I stoped taking the RYR because my stomach was just too sore. I couldn't eat anymore, felt nauseous each time I ate, it was awful.
Anyways, I got a new blood test with no RYR 8 weeks after and results are not as bad as before the RYR, since I dropped 23 lbs and changed my diet drastically but I'm dissapointed.

new numbers:
TC 242
LDL 172

I don't think I want to go back on RYR and I don't want to take prescription statin. I guess that leaves me with niacin. Would that be good enough to bring my numbers back down?

How about if I drop another 10 lbs? which I am working at? that would bring my weight into an ideal spot for my height.

Hi Boubou, Lord Taff here.

Sorry to hear that your stomach failed to tolerate RYR. Just two questions.
Did you take the extended release formula of RYR?
I ask this because this formula is tolerated better than immediate release RYR, and basically, works on the same principle as Niaspan.

Was the RYR taken with your main meal of the evening?

Lord Taff

I was taking a lot of it, RYR: 2 capsules 3X per day and I didn't time them with meals, just took them. As far as I know, they were not the extended release. The naturopath will probably suggest I go on 1 3x per day, or 2 twice per day but would that be better than niacin or niaspan? is it ok to take long terms? Asking because, looks like I need to find the right product for my cholesterol and stick with it forever.

I stoped taking the RYR because my stomach was just too sore. I couldn't eat anymore, felt nauseous each time I ate, it was awful.
Anyways, I got a new blood test with no RYR 8 weeks after and results are not as bad as before the RYR, since I dropped 23 lbs and changed my diet drastically but I'm dissapointed.

new numbers:
TC 242
LDL 172

I don't think I want to go back on RYR and I don't want to take prescription statin. I guess that leaves me with niacin. Would that be good enough to bring my numbers back down?

How about if I drop another 10 lbs? which I am working at? that would bring my weight into an ideal spot for my height.

I have been taking RYR daily for the past three years and have had outstanding
results. My numbers have never been better and RYR truly made a difference for me.

My Doctor decided for me to go on 2,000mg immediate release Niacin taken at bed time since August as my HDL was just at 42 and he wanted it to be higher despite my diet high omega 3 intake and exercise etc…

I am in an extremely gray area now but will be retested during the first week in February. I agreed with my Doctor that I would give Niacin a try for six months. However,
if my over all numbers and ratios do not improve by next test in February my Doctor advised he will put me back on the RYR.

For some reason I just do not see that Niacin may work as well as RYR but only time will tell. I can see it raising my HDL and lowering my TRIG more than the RYR
but for LDL I am uncertain that Niacin will work as well as RYR does.

I will display and share my results with everyone. It will be interesting to see what Niacin does for me compared to RYR. I am very anxious to find out.

Try plant sterols, as in Bencol margerine, or similar products. They're proven to work with minimal side effects. Weight loss is always beneficial as is excercise.

Take the RYR with evening meal or at bedtime since that is when you make cholesterol and process lipids. Try 1 - 600 mg at dinner and one or two at bedtime. Your stomach should be fine and your numbers low and stable. By the way, Niacin maybe a lot harder on your stomach than RYR-one reasonably frequent side effect is stomach irritation.

After reading your answers, you've convinced me to give RYR another try.

Since I was taking 2000mg, if I go down to only 600 or 900mg per day, that might be just enough to bring my numbers to a good range.
I had gotten down to 124 when taking 2000mg of RYR (now at 242) After quiting, the numbers went up by 60%.So, I guess I can safetly say that my diet and exercise contributed to the other 40% reduction:D
I'm trying to find the winning formula without suffering with stomach pains.
Thank you all for your help!!!

I was taking a lot of it, RYR: 2 capsules 3X per day and I didn't time them with meals, just took them. As far as I know, they were not the extended release. The naturopath will probably suggest I go on 1 3x per day, or 2 twice per day but would that be better than niacin or niaspan? is it ok to take long terms? Asking because, looks like I need to find the right product for my cholesterol and stick with it forever.

Hi again boubou,

You have been overdosing on RYR and not only that, you have taken them on an empty stomach. See this link.

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=516338

Not only have I reduced my wife's TC from it's initial level of 316.5 to 193 and her TC/HDL ratios from 5.46 to 3.84, but by word of mouth, several of my wife's friends and family members are having success with the following.

1 x 600mg Natures Plus extended release RYR. (Test after three months, and increase to two daily if necessary.)
1 x 100mg COq10
600mg EPA/400mg DHA fish oil
1 x 6250mcg Allicin capsule.

What makes my wife's results more pleasing is the fact her very high cholesterol levels have been inherited.

Go for quality every time. The manufacturers names of the above are on one of my threads here somewhere.
mmvic is correct, take the RYR during an evening meal or late snack, and never ever consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice whilst consuming RYR.

Try again with the above recommendations.
All the best

Lord Taff

Thank you all so much!
Greatly appreciated!
I'll give it another shot, but at 2 per day max with meal and at bed time
I will follow your recommendations and will post results in 8 weeks :)

So I've taken 2 RYR yesterday, 1 with a meal and the other one before bed but with no food.
I woke up with heartburn, something I don't usually have unless I eat a very heavy large meal at night which I didn't.
Anyone knows how to deal with this?

Heartburn has not been shown to be a side effect of RYR from any of the many studies or reference books that I possess.

Lord Taff

I've seen some web references to RYR and heartburn on the web, so I suppose it it possible:

Human trials in China and in the United States reported only rare and minor side effects of heartburn or indigestion with the use of red yeast rice products. No liver, kidney, or muscle toxicity have been reported.

