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 Gender with females listed first (reviews with no gender reported listed before females). 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 |
| 4 | | 12/28/2008 | 3 | high cholestrol | Mainly extreme itching primarily in the feet and ankle area. To the point where it would drive me crazy. Seems to be staying for more than 2 days now. Plan to discuss with Doctor next week. | 44 | 4 weeks | 7/2/2005 | 1 | To lower LDL | After my third of fourth day on Niaspan, my buttox were litterally on fire. Even sitting was uncomfortable. After a week I figured it out and took myself off it without even telling my Dr. I think I would rather have hardening of the coronary arteries. | Shortly after my unpleasant experience with Niaspan, I saw on ABC News where the FDA was looking into "unsubstantiated claims" by the makers of Niaspan and also unpleasant side effects. The next day, magically, the Niaspan commercials disappeared. | 68 | 7 days 100 MG 1X day | 12/6/2012 | 1 | raise HDL | Starter dose, 500mg. Followed all directions and suggestions to minimize side effects. SEVERE reaction transported to ER!! My wife says I lost consciousness. | Not for everyone | 1 days | 9/26/2006 | 5 | low HDL | I had a side effect 1 time in 40 days and that was when I ate cookies after taking my niaspan. I did just feel very hot and tingling | So far no complaints in one month my HDL improved from 23 to 32. Dr increased dosage to 1000mg | F | 42 | 5 weeks | 12/23/2005 | 5 | High LDL | Took me a few months to get used to the drug at 500 mg. Rich foods in evening resulted in upset stomach. Flushing was noticeable with some daytime itchiness. After a few months, it passes. | I sleep like a kitten when I take Niaspan. I am not on any other drugs except occasional antihistamine in the a.m. The drug works! | F | 60 | 3 years 1000 1X day | 12/20/2012 | 5 | low hdl | flushing,increased heart rate,chest pain,burning,tingling,burning feeling all over | I stopped having these symptoms after 3 days because I started taking 1 325mg non-coated aspirin 30 mins. prior to niaspan..and you should only take it when you are getting ready to lie down for the evening. I feel good so far and have even lost 10 lbs. | F | 34 | 24 days | 6/30/2006 | 5 | high triglycerides & hdl bad type | One bad flushing episode. I took 100mg niacin supplements along with the 500mg Niaspan to raise my levels up very slowly before going on the 750mg and again before raising to 1,000. Very minimal flushing with this method. My blood pressure is low from it which is good, however, I do have to be careful that it doesn't get too low. | This drug is wonderful. My biggest fear is that I will get a side effect that will not allow me to continue on it. I had a VAP test that showed 15 items with some high risk factors for heart disease. I have also seen recent research on pubmed that shows that it will make veins/blood vessels more flexable. | F | 69 | 4 months 1,000 1X day | 4/17/2010 | 5 | High triglycerides | I was started out at 500 mg/day and my doctor told me to take an 81 mg aspirin about half an hour before taking the Niaspan, in conjunction with my last meal of the day. I experienced intense flushing each day for 2 - 3 weeks, then the flushing lessened. After 6 months I increased to 1000 mg/day, another 6 months to 1500 mg/day and now 2000 mg/day for 6 months. With each increase I experienced more flushing again for a couple weeks. When I went to 2000 mg I increased to 2 81 mg aspirin. If I miss a day or 2, I have more severe flushing but for the most part have very little reaction any more. I have found that taking the 2 aspirin before dinner and the Niaspan about an hour after the aspirin, the side effects are mildest. | After 10+ years of trying various medications, and combinations thereof, my triglycerides and HDL are at normal levels!! With a lesser dosage, my 40 year old son, who has also experienced flushing, has had a positive outcome with Niaspan as well. | F | 67 | 2 years 2000 mg 1X day | 7/12/2010 | 5 | High Triglycerides, High VLDL-3 | One night of Flushing enough to wake me. After 2 weeks of taking, I developed the worst itch covering most of my body. This almost caused me to quit taking. Itch is nearly gone now; I'm hoping it was worth the effort. | Doctor suggested taking 325mg Aspirin 30 minutes before taking Niaspan and eating AppleSauce with the Niaspan. | F | 50 | 6 weeks 2000 MG 1X day | 8/10/2010 | 5 | high LDL and triglycerides | Some flushing within an hour if I am still awake, because I take it at bedtime. Only a little uncomfortable. Important to get brand name Niaspan (Rx) because OTC time-release niacin causes unbearable waves of heat. DO NOT take with alcohol. I had wine with first dose of regular niacin (only 500mg) and it felt like I had a sunburn, with heat coming off my arms. Did not try that with 1500mg Niaspan. | Has improved my HDL where Crestor and Zetia did not. Lowered triglycerides and LDL enough to make my doctor satisfied. I have very high total cholesterol normally (over 400) due to familial hypercholesteremia. | F | 59 | 8 months 1500mg 1X day | 8/18/2010 | 5 | elevated lipoprotein(a) | some extreme flushing at first and insomnia. i don't take it at bedtime; usually early in the day. i rarely have flushing any longer unless i forget a dose, and then will have some flushing. | it has lowered my previously very elevated lipoprotein(a) levels. and though my LDL and HDL and tryglicerides were very good prior to the Niaspan, they are now even better. heart disease is a killer in my family. i am grateful that thus far this drug is helping me. | F | 54 | 6 months 1500 mg. 1X day | 11/3/2010 | 5 | High Cholesterol | Minor flushing in the beginning | I started on 500 mg of Niaspan in August 2010. Cholesterol was 247. I refused to take any more statins due to dizziness and overall yucky feeling. Doctor prescribed the Niacin to see how I would handle it. I posted last September (2010) on my immediate reaction, which was a very hot, flushed, skin on fire reaction. That happened only once. I then learned to take it with dinner instead of a small snack before bedtime. If I get a feeling that the flush is starting I read to drink an 8 oz glass of water right away and the flush will disappear instantly, and it did! I get a very minor flush maybe once every two weeks,but it only lasts a minute or so and that's without taking water. My body has become used to the niaspan. