[codder too]

Red Yeast Rice in combination with Omega 3 fish oil has been extremely effective for me and my husband and many of our friends and there is no "muscle damage" or other nasty side effects such as those caused by the statins.
When I started taking this combination I decided to change nothing else. Diet and exercise remained the same and the resullts were almost immediate. Within 3 months my 300 Cholesterol level was down to 180 and continues to "work" well.

[calex59]

I got caught up in the muscle damage side affect of statins, but stopped taking them before permanent damage occured. People on those drugs(lipitor, lovastatin to name two)need to be very careful and monitor themselves cafefully.

[MrLee]

I read where red yeast rice was a "natural" statin, and so, some people had the same side effects that statins cause. If not true, I'd try it. What dose do you use?

[Uri’el-2012]

Within 3 months my 300 Cholesterol level was down to 180 and continues to "work" well.

Mine too !

[irish guard]

how long did it take for your levels to drop?

[2Jedismom]

Mine went down about the same amount. My doc wanted to put me on statins and I refused. I put myself on a a serving of red wine (deep red...Merlot, Zinfindel, the like) every evening and I take Niacin, 500mg a day if I think about it. I didn't change anything else...I still eat butter and eggs and ice cream whenever I want it. The only food item I cut down on was Crisco. I don't use it in my cooking.

It's remained down now for well over a year.

And yes, the niacin causes a prickly warm feeling which I just "experience". I guess after "experiencing" natural childbirth and running a marathon, a little warm prickly feeling is nothing.