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 |
| 1 | To raise HDL | I have experienced the flushing not extremely bad, however is very annoying also the itching, I am now starting to feel the dizziness / lightheaded feeling frequently. Recently also having some chest pain and palpitations, I thought this was supposed to help prevent a heart attack? This stuff makes me feel like i am asking for one. | I have been also seeing some other things that seem to have recently realized has only been happening about the time i started taking niaspan. I do NOT like this drug and the way it makes me feel. I think i may stop taking it. | M | 38 | 2 weeks 1000MG 1X day | 4/27/2011 | 1 | Cholesterol | Severe Acid Reflux | The cardiologist recommended this drug and mentioned the main side effect was flushing. But that wasn't an issue, acid reflux is what started after about two weeks of taking it. | M | 35 | 2 weeks 1000MG 1X day | 6/21/2012 | 1 | cholesterol | throw the bottle away NOW | M | 59 | 2 weeks 500mg 1X day | 5/31/2012 | 1 | cholesterol | Flushing and tingling twice in about 2 weeks, but developed rash in pelvic area in last couple days. After seeing all the other people with rash problems after starting this drug, I'm discontinuing use & will just continue with my Zocor. | I have never had an adverse reaction to any drug before. | M | 50 | 2 weeks | 10/28/2006 | 1 | Doctor recommended | Unbelievable flushing and itching! I thought I was on fire! Like the worst sunburn I have ever had! I took the 81mg asprin and ate something with it and did everything like the directions said and tried everything others had tried. I quit! I cannot stand the side effects. If you can stand the side effects, go for it, but I couldn’t recommend this drug for anyone! | DO NOT USE THIS DRUG unless you are willing to put up with the side effects!!! | M | 47 | 2 weeks | 4/19/2007 | 1 | low good cholesterol/high bad | I've been taking this for about two weeks now 5oo mg, and around 3:00 am this morning. I flew up out of bed, my whole body felt like was on fire. Then came the itching about 6 minutes later. I took a benadryl. The burning lasted about an hour and now I'm feeling better.It scared me to death, thought I had been bitten by a spider in my bed, searched under the covers and found nothing. I dont think I will be taking this stuff anymore. If this happens to you don't panic. It will go away. I will probably contact my doctor tomorrow, and maybe try other remedies. | after reading info on this site, I felt it very helpful to know that other people experience this as well. Thanks ( Burned up in Texas) | F | 34 | 2 weeks | 5/30/2006 | 1 | cholesterol | after 2 weeks of no side effects...tonight all of a sudden....reddening burning needles in my skin itching and swelling.....heart racing blood pressure dropping. took 2 benadryl and felt nausea and then my wife called 911 b/c i lost bodily functions and was making weird throat noises..felt lifeless and lost color...luckily i had an epi pen exp date 2004....she stuck me with it. by the time 911 arrived i was feeling better...they stayed to make sure i was ok. wife called dr prior to 911 dr said take asprin...but advised me not to stop taking meds...BS!!! i will not be taking this $@%* again and do not recommend it to anyone!!! will have a discussion with dr tomorrow!!! | M | 46 | 2 weeks | 7/20/2009 | 1 | Low good cholestrol | After taking Niaspan for 2 weeks with no side effects, it hit me like a wave of gasoline and then being set on fire. I turned bright red, the itching, the pins and needles, the heat,and the swelling was unbearable. I sat in the pool to cool off. Finally, out of fear of the unknown, I drove to a walk-in clinic where the doctor told me it was a side effect from Niaspan. I will not take that drug again. | M | 48 | 2 weeks | 5/23/2009 | 1 | high cholesterol | have been on niaspan for only a week, hadnt seen any side effects until today. I worked out for about an hour and roughly 45 min after, i very quickly broke out into serious rashing and burning of the skin from the waist up, dizziness, shakes, itchiness, and pressure behind the ears and eye sockets. and this all within about 3 minutes! talk about unpredictable! its been about an hour and it still has not subsided, i can barely type from the shakes! i dont think this is worth the minor benefits | not a fan! | M | 20 | 1 weeks | 1/16/2008 | 1 | To increase HDL (good) | Was on it for three months and then one night I woke up with a feeling like I was on fire. I actually thought some one had lit me on fire. My face turned red and felt as if it was swelling. My skin felt like it was melting and my clothes touching my skin was extremely painful. Ended up in the ER, when they found out I was on Niaspan they gave me asprin and water. My doctor never told me about the possibility of flushing. I was scared to take this medicine after that but my doctor convinced me I really needed it. So, I started taking it again and last night (after a week of taking it this time) I took asprin and still had severe flushing. I don't like the feeling of burning alive and the pain seemed to be worse this time. I sat outside at 1 a.m. in my pajamas with no shoes or socks on for a half hour, it was 30 degrees out. After that I laid on my kitchen floor with the back door open for two hours. Flushing seems to last at least three hours for and the next day I still feel | F | 29 | 1 weeks | 3/25/2008 | 3 | Very high triglycerides | Went through all the pins , needles , burning feelings. I control it with aspirin 20 mins before taking niaspan [2000 mg]I have been on this drug for a year and half and I am being awakened with unbelievable muscle cramps. But it feels like the tendons are tightening up in my legs. I am also experiencing cramping in other parts