I'm curious, does anybody have an opinion on using Red Yeast Rice for treatment of high cholesterol or maintaining lowered cholesterol? Just had a friend recommend that I stop taking a perscription and start taking this. She also told me that I wouldn't have to comsult my doctor because it's herbal.

Just wondering what anybody here thinks before I contact my physician and get the usual lecture from her about following her prescription orders...

Mary, your friend's advice was certainly well-meant but to say you needn't consult a doctor about an herbal remedy is absolutely WRONG! Some of the most potent drugs on the market today came from herbs--cocaine come from the coca plant (still used in eye surgery), digitalis from the foxglove plant, etc. Many herbs have interactions with drugs--if what you're already taking stays in the body for some time after you stop taking it, and you add an herb that interacts with it, your doctor NEEDS to know. When a doctor asks what meds you are taking they will usually ask about herbal supplements for just this reason.

Please, do NOT mix herbs and drugs nor switch from one to the other without carefully checking out the possible dangers...your doctor may or may not know the interactions in this case, but he/she is liable to be able to find the answers for you.

DaisyDew, I totally agree with CountryKitty. You must check with your doc first. I was on Lipitor and doing fine but I didn't like all the talk about it so I asked my doc if there was something herbal I could take. She suggested Red Yeast Rice (try to say that fast 5 times!) BUT, I had to go in for blood work 1 month after taking it twice a day, and again after two months. Some herbal supplements can interact with your other medication as did with my brother who was taking RYR with BP medication. Luckily, it hasn't affected me with my medication which I take for Parkinson's Disease. Everybody is different so check with your doc before starting.

I have a friend who uses it. She turns 40 this month and high cholesterol runs in her family. She's thin and active and eats great, otherwise. She's found that it's helped tremendously!

But, yes...I would consult my doctor, too. Remember a few years ago...there were people who were taking anti-depressants and starting taking St. John's Wort--they started having side effects. Just another example....

Good luck and better health!
Gigi

CK, PE and GG,

Thanks so much for your responses. I wondered if there was anybody who had gotten desireable results. A site I did some research at mentioned kidney enzyme issues as well as side effects. Good information, I guess. Still wondering if the risks are more or less than Lipitor.

BTW, I know you shouldn't just add herbal suppliments to your diet without consulting someone. That's the reason I used the shocked and eyeroll faces in that sentence. See them?

Yes, I did see them...but when it comes to your health, I think we all wanted to be sure you knew exactly how we felt, just in case you weren't entirely sure HOW serious an issue it was.

Besides, there might've been folks reading the thread who aren't used to smilies and needed to know too.

Hey Daisy!
Yup, I take it. (And some other things.) Total cholesterol went from 210 to 150. If you want more info, let me know, and I'll write more.

Funny you should mention this. My sister-in-law just told me she tried it and it worked very well for her. She was in shock when she found out that her colesterol was 250, she is a lab tech at a hospital and is very very careful of her diet. She did talk with her doc who gave her the green light.

dixie,I would be interested in how it works or what you know about this stuff.

Just bumping this back up to say that I've been taking it for several months. My doctor suggested I take that rather than a pill. I'm kind of scared of cholesterol meds because of the commercials, and how they say do not use if you might become pregnant. It's unlikely but not impossible, so I'd rather not take chances. Besides, I'm already taking a thyroid med and a blood pressure med, and still trying to wean off of an antidepressant.

In a few weeks, I get to find out how well the red yeast rice worked. At least it will be before Christmas. --J--