cmello

[ref: [url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=259187][/url]

I know it has been awhile since the last post in this thread but I did not have a cholesterol problem back then. I wanted to post my thoughts about RYR discussed in this thread based on other posts in this thread.

I was buying cholestene RYR from the VitaminShoppe for a year and a half. My doctor originally prescribed OTC cholestin but she said it had to have RYR. US version does NOT have RYR in it anymore. It was reformulated due to FDA suit. I originally bought both solaray and cholestene -- don't know why I decided to use cholestene, perhaps because it had simpler and more specific ingredient description ("from traditional fermentation of Monascus Purpureus Went" and only other ingredient is "gelatin"). I have had very good results with cholestene -- blood work by my doctor has shown excellent improvement.

I went to restock recently and all of the RYR supplements at VitaminShoppe have been removed from their shelves EXCEPT their house brand. I asked why and it was a labeling problem. Only their own RYR did not have labeling problem so they are allowed to sell it. Employee said they saw labelling issue coming which is why their labels are OK.

Have read up on RYR and it does not contain JUST lovastatin as in prescription drug version of lovastatin. It contains amounts of other statins as well and also other beneficial ingredients. However, one does not have a way to determine which brand is best. According to what I read, all brands of RYR have less side effects than prescription statins (perhaps due to natural source; I have also read that foods containing calcium have better calcium absorption than Calcium supplement tablets) but some RYR brands are less effective due to process and purity. How do you know what brand to take?

Effort is going on in multiple countries to make RYR prescription only. I saw one prescription of RYR selling for over US $110! I have read that you can still buy RYR cholestin brand in Canada but I could NOT find it.

One complaint by FDA and medical/pharmaceutical establishments against RYR is that it should not be taken unless under doctor supervision. I am OK there...my doctor told me to take it and how much to take and is using blood tests to make sure (1) it is working and (2) no liver side effects.

So my advice is make sure you are under doctor supervision (I hope you have a good doctor like mine who considers alternatives to prescription statins) and pray along with me that RYR is never removed from shelves or made prescription only. (My older brother's doctor and my father-in-law's doctor have them both on prescription statins. My older brother had problem with first statin he was on and was switched to another. I believe my F-I-L had to switch prescriptions too.) Even if RYR goes to prescription only, I will still take it since I have had such good results with it and no side effects.