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 length of time drug was taken longest to shortest. 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 |
| 3 | Lp(a) Cholesterol | First night took with Benadryl only; had an IMPRESSIVE amount of flushing with burning, itchy palms & soles of feet. | Thank heavens I expected it.... Surprisingly, the first night's flush only lasted about 20 minutes, then it just felt like a mild sunburn. I expected much much worse from the blogs. Following evening took with 4 oz applesauce and 1T ground flax seed and had no flushing or itching. The first week I did notice I was waking up a bit earlier, and sleeping lightly, still take Benadryl to help the sleeping, and it does help considerably... Will report back when dosage is increased. So far, I feel pleasantly energized, but I am working out consistently to help the medication get cholesterol levels to the desired numbers. If you eat the right foods, you can combat the flushing. | F | 41 | 3 weeks 500 1X day | 2/9/2011 | 2 | Low HDL | Been on it for 3 weeks. Tonight, for the first time I experienced 'flushing' I guess. To me, flushing is just a little bit of a hot face and a little discomfort. This, though, was something completely different. I awoke at 1:30am after taking my dosage at 11:30pm with my body feeling like I was on fire. My entire body was red. It was weird. Being a little sleepy still and trying to figure out what was going on, I kept trying to remember if I had been sunbathing or something during the day and had forgotten. It felt like I fell asleep in a suntanning booth for a couple of hours. I took a shower, but that didn't help. I took 3 Ibuprofen about 30 minutes ago and I am starting to feel a little more normal although the tingling and cold chills are still there. I had not had this happen before in the 3 weeks I had been taking this drug. I think this is a little more severe than the 'flushing' about which my Doctor had warned me. I'll be calling him in the morning. | M | 40 | 3 weeks 500mg 1X day | 10/20/2010 | 2 | lower cholesterol | I knew about the flushing in advance, so went into it with a plan - 10:30 pm, take one 325 mg aspirin. 11 pm, take the niaspan and CoQ10. No alcoholic beverages within at least an hour before taking the niaspan dose, and (learned this one the hard way) NO spicy foods for dinner. Go to bed around midnight, and ALWAYS awake around 4 to use the bathroom - that's when the flushing starts, and it's severe enough to keep me awake. After three weeks of four hours of sleep per night, I had to take a break. After a day or two of NO niaspan, realized it had also been causing extra stress and THEN the itching started! Even with the itch, it's been nice to get a full night's sleep for a change. Supposed to start back tonight, but that may not happen. | Triscuits! If you eat two Triscuit crackers as your snack WITH the medication, it helps hold down the flushing. I think it worked a little, certainly well enough to keep doing it. And maybe this little bit of info (which I learned from a cardiac nurse) will help someone. Also, all the recommendations re: aspirin may work fine for some but not for me - I already take both plavix and coumadin and sure don't need another blood thinner added to the mix. | F | 62 | 3 weeks 500 mg 1X day | 9/19/2010 | 2 | High Cholesterol | Migraine, insomnia, racing thoughts. I really didn't connect these awful things to niaspan. I thought I was losing my mind! But one night I happened to read niaspan might cause migraine, so I didn't take it. I slept well that night (first time in a few weeks), my mind didn't go goofy with racing thoughts (first time in two weeks), and the migraine disappeared the next day. So I will NOT take this medication again. I feel soooo much better even after one day of not taking niaspan. However, I want to tell you that I did NOT experience very much flushing. I followed my doctor's advice...he said to take one 325 mg. aspirin one hour before taking the niaspan. Also, eat an apple or apple sauce with the niaspan. This info might help some of you who are having flushing problems. | F | 62 | 3 weeks 500 mg 1X day | 6/17/2012 | 1 | To lower cholesterol | I got dizzy and got heart palpitations, and was breathing hard, I went the the hospital on a Sunday with these symptoms and they kept me on observation all day and overnight, did not have symptoms, sent me home and the next day I started to have the same symptons, I did take niaspan that day, it subsided after a while, and felt a little better, but not great. I quit taking niaspan the next day and no symptoms, and I have taken all the other drugs I normally take, I cannot say for sure that it was niaspan, but I am quite suspicious | M | 52 | 3 weeks 1X day | 3/16/2011 | 1 | High Cholesterol | No flushing at night, probably because I am on 700 mg