red yeast rice

What is the most important information I should know about red yeast rice?

Follow all directions on the product label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is red yeast rice?

Red yeast rice is a product that is made by fermenting red rice with a certain type of yeast. Red yeast rice is also known as Cholestin, Hypocol, Xuezhikang, or Zhitai.

Red yeast rice supplements are not the same as red yeast rice that is sold in Chinese grocery stores.

Red yeast rice has been used in alternative medicine as a likely effective aid in reducing levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood.

Red yeast rice has been used as a possibly effective aid in reducing the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, or death in people with a history of heart attack.

Red yeast rice has also been used as a possibly effective aid in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Red yeast rice has been used to treat high blood pressure. However, research has shown that red yeast rice may not be effective in treating this condition.

Other uses not proven with research have included: lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, improving blood circulation, lowering liver enzymes associated with liver damage, and treating diarrhea, indigestion, or other stomach problems.

Red yeast rice is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Red yeast rice may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking red yeast rice?

• if you already take a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as lovastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, Zocor, Lipitor, Pravachol, Crestor, Vytorin, and many others.

Talk with your healthcare provider before using red yeast rice to lower your cholesterol. You should not use red yeast rice in place of any medication that has been prescribed by your doctor.

Ask a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider if it is safe for you to use this product if you have ever had:

• liver disease; or
• kidney disease.

Do not give any herbal/health supplement to a child without medical advice.

How should I take red yeast rice?

Red yeast rice contains an active ingredient called monacolin K, which has the same chemical structure as the active drug in the "statin" cholesterol medicine lovastatin (Advicor, Altoprev, Mevacor). For this reason, red yeast rice supplements may produce the same side effects and drug interactions as statin cholesterol medications produce.

When considering the use of herbal supplements, seek the advice of your doctor. You may also consider consulting a practitioner who is trained in the use of herbal/health supplements.

If you choose to use red yeast rice, use it as directed on the package or as directed by your doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. Do not use more of this product than is recommended on the label.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose at the regular time. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking red yeast rice?

Avoid using red yeast rice together with other herbal/health supplements that can harm your liver, such androstenedione, chaparral, comfrey, DHEA, germander, kava, niacin, pennyroyal oil, and others.

Grapefruit may interact with red yeast rice and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Avoid taking an herbal supplement containing St. John's wort at the same time you are taking red yeast rice.

Avoid using red yeast rice together with another herbal/health supplement that contains coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, ubiquinone).

What are the possible side effects of red yeast rice?

Although not all side effects are known, red yeast rice is thought to be possibly safe when taken as directed for up to 4.5 years.

• unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;
• fever, unusual tiredness; or
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

• constipation; or
• stomach discomfort.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect red yeast rice?

Do not take red yeast rice without medical advice if you are using a medication to treat any of the following conditions:

• any type of infection (viral, bacterial, or fungal), including HIV or tuberculosis;
• arthritis, including gold injections;
• cancer;
• depression or a psychiatric disorder;
• high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a heart condition;
• pain or headaches, especially if you take an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others);
• prevention of organ transplant rejection; or
• seizures.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect red yeast rice, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Consult with a licensed healthcare professional before using any herbal/health supplement. Whether you are treated by a medical doctor or a practitioner trained in the use of natural medicines/supplements, make sure all your healthcare providers know about all of your medical conditions and treatments.