NIASPAN Reviews (NIACIN)

Average Rating: 2.7 (694 Ratings)

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 HYPERLIPIDEMIA

 Type: Rx Drug

  

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)

  

Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken longest to shortest.

Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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


RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR NIASPANCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 5  Lower Triglycerides and raise HDL A few flushing episodes but very few. Some mouth sensitivity to vinegar in salad dressings - seems to have gone away. Along with change of diet and excercise, lowered triglycerides levels from 297 to 92. HDL raised from 28 to 37 after 3 months. M 39 6 months
2/12/2005
 5  High Cholesteral & Triglycerides I have the typical side effects (flushing, itchiness, pins & needles) about once a month but they are minor and normally preceded by spicy food, which is not recommended when taking Niaspan. Extremely satisfied with results so far. I have been taking 1000mg/day for 6 months now and cholesteral went from 223 to 185 and triglycerides went from 259 to 120. Also saw a minor reduction in LDL from 139 to 118 and minor increase in HDL from 32 to 42. Have been on Tricor for almost 4 years and never saw this type of movement in my numbers. M 50 6 months
11/16/2008
 5  low HDL High LDL Flushing, Burning Skin, & Uncomfortable itch in morning. Symtoms went away after a month. once in a while in the morning Ican feel it slightly. Taking 1500 mls with good results. Raised hdl from 32 to 44in six weeks.Doctor raised me to 2000 mls. No bad reactions but after 2 weeks felt severe acid chest burn,sick feeling most of the day.Just decreased back to 1500 mls to see what happens. Will have blood work soon.Also on lescol & zetia. Cant tolorate strong statins.Good luck to everyone. M 52 6 months
11/4/2007
 5  low HDL Flushing that went away over time. I don't flush anymore unless I miss a dose or eat something spicy for dinner. Everyone seems to be different on this med. HDL was 33 and now its 47. https://www.heartalliance.com This site gives you free supply for 30 days and an American Heart Cookbook. Also helps with someone to talk to about flushing. M 64 6 months
8/10/2007
 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  High Cholesterol Occasional itchy skin. It is working well - decreasing my LDL and increasing my HDL. M 51 6 months
2000mg 1X day
3/5/2011
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 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  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
 4  High Choles, High Lipids Major flushing when I first started taking the drug, burning skin, itchy... I kept with it and bear the flush. Usually I'm sleeping when it happens and it does not bother me. I "ride it out" knowing that it is opening my blood veins and flushing out the bad stuff. The flush will go away if you continue to take the medication as directed. My total cholesterol is down 30 pts from the original count - this is without a change in diet or working out. Now that I know it works, I will change my lifestyle... F 30 6 months
500 1X day
9/8/2010
 4  Extremely high triglycerides I have experienced the flushing and burning and very red skin but it usually happens about once or twice a week. It lasts for approximately 15-20 minutes. It can be very uncomfortable but I know it is working for me! My triglycerides were well over 1,600!!! I started with 500 mg. for a couple of months and my triglcerides were then below 1000. The doctors increased the Niaspan to 1000 mg per day which I take at night. I had lab work done yesterday and my triglycerides were 430. I know I am making great strides but until they get below 400 we can't get a correct reading on my HDLs and LDLs. I think the Niaspan has helped tremendously. F 60 6 months
1000 1X day
12/8/2010
 4  low high density chloesterol M 69 6 months
7/5/2001
 4  Cholesterol NONE whatsoever. NO itching, NO flushing, NO nothing. Take it in the morning after a bowl of oatmeal. Don't need to take any aspirin either. I read some of these comments before I started taking NIASPAN and honestly was a little concerned about starting. 6 months later and have had excellent results, especially with my HDL increase. I have been able to reduce my Lipitor by 50% as well. Recommend this to anyone who asks !! M 55 6 months
1000 mg 1X day
3/6/2011
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 4  To Raise Good Cholesterol I was experiencing the hot flashes but I was told to take an asprin 30 minutes before. It helped but Sometimes I still had episodes. I then started taking Aspirin and 1000 mg of Fish Oil and I have not had any hot flashes what so ever. Has anyone had any negative sexual performance side effects? I am also on 100 mg atenolol and not sure which or if both are the problem. M 32 6 months
1000 mg 1X day
4/10/2012
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 4  low HDL I have been taking Niaspan for 6 months. My prescribed dose is 500 mg. Tonight I woke up thinking that I was delivered to Hell. My entire body was on fire and it appeared I had the worst sunburn in 41 years. Up until tonight I have had no side effects. Even though my flushing is a common side effect it is very strange that this is the first time experiencing them. I had a vasectomy about three months ago and stopped taking 325 mg of ASA with my Niaspan due to severe bruising. I could understand if I experienced the flushing and burning side effects soon after stopping the ASA, but until tonight I have gone over three months with no problems M 41 6 months
9/2/2005
 4  Cholesterol Burning, itching, all the typical descriptions supplied by others. One of the best descriptions was waking up thinking you have been dropped into Hell. Of course, after the first time, response is better. The bedtime snack and aspirin did not make a significant difference. Taking a benedryl over the past 2 weeks seems to have made the drug more tolerable. I agree with others, too, that highly spiced foods at the evening meal, especially if the meal is within 3 hours of the niaspan, does increase the side effect. M 59 6 months
9/21/2006
 4  high cholesterol burning all over body if taken after a high fat meal. F 44 6 months
3/24/2005
 4  Raise HDL Mild flushing. Take low dose aspirin 1/2 hour prior, then take little snack at bedtime. Rarely bothers me. I'm taking 1,000 mg nightly. If this helps even a little bit, I'll stay with it. M 63 6 months
11/30/2009
 4  Hi total cholestrol (209),Hi Trigli Took 500 mg Niaspan for 6 months. Hot "flashes," restless sleep, red legs, swollen ankles, fast heartrate + other side effects were my experience. I took a baby aspirin (don't take the big aspirin as that dosage compounds the problem). A snack didn't help and aspirin didn't always help. After about a month, most of these effects went away, but occasionally returned. I'm 67, female, overweight by 30 lbs, I think, and doc thinks maybe 20. He also said if I lose another 8-9 lbs, I won't need any drugs. Took 4 different statins causing severe myalgia, even my heart (its a muscle) felt like an elephant standing on my chest, with back muscle pain out of this world. Statin intolerant. Took WelChol(all meds with Niaspan)and it caused constipation, bloating and gas. Stopped it. Took Fenofibrate for a week with more side effects, including the muscle crap. I could barely walk at work or concentrate on my tasks. Then to make matters worse, the blood pressure meds (Ramipril) and Amlodop People with a hypersensitivity to any drug must weigh the side effects against the benefit of Niaspan and all drugs. Niaspan did work, but I had to suffer the side effects. I fear the gout and sugar problems it can cause. F 67 6 months
8/15/2009
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 4  Low HDL, High Cholesterol occasionally I've had flushing of the face/ears. A minor itching around my neck. Overall, I feel fortunate. I'm taking 1500 mg now (was at 500, then 1000 now 1500). Had a flushing episode (face/ears) for maybe 30 min last night - I generally take it after eating a snack of some sort and just before I go to bed. M 39 6 months
11/2/2009
 3  high cholesterol Wow! Woke up tonight feeling like my whole body was on FIRE! This is the first time I have felt like this and I have been taking med for 6 months. I did eat spicy foods about 1 hour before taking meds. M 34 6 months
7/11/2009

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