NaturesPlus Herbal Actives Red Yeast Rice, Extended Release - 600 mg, 120 Mini Tablets - Herbal Supplement - Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free - 60 Servings

The first thing you should know is the vitamins are large. I order the minis, and those are large. I can't imagine how large the regular ones are. Several people, including my Cardiologist recommended these vitamins. I am hoping they help to lower my cholesterol when I get it checked again in a few months.

If you read the information available on Red Yeast Rice you will find that it does not work for everyone but for some people it is all they need. High Cholesterol runs in my family and mine has been high for years. I am in my 50s. Some years back I tried a couple of different prescription statins and was just too uncomfortable with the side effects so I went off them.I tried red yeast rice but it had no impact on my numbers. I spoke to the vitamin expert as a local health food store who suggested this extended release by Herbal Actives. She told me I had to be religious about taking two tablets every night or I would not be likely to see results. For the past year I've been dutifully taking 2 each night and yesterday I received my lab report. While the cholesterol was slightly outside the normal range (total 217, HDL 53, LDL 147), it is far better than it had been and if I modified my diet slightly I am reasonably certain it would quickly move to within normal limits.BOTTOM LINE: for me this product works well and has no side effects. That doesn't mean it will work for everyone but I think everyone who wants off of prescription statins owes themselves a six month trial with this brand of Red Yeast Rice. Other reviewers have cited studies about this particular brand being more effective and at least in my case, its true. Try it and see if it helps you.

No problems

FRUSTRATED: I truly believed that this product helped reduced my cholesterol level would recommend it to anyoneBut every time I try to reorder this product with prescription quality and 1.7% monacolins extract they keep sending me the one without these quality. I'm really unsatisfied that I can't get the product that I ordered why do you keep switching product on me it's very frustrating when you can clearly see the differences in the labels.

I have been taking the larger version of this product for several years, and it has worked wonders for keeping my cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL/HDL values where they need to be. This is half the price (or less) of prescription statins and works just as well. It is an "herbal statin", and it acts just like the chemical/manufactured statins. I used to subscribe to Consumer Labs where I saw their evaluation of this Herbal Actives product. It indicated that it had the most active "statin- like" composition of all the products tested. There were no contaminants, and the amount of active ingredients were as indicated on the bottle. Some other products were not as "active" as indicated on their bottles, and contained less than indicated ingredients. Some time ago I noticed that I was having trouble swallowing the larger tablet. These are much smaller, and although you need to take two to equal the amount of statin activity in the larger tablets, they are much easier to swallow. I tried to accurately measure to give you an idea of how much smaller they are, but it wasn't that easy. The measurements are approximate. LARGE TABLET: a little bit over 7/8" long and 3/8" wide, 1/4" thick. The SMALLER TABLET: a little bit under 6/8" (3/4") long, 3/8" wide and 1/4" thick. This does seem as though they are about the same size, but the smaller one is shaped differently and just the minor "little bit" smaller or larger measurements makes a big difference in it's size. Bottom line: these are much easier to swallow! This bottle also indicates that these are best taken at night.

I have been taking this for over 10 years at the recommendation of my doctor. This particular brand has caused NO side effects whatsoever. Other brands have. I will continue to use it.

To lower blood pressure.

My baby daughter passed away in July 2011. It hurt like hell. I ate and ate and got really unhealthy. I got blood work done. My cholesterol was 231 with a LDL of 182 (should be under 100). My cardiologist said I need to be on Lipitor the rest of my life. I was depressed about it. But I said I can do better than that. I changed my diet to a heart-healthy one and I change how I exercised and, in 6 months, I lost 35lbs. Got my lipids re-checked. Total cholesterol went down to 166 but my LDL was still 118 (still too high). Cardiologist said that's an amazing job but I still need Lipitor to get it under 100. I tried ONE LAST THING before Lipitor...Herbal Activities Red Yeast Rice! Just two months of taking 600mg at dinner my total cholesterol went down to 125 and my LDL WENT DOWN TO 77!!! This really works!!! I dropped it naturally 65 points and Herbal Activities dropped it another 41 points for a total of 106 point DROP! Without prescription drugs. Cardiologist told me he's never seen anything like that and to keep doing what I'm doing because I don't need any Lipitor anymore! DO NOT TAKE ANY OTHER BRAND NAME OF RED YEAST RICE!!! Most other brands are very dangerous. This has been tested by ConsumerLab to be the highest quality in the country. Most other brand names were found to have very little or no active ingredients and contain poisons. Trust this brand. Do the research. Get your lipids down naturally and be healthy!!!