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WITHIN 6 MONTHS MY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS DROPPED TO 193 !!! The blood test I took came back just fine, with no problems with my liver or thyroid. I am a Believer in this Medication ! | F | 57 | 6 months 500 mg/day 1X day | 2/4/2011 | 5 | Lower Cholesterol | Flushing at first. Not too bad as long as I do not skip any nights. Then I might wake up in the middle of the night feeling a slight burning flush. | It took at least nine months and convincing my doctor to keep me on it, but I finally have the good colesterol to where it need to be and the bad is better than it has ever been. Triglicerides were never a problem. | F | 52 | 1 years | 12/26/2006 | 5 | high cholesterol | Beneficial side effects: cured my migraine headaches. Negative side effects: stomach discomfort/soft stool/flushing for about a month, then the effects disappeared. | I had been prescribed various statins, and all of them proved horrific, making me feel decades older. I demanded something different and my previously very high cholersteral levels are now normal. | F | 51 | 7 weeks | 10/8/2008 | 5 | apaprotein a | once in a while moderate flushing with itching lasting up to 30min.I take 1500mil per day. Taking it at night seems to eliminate any flushing at all. | it lowered my a-paprotein a from 38 to 19, raised my hdl from 43 to 60 and lowered my ldl for a total: 157 | F | 62 | 4 days | 5/24/2005 | 5 | High LDL and low HDL | I take 2000mg at night just as I am ready to go to sleep. I have a light flushing but nothing to complain about. If I get up duing the night, there is more flushing. | I have had great results. My total cholosteral has gone from 235 to 148 and my LDLs went from 120 to 50. I am also taking 5mg of Crestor. I tried everything to bring down my LDLs naturally and was unable to a significant difference. I think that taking Niaspan during the day would be extreemly uncomfortable. At night I am not moving around much and it seems that movement is what can cause a big flush like an itchy hotflash. | F | 59 | 120 days | 12/1/2007 | 5 | low hdl, high ldl, high ldl-P # | flushing and indigestion for first two months | I just received my blood tests after 4 months at 1000mg Niaspan. My hdl went from 37 to 63. Ldl from 170 to 142. TriG steady at 70. My high particle count down by 500! I am very happy with this result. I experienced flushing for about 2 weeks when I started therapy and again when I increased to 1000mg. I take a regular size aspirin 30 minutes before Niaspan and this seems to control flushing. I also experienced indigestion for about 6 weeks, but now take a very small snack with Niaspan and my stomach is fine. The side effects at about the two month mark were insignificant (I started with 500mg and went to 1000mg at 30 days). I hope this experience encourages others to give Niaspan a fair trial. I had horrible insomnia from Zocor and stomach pain from Zetia (discontinued both.) I'm so glad that Niaspan seems to work so well for me and that I can tolerate the side effects. I also experienced some (welcome) weight loss that I attribute to Niaspan as I made no other changes i | F | 51 | 5 months | 5/4/2007 | 5 | I Had cholesterol at 240. | Yes, I occasionally get that flushing sensation which scared the daylights out of me at first....thought I was having a stroke. When taken with food in the morning and with dinner at night, I rarely get flushed. But at least I realize that it is a side effect of the drug and will pass soon. | My cholesterol has dropped from 240 to between 165 and 180. I am a regular blood donor so I get a reading every couple of months when I donate. I'm thrilled with the results, especially not having to take a statin. I exersize, maintain my weight and try to eat well. I think that flushing is a small price to pay for a drug that is basically made up of B vitamins. My husband has been taking Niacin in his vitamins for years and has amazing readings. | F | 56 | | 5/10/2008 | 5 | Plaque Regression & low HDL | Flushing- typical, a minor nusance at best. | RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS POST: "Why would anyone take this medication when there are so many others out there that can help HDL without these drastic side effects. These side effects cannot be good for other organs in the body." Answer: Because it's the only drug on the market that has been proven by the FDA to actually regress the plaque in your ateries, i.e., remove it, while boosting your HDL. (Carries LDL-rich plaque stuck to your artiers back to the liver for removal) Statins don't do this nor does any other medication! OTC (aka immeadiate release Niacin is not nearly as effective, you would have to take the equivalent of 9 grams a day, and the flushing is more severe.) They have proved this with many major studies (FATS and Arbiter 2, just to name a few) of patients who had experienced heart attacks, with ateriograms taken before treatment and after treatment with amazing results, and the best part is its all natural. So yes, miss lady...you can take a statin or fibrate to slightly raise your HDL, but what are you going to do about the unstable LDL that's already stuck to your arteries that may break off and cause a stroke, a stent perhaps?? I have been on this med for months, and yes you will turn beat red, warm and tingly for around 30 mins, but is not taking it worth years off your life? You would be surprised how many doctors are truly not 'up to snuff' on disease state knowledge and effective prescribing, so choose wisely! | F | 29 | 13 months | 4/4/2009 |
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)