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 |
| 4 | cholesterol | 14days no side effects 15 day got the tingling hot feeling I work nights so I take this in am when coming home.will update when blood work is done in6weeks | F | 46 | 14 days 500mg 1X day | 10/10/2012 | 3 | lower tryglicerides | fine for two weeks, then took it last night and by early in the morning was in an ambulance on my way to the ER. the doctor had said 1 percent of people have a flushing of the face, I had no idea this flushing was being on fire, and nausea with being out of it and almost passing out. My doctor is out of town for | M | 36 | 14 days | 4/5/2007 | 3 | lipoprotein-154 | Already have arrythmia, but this has increased the # of incidents though the severity is lessened. Diarrhea, headaches, and so far, at 2 weeks and 500 mg, I sleep through the flushing if it occurs. Now noticing red spots on my foot. I increase in another week. Has anyone had such high lipoproteins and seen any success on this drug? | F | 51 | 14 days | 8/10/2005 | 2 | Cholesterol | I agree with others. Flushing is not a proper term for the side effects. A feeling of "BURNING IN THE PITS OF HELL" would be more appropriate. I've been on this medication for about 2 weeks. Took a naproxin tablet 1/2 hour before and ate with a lowfat snack (usually apple). Sometimes the burning and itching wouldn't be as severe but last time felt like I was going to throw up and faint and was red from head to toe. I also found I was more irritable and had pain in the legs all of the time. With reactions this severe I will discontinue this medication. Especially after reading about others who have been on this med. for a long time and still experiencing side effects. | Haven't had any tests to indicated wether this has worked or not. Too early to tell. Will be more vigilant with olive oil, fish, etc. Niaspan was horrible for me! | F | 52 | 14 days | 11/11/2007 | 2 | poor lipid profile | some acid reflux after taking without food..found that eating and not lying down immediately helped with that. No other probs for two weeks. THEN, I woke up in the middle of the night tonight(about 5 hours after taking my 500mg) arms, face, legs armpits and inner thighs- all very hot and itching. Looked like a patchy bad sunburn. Took a cool shower, but symptoms increased. I found this site, and intend to take some aspirin and see what happens. Doctor mentioned aspirin, but did not say why it might be taken with the med. I go back to check lipid profile in a month or so. But I dont know if I will be able to continue with this med and these symptoms...hellish burning sensation. | cant really give a satisfaction rating...dont know if it is working or not on the lipids | F | 54 | 14 days | 10/11/2005 | 2 | Low HDL | extreme swelling of the feet and ankles. Itchy, bumpy rash around ankles and lower legs. Swelling so bad I can't even put shoes on. I haven't taken it for 2 nights now. Swelling still present. Not sure how to make that go away. | I have only been on this drug for 2 weeks, but work in a professional setting where i have to wear dress shoes. my feet are so swollen i can barely get them in a pair of flip flops. I experienced no flushing episodes. | F | 35 | 14 days | 7/26/2009 | 1 | Very high triglycerides over 2000 | Started having muscle pain in my back. Everyday for the next week pain got worse. Massage,advil, pain meds, heat,ice, pillows- nothing helped. Pain kept getting worse and I couldn't sleep. I've had muscle pain with statins and other drugs for triglycerides before. My wife checked the side effect page and I quit immediately. PAin is subsiding. | Never had any other symptoms listed except itchy back | M | 48 | 14 days 30 mg 1X day | 7/29/2010 | 1 | Cholesterol too high | Had tried 3 or 4 others first with bad side effects. Tried this one. After 3 or 4 nights woke up with intense flushing/burning all over along with itching on arms and legs. Lasted a couple hours. Stopped taking it for a few days then tried it again. Same thing after second dose. Stopped taking it and told my doctor about side effects and he said they should go away and then wanted me to double the dose. I was afraid to try it again and haven't been back. After seeing the info here on it I'll never take any more of it! | I'm also taking 4 different blood pressure meds and narcotic pain pills for chronic pain management. Didn't know about any effects of mixing these with this drug. | M | 48 | 14 days | 7/17/2007 | 3 | Low HDL | Very Intense Burning, Rapid Heartbeat, Itching, Fainting, Chills, Shortness of breath. | Three days after starting W/1000mg had violent episode with fainting. Reduced dose to 500, Still have itching an burning every few nights. | M | 52 | 12 days | 2/27/2005 | 2 | High TriG | Very VERY bad diarrhea. I have been taking this drug (500mg) with baby aspirin for about 2 weeks with no clear side effects. About 4 days ago I woke up with a very VERY bad diarrhea (I thought I would pass all of my intestines), followed by fever and extreme fatigue. It's been like this ever since (fever comes and goes). | My TriG are 240. So wondering whether it's even worth at this point to kill myself with side effects... | M | 37 | 12 days | 4/30/2007 | 2 | Just had quadruple bypass surgery, | after one week, thought my bocy was on afire. Called cardiologist office who said that was a normal reaction. Advised to make sure I take aspirin one half hour before (325 mg). Got another reaction ten days later, not as severe. Personal doctor told me he may take me off niaspan as I am already