Red Yeast Rice Drug Interactions

When taking certain medications with red yeast rice, drug interactions may occur. Medicines that can negatively interact with red yeast rice include certain antibiotics, protease inhibitors, and fibrates. These interactions can alter the amount of medications in your blood, possibly increasing your risk of side effects. To avoid red yeast rice drug interactions, tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you take.

An Introduction to Red Yeast Rice Drug Interactions

Even though it is a "natural" product,
 red yeast rice can potentially interact with several medicines. Most of these interactions are due to the lovastatin content of red yeast rice supplements (at least those that are effective at treating high cholesterol). Lovastatin (Mevacor®) is a prescription medication that is found naturally in some red yeast rice supplements. Some of the medicines that may lead to red yeast rice drug interactions include:
 
  • Amiodarone (Cordarone®, Pacerone®)
  • Certain antibiotics or antifungals, such as:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  • Protease inhibitors, such as:
 
 
 
Red Yeast Rice Drug Interactions Article Continues on Next Page >
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
Other Articles in This eMedTV Presentation
Referring Pages Articles