NIASPAN Reviews (NIACIN)Average Rating: 2.7 (694 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare NIASPAN with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Age oldest to youngest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 |
More on NIASPAN: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR NIASPAN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | chlosterol | I WOKE UP ONE MORNING, BENT OVER UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN UP. EXCRUATING PAIN IN MY BUTTOCK, THIGHS, LEGS, FRONT AND BACK, LOWER BACK, I HOBBLED INTO MY KITCHEN,SAT DOWN. UNABLE TO MOVE FOR TWO HOURS. PAIN HAS SUBSIDED SOMEWHAT BUT DAILY MY BODY ACHES THAT I AM UNABLE TO DO MY WORK AND WALK ANY LENGTH. I STOPPED NIASPAN IMMEDIATELY. THAT PRODUCT SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET AND THE FDA SHOULD LOOK INTO IT. | F | 87 | 60 days 1X day | 7/28/2010 | 1 | lower chloresterol | panic attacks, hot flashes, fast heartbeat, can't sleep | M | 83 | 3 days | 1/30/2010 | 1 | To help Zetia lower cholesterol | Flushing and itching. Have to take Benedryl when itching gets to bad. | Has effected my alertness. Feel sleepy much of the time. Now I have expeienced a severe weakening of my foot. Can't stand on it or put pressure on it. It's just like the statins that also make one feel weak. Isn't worth the misery or handicaping. | F | 83 | 4 weeks | 6/25/2005 | 1 | Low HDL | Extreme burning reaction. Felt like I was on fire! Like someone poured gas over my entire body and sit me on fire! | Fell and hit head. Cracked skull with bleeding on brain. Required brain surgery. This drug has ruined my life! (I am a commerciat pilot) My doctor still says it's OK drug although it has not raised HDL one bit! This drug should be banned! | M | 81 | 1 years 1000 1X day | 2/11/2012 | 3 | M | 80 | 10 days 50 1X day | 11/7/2010 | 1 | Raise HDL lower LDL after Stent | Flu like symptons. After 10 hours of sleep I did not feel refreshed--could have slept another 10 hours. Severe loss of memory: completely forgot how to play solitaire, Scrabble. Driving: drove past exits! | If I could have tolerated Niaspan I would not have hesitated continuing to take it because it is supposedly less harmful than statins (which I cannot tolerate either) since it is a vitamin. Nevertheless use caution when taking this or any medicine. | M | 80 | 30 days | 1/10/2010 | 4 | hyperlipidemia, low HDL, coronary d | Intense burning of skin, redness – preceded by, or followed by intense itching in large areas in various parts of the body. At first, these symptoms were consistent, usually 1-3 hours after a 500mg. dose. But I put up with these side effects, because I had severe muscle weakness and pain with several statins. Started Niaspan after I stopped Lipitor in 2003. Since upping the dose to 1000mg twice a day, I get occasional flushes once or twice a week. More distressing is a new set of symptoms I have had 4 times in the last three months. It typically starts early in the day with a chill with shivering (without fever), cold hands (sometimes hands and feet), nausea and dry-heaves vomiting. On each of those occasions I had some chocolate the night before – not unusual, I am a chocoholic, have at least a taste of it every day. However, after reading this survey I'm considering giving it up. I plan to cut the dose to 1500mg. a day. | At first I thought the flushes were intolerable. But I was assured my body would adjust to it. Besides, the statin alternative has no appeal. For me, the myositis is predictable. I have had no muscle weakness or pain since starting Niaspan. Apparently individuals react differently to Niaspan. But if you drink alcohol, the flush is a certainty. I am satisfied with the effect of Niaspan on my cholesterol numbers. | M | 79 | 5 years | 1/5/2008 | 5 | carotic blockage | flushing severe only 1 time mild flush often | Along with 5 mg of crestor, I took 500 mg of niaspan for a few months but when the arbiter 6-halts results came out I titrated up rapidly by taking 500 at night and 500 upon getting up, then 1000 at night and 1000 in the am then 1500 at night and 1000 in the am with only one episode of strong flushing. This took about a month. My total cholesterol went from 230 to 112. My hdl from 40 to 56, triglicerides from 180 to 110. ldl from 150 to 32. I heard later that I was lucky as I don't flush easily and that the reason for taking it all at night is to give your liver some rest time. The previous slo- niacin acted for almost 24 hours and the liver didn't have time to recuperate which led a significant number of people into liver damage. Now I take all 2500mg at night. Because hdl has a half-life of 5 days and ldl a half life of 2.5 days, when i occasionally party and drink up to a bottle of wine, I skip the niaspan that night, but try to not do so 2 days in a row. Also I don't take my ibuprofen (arthritis) while the niaspan is most active, there might be a tylenol/alcohol type problem. | M | 78 | 1 years 2500 1X day | 5/31/2010 | 5 | raise HDL | some cramping in legs | Raised my HDL from 40 to 58 | M | 77 | 6 months 750 1X day | 8/11/2010 | 5 | carotid 50% blocked up to 69%. | On Thanksgiving day I had a slice of pecan pie and a big slice of cheesecake for dessert. That night I had intense flushing. This was the first time after several months for the bad flushing. Next day lots of leftovers and no sugar. Took 3 500mg niaspan and no flushing. Am up to 2g now and no sugar, no flush. | For me it was the sugar. I take the niaspan with a glass of skim milk. | M | 77 | 10 months | 12/5/2009 | 4 | M | 77 | 3 years | 5/31/2008 | 1 | to raise HDL | Side effects were it made my all my food taste terrible. Everything I ate I forced it down. I took this medicine for 6 months. Because I had trouble eating, I lost 15 lbs. | Just