Red yeast rice has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. It has been shown to decrease cholesterol. It includes HMG-CoA reductase materials. In fact, statins were originally developed from Monacolins, the fungus used to make red yeast rice.

The FDA declared Monacolin products as a drug and tried to stop the sale of supplements containing them. This decision went to court and was overturned by the US Court of Appeals. They actually typically contain 10-20 mg of monacolins. Mevacor, made by Merck from red yeast rice, contains 20-80 mg of monacolins. So you're taking the same thing but usually at a lower dose. Side effects are the same: liver function problems, muscle breakdown.

I prefer to use better statins at far lower doses. And I don't appreciate the patent formula product salesmen all over the web saying, "my product, XXX, is safer, more effective, and contains the exact right combination