User Reviews for red yeast rice

It’s been 7 days since i started to take this RYC n it’s been 4 days that i have severe headaches down to my neck to both of my shoulders. I have a headache when i go to bed n when i get up n all day. Headache meds don’t help at all. I know that this is the one giving me these aches coz this is the only one new that i have added to my meds. Today i am stopping to take it. Thanks goodness, now finally I’m sure my headaches n body aches will soon go away. Thanks to the reviews people have given.

I have genetically high cholesterol and have been on something for it since high school. Unfortunately for me, I'm very sensitive to medications, so literally have a full page list of every statin and non-statin they have tried for this along with all of the negative side effects I've suffered. I've had to quit taking everything they've given me after about 3 months due to severe side effects. But because I have a family history of heart issues, I finally decided to try red yeast rice (RYR) in the hopes that maybe it wouldn't cause bad side effects. The first time, I only took 1 or 2 capsules of Nordic Naturals LDL formula per week and missed several weeks here and there, so my consumption of the supplement was very spotty. I managed to take it like that for about 9 months before I awoke one morning and felt absolutely horrible with severe headache and dizziness so bad that I couldn't function. I assumed it might be related to RYR since I wasn't taking anything else different and figured that maybe the stuff just took a while to build up in my system because I was taking it so minimally. So I quit using it and the headache and dizziness subsided after about a week. A few months later, I had my annual physical and my doctor berated me once again about my genetially high cholesterol. He also said the dizzy episode was "probably just some inner ear virus." So I decided to try RYR again in case he was right. This time, I took one capsule every day and no issues until day #31. On day #31, I got up to go to the kitchen and when I got back to the couch, I was hit with a sudden, severe headache and dizziness that were bad I nearly blacked out. I felt shaky and sick the rest of the night. I went to the doctor a few days later and had labs drawn to find out what the heck was happening to me. When the results came back, the good news was that RYR did improve my numbers by about 35 points in 31 days. The bad news is that I was so sick I couldn't function, kept feeling like I was going to pass out, and my labs came back with very elevated B12 levels, which I understand can be an indication of liver problems. I again stopped taking RYR and was feeling better in about a week. Since this happened both times I attempted the supplements and since two blood tests found no other potential causes, I can only assume the supplement was to blame. All I know is I will never take it again. Read More Read Less

I took red yeast rice (half a dose - one 600 mg. tab) Weider brand from Costco, and it brought my LDL cholesterol down a lot - below what the target is. HDL is still good. I take it only 3x a week and will drop down to 2x a week and see how it goes. Seems sensible to take as little as possible. I also take 100 mg. of Quonol CoQ10 every day, as statin ingredients deplete CoQ10 produced by the body. CoQ10 is also a good antioxidant. This brand is absorbed thru water or fat vs. some brands that are only water solubleRead More Read Less

My cholesterol dropped from 253 to 209 in two months! Ldl from 153 to 123. I cannot wait to see what it is in June which will make it 6 months on the cholestent.

It Really works..my ldl was 240 hdl was 28..i doctor said she was not to tell anyone this..but secretly she said for me to try red yeast rice so i did..my ldl is now 120 hdl is 45...

. My pcp recommended RYR. She said she had seen dramatic results. 4 yrs ago my total cholesterol was 208, now down to 169. Absolutely believe in this supplement. Now reduced to 600mg once a day.

Brought my numbers down by 60+ points in 5 months or so.

My doctor was concerned about putting me on a statin with my total cholesterol at 235, which he considered borderline. I asked him about red rice yeast and he said why not give it a try. That was about 8 weeks ago and I've been taking it (Wieder brand at Costco) for about 5-6 weeks. Today I got my cholesterol results and they have dropped to 175! I've not noticed any side effect so for me this seems a good result

I had a lot of foot surgery and was able to navigate last summer all through Yellowstone with three grandchildren. My Cholesterol was high so on recommendation of friend that is very happy I took two 600 mg a day for months now. This year the back of my legs freeze up, at times I can't feel my heels so I go backwards. I wasn't aware of no alcohol while on this supplement. One glass of wine and I can hardly stand. I have spent more time elevating my feet so they will work properly again. Just had a throat problem and they put a camera down to my vocal cords and found the muscles not working properly. I stopped now only for a few days...I can navigate steps, do limited squats...my range of voice coming back. Decades ago a number 250 was normal. I think I will take my chances with oatmeal. Could all be in my head but I was seriously thinking Parkinson's.Read More Read Less

My Dr. told me I had high cholesterol. He wanted to put me on a statin drug. I didn't want to go on that so found Red Yeast Rice. After taking it for a few days I could hardly get up off of the couch. I stopped taking it and immediately felt better. I found out that it works just like a statin so that convinced me to never go on statins. Which is good becuz I'm convinced now that the cholesterol thing is a myth. Read "The Great Cholesterol Myth".

Gave me severe problems in the context of also prescibred antibiotics and omeprazole. Statins carry many risks and rare complications become more likely with reckless prescriptions of multiple medications without consideration of medical background and medical interactions.

I had terrible side effects taking statin drugs. The red yeast rice 1200 mg per two tablets by Weider bought at Costco has worked miracles in lowering my cholesterol. I highly recommend and tried everything before trying this. If you have problems and side effects I would try red yeast rice tablets.

one year ago my cholesterol was 315 and my LDL was 200. I began taking 1200mg of red yeast rice and have used 3 different brands but the same dosage, my recent lipid profile showed overall cholesterol at 179 and LDL at 114.

My doctor took me off all vitamins and told to take Red Yeast Rice, folic acid and B-12. Seems to be working for me, my cholesterol is good!

Has lowered my LDL cholesterol by 45 and kept my good HDL high.

went from 240 too 120..it works

I take the now Red Yeast Rice 1200mg TABLETS. No other supplement (even Now's other Red Yeast Rice supplements) did not work for me. I think it is the way the product is packed into a tablet that make it work so well. My readings were well over 300 and statins would only bring it down 10% or so. My reading are now between 190-215. I can only take one tablet a day. Anymore makes (ME) feel weak.

My doctor recommended taking Red Yeast Rice supplements over a year ago for high cholesterol. This past four months, she had me increase dose to 2400 mg (4 tablets) daily. Two weeks ago, I had my first severe case of gout (hopefully last). Also, my triglycerides and blood sugar had increased during last lab results to a dangerous level. After reading about causes associated with gout and some comments regarding side effects of Red Yeast Rice supplements, have decided that I would no longer take it.Read More Read Less

My cholesterol was in the 210-250 range and had been elevated for years, but due to no other issues was never medicated. I've taken RRY and had great success, but initially took 2400 mg a day as recommended. I had locked fingers so stopped. Re-started w/ 1/2 dose (amt recommended by sister's doc) w/CQ10. Cholesterol is now 159 and no side effects. My doc is very happy w/ result.