had a blood test and after being on Niaspan for 6 months, it did absolutely nothing. My HDL was exactly the same as it was before I began taking it. My doctor has taken me off this medicine. Now I have to drink Ensure to gain some weight back. | M | 77 | 6 months | 2/11/2008 | 5 | hyperlipidemia | occasional fliushing | M | 76 | 10 years 2000 1X day | 3/20/2010 | 4 | High cholesterol, Lp(a) | On 2 g Niaspan and 40 mg Zocor for several years. No side effects other than mild flushing that lasted about 1/2-hour. Reduced my Total C from 239 to 115 mg/dl, and my Lp(a) from 39 to 13 mg/dl. | M | 76 | 3 years | 6/9/2009 | 3 | to raise HDL | Sudden severe rash at upper right buttock spreading from area to about 6 by 4 inches to added dots above waist and on thigh and ocasional pinpoint dots on back of forearms-suspect niaspan. Associated with occasional pins and needles feeling on back. Occurred at one month on 2000 mg after gradually approached from 500 mg started 2 months ago. My glucose also suddenly went from averaging 137 to a highest-ever at 196 repeated 15 minutes later to 188! Now taking cortico-steroid pills for 3 days and cream topical treatment which don't seem to be having much efect. Need blood tests to check current status and safety and seeking best advice. Except for this rash and occasional short periods of typical discomfort, the efects have been bearable with a warm persisting glow and a feeling of immune system reaction to healthy feeling of resistance to colds,infections, etc which go away quickly. Rash started like a mosquito bite with bump that itched. I scratched and it spread to red dots, inflamed | Having been overindulging in food,etc during this holiday season may have contributed to the current conditions. Would like to continue-to achieve higher HDL objective, since otherwise have been very healthy and active. Any professional recommendations and related experiences would be appreciated. [email protected] Thanks. | M | 76 | 63 days | 12/28/2007 | 2 | High cholesterol | It was 1 a.m. when I awoke with acute flushing and burning, all over my body. At 9 p.m., last night, I took my usual dosage of 500mg, a reduced Rx, down from 1000mg that I had taken up until two months ago. The reduction was because of mild flushing I has experienced. Tonight's reaction is much more severe that any I had previously experienced. As I write this, my entire body is burning and covered with the "pin prick" syndrome. My skin is bright red and my heart is throbbing although the rate is not accelerated. It is now one hour since the symptoms woke me out of a deep sleep and there is no reduction of the symptoms. I am experiencing a chill and I'm shaking all the while my skin is burning. I even submerged myself in my swimming pool in an effort to find comfort. It didn't help. Hopefully, the "attack" will subside soon so I can get back to sleep. | Before retiring, last evening, I had a late dessert ... cherry pie ala mode with chocolate ice cream. In reading at least one other report from this site, I suspect that chocolate may be the culprit. I am going to discontinue taking this Rx until I can consult with my physician. | M | 76 | 2 years | 8/3/2009 | 1 | raise HDL | Maculopapular rash reduced to scabs with reddish base and hot area persisting 37 days after stopping niaspan and all multivitamin and B-complex supplements.Had 3 day treatment with prednisone tablets and corticosteroid cream for 2 weeks, with occasional cream use thereafter. Seeking further dermatologist help scheduling appointments,etc. This is a followup of 12/28/07 report below. | Side effects last too long. Disappointed. Is there a cure? Had previously used it for about 30 days followed by over the counter niacin for another 60 days with no HDL benefit, although cholesterols were lowered, I thought I would give it another full try, but this rash stopped that.Has anyone had a successful cure for this rash? | M | 76 | 63 days | 2/3/2008 | 1 | high triglycerides | After third day I had nausea and headache....after taking dose on day 4 I started burning and itching.....felt like an attack of hives...I was literally crawling out of my skin...I became scared when my pulse rate came up and my blood pressure dropped from 129/65 to 88/44 within 10 minutes....I took benadryl gel and slathered all over my body and put cold cloths on my face and neck.when I was finally able to toss on some clothes my husband started for the emergency room...I soon calmed down so we stopped at our pharmacy...I am exhausted and will not take niaspan again | F | 76 | 4 days 500 mg 1X day | 12/2/2011 | 1 | High cholesterol | Burning itching headache vomiting heart racing | F | 76 | 2 years 500 | 2/20/2012 | 1 | Lipids | rhabdomyolysis | M | 74 | 3 months 500mg 1X day | 3/16/2011 |
NIASPAN (NIACIN): Niacin is used with a proper diet and exercise program to help lower "bad" cholesterol and fats (LDL, triglycerides) and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. It is generally used after non-drug treatments have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol. Niacin is also known as vitamin B-3 (nicotinic acid), one of the B-complex vitamins. It may be used with or without other medications. Lowering "bad" cholesterol/triglycerides and raising "good" cholesterol helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. Lowering fats may also help reduce the risk of pancreas problems (pancreatitis) in people at risk. In addition to eating a proper diet (such as a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet), other lifestyle changes that may help this medication work better include exercising, losing weight if overweight, and stopping smoking. Consult your doctor for more details. FDA Approval Date: 1997-07-28 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)