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 | High Cholesterol | After 4 years of taking Niaspan, last night I woke up at 3 AM feeling like my body was on fire! It felt as if I had gone to the beach for 8 eight hours and not put any sunscreen, I couldn't stand the bed sheets. My skin was red and I was literally red glowing!! I went to the doctor today and before letting me finish with my story, started laughing and said: "say no more, you're taking Niaspan, just take an aspiring 30 mins. before your Niaspan", hopefully this should do it ... keep you posted! | M | 38 | 4 years 1X day | 5/18/2010 | 2 | to raise HDL | Flushing-mild at first, then went away. After 4 years am disconinuing due to severe episodes which wake me up at night. | Helped somewhat with HDL | M | 43 | 4 years | 8/12/2005 | 2 | High Cholesterol | Itching & Flushing | Itching & Flushing sometimes so bad I felt like I wanted to rip my skin off. But I would not have the side effects everytime or even most of the time. I never could determine a reason on why sometimes the side effects would be almost intolerable. | M | 44 | 4 years | 5/11/2006 | 1 | High Cholesterol | High blood pressure, paranoia, inability to concentrate, inability to sleep, high stress, constantly worried, short temper, swollen and discolored eyelids, blurred vision, constant sties, rashes on face, flushing | I did not realize these side effects were caused by Niaspan until I read other comments here. I have stopped taking Niaspan for 2 months now. Blood pressure returned to normal within 2 weeks, sties have reduced - almost gone, eyelids are no longer swollen, much more relaxed, concentration levels almost back to normal, temper under control, rashes on face are still there but now I doubt they are "sun damage" as dermatologist had diagnosed, did not have to take blood pressure pills that were prescribed. I have to say it was extremely frustrating to be going from doctor to doctor trying to get my sties, rashes and high blood pressure under control. Stopping Niaspan solved all of that. | M | 45 | 4 years | 11/12/2008 | 1 | High Cholesterol | High blood pressure, paranoia, inability to concentrate, inability to sleep, high stress, constantly worried, short temper, swollen and discolored eyelids, blurred vision, constant sties, rashes on face, flushing | This is an update to my posting on Nov. 12, 2008 (now over 1 year after stopping Niaspan) - WOW - the long term side effects I was experiencing were horrible - it literally brought my life to a halt. I am now once again a productive individual without paranoia, stress and a high temper. The rash on my cheek is still pink - however it is not swollen and warm any longer. My forehead is no longer bright pink and hot to the touch - it literally looked and felt like a permanent sunburn. I still have a pink patch on my upper chest - but again it is no longer hot and itchy as before. My eyes!!!! Wow again. I no longer have to look through a fog, I can see again at night without headlights and taillights having huge hazy rings around them. This side effet took close to a year to clear up. I no longer have the huge painful sties either. Hope this helps. Please take caution with this medication as it not only has short term side effects, but the long term side effects can creep up on you and appear as other medical problems. | M | 46 | 4 years | 1/14/2010 | 5 | To raise HDL | When I first started taking 500mg's of Niaspan I experienced minor to moderate flushing about once a week. Now I'm taking 2500mg's of Niaspan and get only minor flushing about once every two weeks. I'm not taking medication to stop the flushing. | Started taking 500mg's of Niaspan about 3.5 years ago. My HDL was 38, my LDL was 124, and my Triglycerides were 73(before taking Niaspan). I've been taking 2500mg's of Niaspan for the last two years and my HDL is now 48, my LDL is 47, and my Triglycerides are 52. I've also been using "Benecol light" for the past six months, and the last two LDL reading went down from 76 to 47! I also exercise on the tredmill for 30 minutes every day, which i've been doing for the past two years. | M | 52 | 3.5 years | 1/31/2008 | 5 | heart attack and high LDL | None. | I take 2,500 mg per day (which is above recommended maximum dosage) and have had no side effects. I take it immediately before going to