should I take red yeast rice, morning or
night?
You can take red yeast rice at any time of the day, but
some supplement directions will say to split it into two
doses, one at morning and one at night. As red yeast rice
acts similarly to the statin lovastatin, some people prefer
to take it at night. This is because cholesterol production
peaks for most people late in the evening, and the
supplement can go to work at that time.
Does red yeast rice affect sleep?
It's possible to have insomnia (trouble sleeping) while
taking red yeast rice supplements, but this is rare.
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