of my body if I try to exercise. Upped my intake of orange juice and banannas , BUT NO HELP. | My triglycerides have dropped from over 700 to 310. Hope I get a better report in two weeks to come off this. Notice other people with cramping problems | M | 65 | 545 days | 5/30/2007 | 3 | high cholesterol | Niacin "flush" is a misnomer, it should be called "burn". I feel like I'm on fire and it's quite painful. I take aspirin prior to the Niaspan. Thankfully the burn happens only once every couple of months. Next lab work in three weeks. We'll see if it's working then. | I put my husband on regular niacin and his cholesterol went down drastically--his doctor is very happy. Another added benefit is that he's had the "flush" a couple of times and he now understands just a little bit what hot flashes are like. | F | 50 | 360 days 500 1X day | 1/1/2011 | 4 | Low HDL | Experienced hot flashes. No other side effects but they were very uncomfortable. | Prescribing Dr. recommended aspirin or skim milk to reduce flushing,no help. Another Dr. advised APPLESAUCE(aprox6oz)it worked! Taking 1.5 grams w/o incident. HDL went from 32 to 48 in a few months. Also using Omega 3(4grams) and Vitorin(10/20). | M | 59 | 240 days | 11/26/2007 | 1 | Raise HDL lower LDL | Flushing,extreme itching,burning sensation(i.e.like a sunburn) First reaction was scarry...wasn't sure what was happening!My minimun allergic reaction 1 to 2 times a week...even after 7 months use.Supposedly reaction to be less and less.WRONG! my became more and more...lasting 45min to 2 hours. To this day I have never had a reaction to any medication...of any type.... except the 1000 mg of Niaspan...which I chose to no longer take. Reactions can become so bad it can interfere with your personal life.Taking it at bedtime can sure ruin a nights sleep if you awaken with a reaction....sometimes I was ok until as long as 5 hours after taking it...then pow...it hits you all at once! I followed all the rules,an asprin 1/2 hr before taking dose, eating a light low-fat snack before use ,etc,etc. | If you can tolerate the described systoms or haven't a problem with a reaction to it...God Bless. | M | 60 | 210 days | 12/20/2005 | 3 | High cholesterol & triglycerides | "flushing"...hardy-har-har. Felt like shingles. And facial swelling so bad that I now look like an eskimo. Apparently I have to deal with the edema? Also joint pain, but a little less severe than the lipator (which was intolerable). I have gone back down to 500 mg, but the doctor isn't going to be happy. Also had to stop taking my mega-B vitamin because it was making the "shingles" worse! Couldn't bear wearing anything on my legs. I just hope we don't find out all these side effects aren't in fact overdose symptoms that will wreck the liver! | F | 55 | 200 days | 10/28/2008 | 5 | Tryglycerides low hdl high ldl | Flushing but not every time. Sometimes it's worse but by now I know what to expect. | I had been on various statins for years, after some time developed muscle cramp with each one. Had to quit jogging due to the cramps. Quit taking statins, felt much better but Doctor unhappy. Spring of 2009 tried 1500 mg of Niaspan. Twice a day 750mg. Had stomach problems and quit taking it. Tried Crestor 5mg, ldl good, hdl 30, Tryglycerides high. Fall of 2009 decided to try Niacin again and split 750 mg. Now I take about 375 mg after lunch with some other meds, including 81mg of Aspirin. My second dose after dinner. I have a reaction 2-4 hours later, but not every time and with a different intensity. It is something I can live with. With this dose I don't have much of a stomach problem. My last blood test in December 2009 was excellent. Tryglycerides went way down to 114, ldl great at 93, hdl went from 30 to 44. I work out almost every day, but my hdl was 30 before Niacin. I do take Crestor 5mg maybe twice a week. Intend to drop Crestor and see how the ldl will be. Sofar I am happy with the results of Niacin. Will try as some suggested to take vitamin C before taking Niacin | M | 66 | 180 days | 1/26/2010 | 1 | Low HDL | I am taking the 1000 mg version for low HDL. The doctor all together forgot to tell me about flushing. Like many of the other comment, I felt like I was on fire and a million needles were sticking me. I was told to take an aspirin or eat an apple before taking. It helped, but at times the flushing comes rushing back. I have been on it for about 6 months. | M | 64 | 180 days | 6/15/2009 | 1 | high triglisarides | Very bad rash, hives,simular to bad sunburn. Muscle aches, joint pain, weakness, dizzy to the point of passing out,nauseous. | I tried taking asprin before the meds, but symptoms would happen a few times a week. took the med for 5 months. Actual final blood test showed readings increased along with liver enzymes elevated. The last ATTACK made my heart rate go over 80 bpm. This happened while I was asleep, and when i got up to check my heart rate, I became dizzy and nauseous, to the point of passing out. I would not recommend anyone taking this drug. I will never attempt anymore of these wonder drugs. | M | 67 | 150 days 500 MG 1X day | 6/8/2010 | 1 | cholesterol | flushing,itching, burning as if I had severe sunburn. eccelerated heart beat,over 85bpm awaken during sleep.Dizziness and nausea, fainting. Muscle and joint ache, took several months for effects to go away. Triglyceride reading went up along with liver enzymes. | I strongly believe that this is a bad drug that may solve one problem but cause more dangerous ones. I have decided to change doctors due to the fact that this is the second drug prescribed by him that has caused me terrible side effects. I had a doctor tell me to immediatly to stop taken these drugs. | M | 68 | 140 days 30 MG 1X day | 10/4/2010 | 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 |