Neurontin at bed time for Multiple Sclerosis. Severe fatigue, already an issue with MS, set in about 2 weeks in, followed by a general feeling of malaise and depression. Migraine headaches occurred daily about 3 hours before next dose was due. Eye pain and swelling, irregular heart rhythm, blotches of rash on face. | As far as I am concerned, I would not touch this medication with a ten foot pole again. My neurologist was surprised it had been prescribed, didn't think it was used at all anymore due to it's high side effects profile. He advised me to discontinue use, called this medication downright scary, as there is no predicting how a person will react to niacin in such large dosage. It can work for some and be very dangerous for others. | F | 55 | 3 weeks 1000mg 1X day | 12/6/2010 | 1 | chlorestrol | For me Naispan is too closely related to the side effects that I experienced w/Crestor. Progressively worse leg, lower back, shoulder aches, during the night. Many sleepless nights, listlessness and wondering if I will be normal again. I choose not to endure this pain...I am a very healthy 67 yr.old woman who has marginally elevated chlorestrol level. This Naispan discomfort has given me renewed reason to watch my diet and exercise more. I take a couple of heaping tablespoons of dry oat bran morning and night. I have friends who swear by it. I''m going to try something more natural. Isn't oatmeal supposed to lower bad chlorestrol? | Naispan is just as dangerous as Creator was for me. I will not continue to take it. | F | 67 | 3 weeks 1X day | 10/12/2010 | 1 | Lower LDLs | Chest Rash (maculopaulr), burning nose, burning thighs, sties on eyes and ringing in ears. All these were additional to normal flushing sensation that dr's warn you about. | Immediatly discontinued use and chest rash and sties went away slowly(months). Hot compresses helped on eyes. It is now 18 months and remaining symptoms are yet with me, although not as severe. Very slowly things are headed back to normal. I have seen multiple doctors (allergists and dematologists) and they are not of much help. Most are reluctant to attribute these long lasting symptoms to Niaspan, but when I confront them with what else it can be, they have no answer. I think my family practitioner is practicing defensive medicine. I will concede that my set of symptoms are rare, judging by the low number of other patients who have reported severe long term side-effects. Nevertheless, I have no history of hypochondria and I strongly believe that it IS the Niaspan. My advice to those suffering with severe side effects is to (1) discontinue use immediatly and (2) tell your physician that just because something is rare and you have not seen it, doesn't mean that reported symptoms cannot be due to Niasapn | M | 69 | 3 weeks 1000 mg 1X day | 11/26/2010 | 1 | High Triglycerides and Low HDL | I have been taking this medication for 3 weeks and experienced horrible side effects on 3 occasions. On the 2nd of December, after taking the Niaspan, the burning began about two hours later but things went from bad to worse. I began to throw up, profusely sweat, shake and ended up passing out for a few minutes...went into a seizure according to a witness. After paramedics arrived, I was taken to the E/R and had to undergo a multitude of tests, including a CAT scan. Those around me when this happened, the seizing, thought I had died initially. I spent 8 hours in the E/R, underwent a whole bunch of tests and was told to cease taking Niaspan. This medication is HORRIBLE. | PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION........ | M | 50 | 3 weeks | 12/3/2007 | 1 | Cholesterol 250 high LDL low HDL | EXTREME DIZZINESS on any movement of the head. If I don't lay down immediately, I will faint and fall. I feel it whether laying in bed or moving while sitting or walking. I practice yoga everyday, but I cannot do any exercises until this drug is flushed out of my system. I hope that it is temporary. | I did not experience any of the burning sensations mentioned by others on this site. No other side effects except slightly groggy when I awaken in the morning. | F | 58 | 3 weeks | 2/3/2009 | 1 | High Triglycerides, High LDL | After about 3 weeks, I started getting excruciating headaches! Severe nausea and vomiting. I've missed 2 days of work because of it. I have what I think is a severe cold, but could also be an allergic reaction to it...I started these symptoms about a week and a half after starting Niaspan. Sinus congestion, ears are popping, coughing, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, feverish, aches. Have not had the severe itching. | Niaspan ER 500mg, taken near bedtime with snack and aspirin. Headaches, nausea, and vomiting only in the daytime or when I wake up in the mornings. | F | 38 | 3 weeks | 12/11/2008 | 1 | Lower triglycerides | Red itchy rash on upper chest | F | 50 | 3 weeks | 4/7/2014 | 1 | High cholesterol and LDL | Was doing fine taking Niaspan at night 30 minutes after an aspirin, didn't have any flushing or side effects at all. Then suddenly after 3 weeks woke up with a horribly itchy, red rash all over my body and persistent shortness of breath. Called my cardiologist that same morning and was told to stop taking it immediately because I was having an allergic reaction and not a side effect. It took almost a week and a lot of Prednisone and Hydroxyzine for the rash, intense itching, and shortness of breath to completely go away. | F | 45 | 3 weeks 500mg | 5/3/2014 | 5 | Low HDL | I experienced severe burning on my face after I applied a blemish toner that I use regularly. | My face was beet red and burning. I had not taken niacin in the last 12 hours when this occurred. I took some ibuprofen and a zyrtec. That seemed to fix it pretty fast. The next the burning was there, but mild. | F | 31 | 2 weeks | 11/19/2007 | 4 | High triglycerides and cholesterol | Oh my gosh! Why don't our doctors or pharmacists warn us! I woke up last night feeling like I was on fire! I was bright red and slightly swollen in the face. I had my husband call 911. I was scared out of my mind, sitting in the tub with ice cold water trying to get the burning to stop! The EMT's asked me if I was taking anything new and I told them niaspan and he proceeds to tell me its commonly referred to as a niacin flush. It sure as heck was not a "hot flash" that I was warned about. If someone had told me at least I would have known what it was instead of thinking something was horribly wrong. | I will still keep taking it as it's for my health. | F | 33 | 2 weeks 1X day | 5/31/2010 | 3 | Large particals | MAJOR itching, minor flushing, next day headaches | tried taking last year & thought I was dying! Doc gave me the extended release formula this year w/hard orders to stick with it - take aspirin 30 min before and eat applesauce w/it really does help. don't know how I'll handle increasing to 3000mg/day. the website somebody else gave in Aug for 30 day FREE supply is expired. | M | 50 | 2 weeks | 9/7/2007 | 3 | TO INCREASE HDL | Information for Patients Patients should be advised: to take NIASPANŽ at bedtime, after a low-fat snack. Administration on an empty stomach is not recommended; to carefully follow the prescribed dosing regimen, including the recommended titration schedule, in order to minimize side effects (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION); that flushing is a common side effect of niacin therapy that usually subsides after several weeks of consistent niacin use. Flushing may vary in severity, may last for several hours after dosing, and will, by taking NIASPANŽ at bedtime, most likely occur during sleep; however, if awakened by flushing at night, to get up slowly, especially if feeling dizzy, feeling faint, or taking blood pressure medications; that taking aspirin (approximately 30 minutes before taking NIASPANŽ) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (e.g., ibuprofen) may minimize flushing; to avoid ingestion of alcohol or hot drinks around the time of NIASPANŽ admini | M | 67 | 2 weeks | 6/4/2007 | 3 | high triglycerides | I have not had any side effects and been on this for 2 weeks. | I have read all the comments and have not seen the suggestion that my doctor recommended. he says to eat an apple with the niaspan at night and the apple pectin decreases flushing. so far has worked for me. dont know results yet on lowering my numbers. will find out in Feb. | F | 39 | 2 weeks | 12/29/2009 | 2 | High triglycerides | F | 43 | 2 weeks | 3/26/2005 | 2 | high triglyceride levels | I woke up at 1:00 ( 3 or 4 hours after taking NIASPAN ) with my face prickling and burning (not what I would call itching). I was a bit woozy and had intestinal discomfort. The face and neck burning became intense and I went to the bathroom for air and water and had diahhrea. I became really dizzy and passed out (hitting my head on the counter). My wife couldnt lift me but I was up in about 30 sec or so and had some more diahhrea. My wife called the EMTs and I went o lie down again. After about 30 minutes, all the sypmtoms were gone (except for a gash in my head !). The EMT came measured my blood pressure (102/70). I was feeling fine by then so I didnt go to the ER. | I had a minor heart attack 5 months ago and was put on the 'usual' cocktail of lipitor, plavix, coreg and diovan and 1 aspirin at night. My total cholesterol was way down under 100 but the triglycerides were still a bit high so the doctor suggested NIASPAN 1 hour after the aspirin. He did tell me watch out for itchiness and bit of diziness but I didnt expect such a sudden onset. I am seeing the doctor this morning. | M | 52 | 2 weeks 500 1X day | 5/13/2010 |