Your right namelessme. I just delved deeper and read some small print, and also noticed that 7% of all participants of all combined trials also suffered from flatulence.

Well, that's what's been causing it, is it? Got to blame something. LOL

Lord Taff

7% of all participants of all combined trials also suffered from flatulence.

Well, that's what's been causing it, is it? Got to blame something. LOL

Lord Taff

sounds good to me!

All kidding aside, I would rather keep taking the RYR as it worked so well but my stomach isn't very happy. Flatulence was not a problem tho.

boubou, are you sure you don't have acid reflux? Sure sounds like. Try a few nights with an acid blocker and RYR in the evening near bedtime.

Well, I don't have acid reflux unless I take the RYR
and I don't have stomach pains and nausea unless I take the RYR

Are you saying you like the RYR better than niacin?

niacin is more likely to cause stomach issues than RYR. It is a fairly common side effect from increased stomach acid. do a little checking. you may have to take a proton pump inhibitor with the niacin.

After reading more on niacin, I've decided that maybe it wasn't the best supplement for me as my HDL is good.
Since the RYR worked so well for me, I'll take it again in a much smaller dose and with food. I understand that RYR works best at night while our liver makes the cholesterol but because of the reflux, I'll take it with meals only.
My numbers plummeted after taking the RYR last time, I don't need to go down that far again but I'm sure it will work and taking 1gm (instead of 2 like before) of it with food shouldn't arm my stomach like previously

Boubou,

Excellent choice.

Lord Taff

Hello Boubou and Lord Taff,

I have a strong feeling I will be fallowing you Boubou coming this February once I get my results. I am in an extremely gray area now and can not even guess or estimate where my numbers are at.

All I can say from personal experience and we all react different to supplements medications etc...is that Red Yeast Rice has worked wonders for me. As mentioned before I was previously taking 1.2g twice daily for the past three years with out standing results. Boubou glad it has worked well for you. Lord Taff glad it has worked well for your wife.

However we all know many take Red yeast Rice and it does nothing for them. I have been on 2,000mg of Niacin for over five months now and it can be working great. Just don't know.

Boubou/Arizona77,

I spoke with my pharmacist the other day and he was telling me his wife dropped her Total by 60 poiints using ryr (3x600mg/day, I believe), for the past 6 months. I haven't taken it, but those numbers are significant.

Hi Judge,

As mentioned in another post I have been previously taking Red Yeast Rice for the past three years and have had outstanding results. My numbers have never been better and it had worked great for me.

I was taking 1.2g twice daily and it brought my LDL down to 75, prior to Red Yeast Rice my LDL was 138. This stuff has worked great for me. I saw my Doctor today and he advised in full he was

"78% concerned about my LDL and wants it bellow 100".

If the Niacin does not do the job I agreed in full with my Doctor today that I will be right back on the Red Yeast Rice.

If you have not tired Red yeast Rice I would highly recommended it. :)

AZ,

Sell me (educate me) on ryr. What are the side effects? Muscle, etc. (like statins)? Should I take COQ10 with it?

In replying to your other post, meant to say my best tri lower (maybe even HDL booster) was red wine. Didn't even drink it every evening and lowered my tris over 100 points.

Thanks.

judgejkh, here's my results with RYR for your info:
These results where after the RYR, but I've stopped the treatment due to bad stomach.
After reconsidaration, I've decided to start again, because I had such great results. I've changed the amount and when I take it. Hope it works.

This summer, my total cholesterol numbers where crazy high: 320
I'm a female 5 foot 4 and weight at the time was 168 lbs. Tryglicerides where also high. My diet was typical to most people who don't watch their diet and eat without thinking.
Since, I've seeked the help of a naturopath. I've been on RYR, CLA, Fish oil, I've changed my diet dratically and will stick to it, I'm now eating very healthy.
Got my results today from the doctor.
I've lost 24 lbs and now weigh 147 - 10 lbs to go, and my total cholesterol is 144.35
Needless to say, doctor is extremelly impressed and told me to stick to what naturopath is prescribing me, it's working wonderful

triglycerides: 52.63
Cholesterol : 144.35
Cholesterol/HDL ratio: 124.61
HDL : 44.89
LDL : 89.01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New numbes since then not so hot, but working at them!
Cheers!

boubou,

Bravo:D. When you say you've adjusted your ryr, what dosage are you going to take now? When I tried to take it, my stomach felt awful. Probably why I didn't take it long enough to get any results.

1 x 600mg Natures Plus extended release RYR. (Test after three months, and increase to two daily if necessary.)
1 x 100mg COq10
600mg EPA/400mg DHA fish oil
1 x 6250mcg Allicin capsule.

Lord Taff

What other ingredients are in Nature Plus extended release RYR?
the only product I've been able to find here is called Cholesterol Care and it contains artichokes, milk thistle, reishi mushrooms (something like it, too lazy to go look at the bottle) etc...
Is your product just straight RYR? if so, where can I get it?
Thanks

boubou,

Bravo:D. When you say you've adjusted your ryr, what dosage are you going to take now? When I tried to take it, my stomach felt awful. Probably why I didn't take it long enough to get any results.

I was taking 2100mg
now, taking 700mg
see if that's enough, if not, I'll increase to 1050mg
funny you talk about your stomach, most people here were doubtful that RYR would bother my stomach, it's possible that Cholesterol Care which is the RYR supplement I take contains artichokes, milk thistle, reishi mushrooms into that supplement were irritating my stomach tho.