on zitia and lipitor. My cholrestorol was only 160 at time of surgery. Surgeon recommended I discontinue drug. I have reduced aspirin to 81mg as I don't want problems with eating up my stomach. It was recommended I take apple sauce with pill. | Discussed drug with my pharmacist....he didn't see any need for niaspan as lipitor and zitia was doing the same thing. I will keep track of reactions and me getting a blood test in 4 weeks and see what the numbers are. If I continue with the reactions, I may discontinue and lower numbers with diet and exercies | M | 66 | 12 days | 2/19/2007 | 1 | High cholesterol | As others have commented, "flushing" does not begin to describe the burning, pins and needles sensation throughout my entire body - feet, groin, back, neck, face, eyes. I did not have any reaction for the first 10 days, so my reaction came as quite a surprise. The really scary part for me was the shortness of breath and tightness in the lungs. It was one of the most severe as asthma attacks I have ever had. Had I not had a rescue inhaler, I would have had to call 911. | Abbott should have to change the term "flushing" to something that describes the sensation better. It is not anything I would ever want to experience again. I reported the reaction to the FDA and my doctor and would encourage others to do so. | F | 42 | 11 days 500 MG 1X day | 2/22/2011 | 1 | lower LDL | woke up on fire, entire body bright red, right above knees swollen, under eyes swollen, felt as if i was going to suffocate in my own skin,, took a cold shower did not help as if felt like the worse sunburn I have ever had. Had swelling for the entire next day, muscle aches, fatigue - I cannot take statins either. Trying to figure out what to do - now trying to lose a few pounds, eat oatmeal daily, walk daily, flax oil nightly, watch saturated fats. It was really a scary experience. | F | 51 | 11 days 500 mg 1X day | 10/9/2010 | 4 | Hi levels of LP(a) | Flushing was very mild compared to Slo-Niacin (vitamin quality). Taking 2g per night, before bed time. | M | 50 | 10 days | 8/4/2005 | 3 | M | 80 | 10 days 50 1X day | 11/7/2010 | 3 | Cholesteol, Triglycerides | Hot prickly sensation (so that's what they meant by "flushing"), mostly in face, but spreads to rest of my body occasionally. | Dr. started me off at 1000mg/day taken all at once for 30 days, then up to 2000. I'm 190lbs and pretty fit. The thorough warning about flushing helped a lot. I can see how this caused panic in some who did not have any expectation of what might happen. I generally tolerate all meds well, so this side effect thing is news. Experimenting with time of day and snacks. Will try the apple/juice idea next. Splitting the dosage seems like a good idea, although the Abbott nurse said they recommend all at once at bedtime-because the body metabolises cholesteral better at rest. | M | 46 | 10 days | 1/5/2010 | 2 | Raise HDLand Lower LDL | I experienced some flushing but not severe. Since I can no longer take Statins due to severe muscle cramps I hoped Niaspan was the answer. But it seems to mess up my blood sugar and causes me to be dizzy and weak. One day I walked around like a zombie and had no energy for anything. Did not take it that night and felt great the next moring. | M | 68 | 10 days 500 mg 1X day | 9/7/2010 | 1 | High cholesterol | On 10th day of taking with no side effects, lower back began hurting, then almost fainted several times, lightheaded, severe nausea, diarrhea, hot flashes, heart palpatations with accelerated heart rate, fatigue, weakness, acid reflux, anxiety. Had to leave my job. Took 6-8 hours to subside enough to sleep. Blood sugar had elevated to 173 (I do not have diabetes). | It has been six days since stopping niacin and I am still experiencing lightheadedness, heart palpatations, weakness, nausea, headaches. Ended up in ER on fifth day due to extreme weakness and other sypmtoms. Reassured it was not my heart. This medicine is horrible!! After reading some of these, I worry if the symptoms will ever go away. I have already had to be off work 3 1/2 days and I never miss work. I am sorry I ever tried this drug. | F | 57 | 10 days 500 mg 1X day | 7/14/2010 | 1 | High Triglycerides | On Friday night, I started to feel lightheaded and slightly nauseous. By Saturday night, I was lightheaded and was having difficulty breathing. I woke up Sunday morning at 5:00 extremely dizzy and pale as a ghost. I laid back down and within 10 minutes felt myself burning up. I turned on the light and looked in the mirror and I was fire engine red and crawling out of my skin. Within a half hour the rash was from head to toe. The itching and burning was unbearable. | A trip to the emergency room took away the itching and burning immediately. Unfortunately, I am still pretty light-headed and out of it. I went for a follow up with my regular doctor on Monday and he said that it will last a couple of weeks until the medicine is completely out of my system. | F | 32 | 10 days 500 mg 1X day | 9/13/2011 | 1 | raise HDL lower LDL | I awoke at 3 AM on fire. This is no exaggeration. I thought I'd need to wake my husband to take me to emergency. I awoke two nights ago "dreaming" my arms were on fire. This time it is my entire body. My face was leathery and distorted. | I took as directed: 81 mg aspirin 1 hr before taking at bedtime. I also took with a snack. This episode was so scary I will NEVER take another niaspan. Luckily I thought of going to the website to find reactions, which prevented me from going to emergency. | F | 61 | 10 days | 9/27/2008 |