Side Effects of Taking Both Red Yeast Rice & Statin Drugs

Red yeast rice is an alternative remedy made by culturing rice with the yeast Monascus purpureus (which is red in color), which reduces blood cholesterol levels. There have been studies of red yeast rice, most recently of the variety sold under the trade name Cholestrin. Used in China since 800 A.D., red yeast rice has had benefits attributed to it ranging from improving blood circulation to remedying digestive ills. Recently it also has been used by people who are on statin-class drugs for cholesterol reduction, under the assumption that both together might be more effective than the statins on their own. The validity of this assumption has not been tested in double-blind drug trials, although a lot of research on the effective ingredients in red yeast rice has been done.

Similarity of Active Ingredients

• The active ingredient of red yeast rice is primarily lovastatin, one of a family of statin-class drugs used for reducing cholesterol. Lovastatin is the active ingredient in Mevacor and is similar to the active ingredients in Lipitor and Crestor. All statin-class drugs are enzymatic blockers that reduce the amount of cholesterol manufactured in the liver. (While cholesterol levels need to be monitored, cholesterol is an essential part of how the body regulates muscle energy and liver functions.) Taking red yeast rice in addition to a statin-class drug is comparable to taking a higher dose of the statin in terms of the active ingredient.

Major Side Effects

• As with any treatment to reduce cholesterol, talk to your doctor about the side effects, and the effects of combining red yeast rice with another statin-class drug. The most dangerous side effect of statins is muscle soreness and tenderness; this can also be a warning for myalgia, a muscular disorder linked to cholesterol-blocking drugs and their impact on the liver. While uncommon, there is also a risk of liver failure from Mevacor and from other compounds using lovastatin, such as red yeast rice. These risks remain (and are increased in frequency, if not severity) when red yeast rice is combined with other statin drugs.

Secondary Side Effects

• Other side effects of statins (that are also present when taking red yeast rice) include constipation and gas, as well as diarrhea and bloating. A small number of patients also experience dizziness and headaches. While controlled studies of red yeast rice are currently under way, traditional folklore indicates that other compounds in red yeast rice (beyond the lovastatin) may help with the digestive tract side effects of constipation, gas and diarrhea.