Q. I develop muscle soreness on prescription statins, so my cardiologist recommended red yeast rice. He said it works like lovastatin and advised me to avoid grapefruit. Why?
A. Grapefruit affects many medications including statins such as lovastatin, simvastatin and atorvastatin (Lipitor). It raises blood levels and increases the risk of side effects. Since red yeast rice contains statin-like compounds, your doctor is being prudent.
We are sending you our Guide to Grapefruit Interactions with answers to frequently asked questions and a list of other drugs affected by grapefruit.
