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Can Red Yeast Rice Be Consumed For Elevated LDL Levels?

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Posted on Tue, 19 Mar 2019
Question: I started having muscle pain from taking a statin. What is your opinion about red yeast rice for lowering LDL?
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Answered by Dr. Bhanu Partap (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
High dose of Atorvastatin can cause rhabdomyolysis.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I would like to tell you that cause for your muscle pain can be the current statin you are taking as in some patients even low dose statins can cause muscle pains.

I would like to tell you Ezetimibe has a different function in lowering the cholesterol in your body than the statins and do not cause your muscle pains. Your cholesterol profile is pretty good except LDL which is a concern again.

You can try Red yeast rice but with a proper dietician consultation and repeat your Lipid profile after 3 months to check the improvement with red yeast rice. But remember red yeast rice will work like a statin and can cause you muscle pains so do discuss it with your dietician.

It’s advisable for you if you experience muscle pains after taking red yeast rice then kindly consult your cardiologist and switch back to Vyotrin.

Hopefully, this information will answer your query.

Kind regards,
Dr. Bhanu Partap, Cardiologist
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Bhanu Partap

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 4758 Questions

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Can Red Yeast Rice Be Consumed For Elevated LDL Levels?

Brief Answer: High dose of Atorvastatin can cause rhabdomyolysis. Detailed Answer: Hello, I would like to tell you that cause for your muscle pain can be the current statin you are taking as in some patients even low dose statins can cause muscle pains. I would like to tell you Ezetimibe has a different function in lowering the cholesterol in your body than the statins and do not cause your muscle pains. Your cholesterol profile is pretty good except LDL which is a concern again. You can try Red yeast rice but with a proper dietician consultation and repeat your Lipid profile after 3 months to check the improvement with red yeast rice. But remember red yeast rice will work like a statin and can cause you muscle pains so do discuss it with your dietician. It’s advisable for you if you experience muscle pains after taking red yeast rice then kindly consult your cardiologist and switch back to Vyotrin. Hopefully, this information will answer your query. Kind regards, Dr. Bhanu Partap, Cardiologist