bed, and have had no flushing issues. It works. | M | 42 | 3 years | 1/23/2008 | 5 | Low HDL - High LDL | Itching burning...they subside with time and the 81mg aspirin. | Have genetically high cholesteral. Niapsan raised HDL from 21 to 57....The itching and burning I have experienced is a small price to pay. Talk to your MD and do your own research before you pop any pill, prescribed or otherwise. If you know what to expect going in you won't be freaked out by the side effects. | M | 40 | 3 years | 7/5/2007 | 5 | High Chol: 3000 mg Niaspan daily | I take 3000 mg Niaspan daily, at bedtime. This is the highest therapeutic dose recommended. Side effects include flushing and itching, and tightening of tendens behind knees. Niaspan should only be taken at bed time as the liver produces cholesterol during the sleep cycle. The other benefit is that the flushing and itching is significantly reduced or eliminated during sleep. The flushing never really bothered me too much... at least not to the point that I ever thought about discontinuing Niaspan. I had taken niacin a number of times years earlier, so I knew about the flushing and itching in advance of starting Niaspan. Niaspan side effects are nothing in comparison. I rarely get any flushing or itching now... and not a big deal when I do. I just expose my skin to the air and go back to sleep. | Before Niaspan: T-Chol 328, Trig 304, LDL 222, HDL 46. After Niaspan: T-Chol 181, Trig 150, LDL 100, HDL 52. My triglicerides can fluctuate upwards of 300 at times, which I attibute 100% to alcohol and sweet mixers. Cutting out alcohol and sugar drops my Triglicerides down to 150. If flushing and itching are your only side effects, I highly recommend sticking with Niaspan as the flushing and itching will subside. Start with a low dose and build up tollerence before increasing dose. I've tried verious statins over a 7 year period and none of them lowered my cholesterol to the level that Niaspan did. And Niaspan side effects are nothing compared to the side effects statins cause. | M | 49 | 3 years | 11/22/2008 | 5 | Dr recommended | only minor flushing | Lowered my triglecerides from 241 to 111 and improved LDL:HDL ratio from 3.3 to 2.1 | M | 61 | 3 years | 8/28/2003 | 5 | moderately high cholesterol | mild | It works. Tried several statins first, but the side efffects of statins are intolerable. | M | 60 | 3 years 1000 mg 1X day | 5/14/2011 | 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 | started at 250, then 500, had rise from 28 to 41 for HDL, much better than studies, then 750, then 1000, now HDL 44-46, though new 1000 reading not yet in. Flushing SCARY the first time, or if you are NOT warned adequetely. Goes away quickly. | Random flushing events once a month maybe less. Once you know what to expect, no worries. First time, you might think you need to to ambulance. Started for me, as burning deep from groin area, then spreading, sometimes, tingling redness all over. Random episodes last 15-45 minutes, only occur (after 3 years now) about once every 6-12 weeks, pr about 4-8 /yr. Price for medication is HIGH considering it is B3 time release. Silver lining is that THIS medication is actually natural, VS many of the other pills. IF higher HDL helps don't be afraid to gove this a try (ha, if you have prescription coverage). IF you want to test it out (buy 100mg Niacin generic), take one..you shoul dget the flush...once you know what to expect, its minor annoyance. IF I awake, at night, I sit in chair for 30 minutes, it stops, go back to bed. Small cost a few times a year, for large benefit. Some also think B3 was good for you, BEFORE all this HDL hype. | M | 48 | 3 years | 1/4/2007 | 4 | low HDL | Itching, flushing, burning | I've found that a snack of yogurt, almonds, and then skim milk with Niaspan (1500 mg) prior to bed really helps to decrease/eliminate side effects. Also, when the occasional attack still occurred, I've found that a small slice of 2% cheese/%1 cottage cheese and more milk was the quickest remedy - side effect(s) usually subside within 30 minutes. HDL's went from 24 to 39 in just under 3 years. | M | 47 | 3 years | 12/6/2005 | 4 | high cholesterol | Flushing. Hot sensation on sole's of feet. Have been taking 2,000 mg daily for 3 years. Initially took Aleve Naproxen 30-60 minutes before Niaspan to reduce flushing. Stopped Aleve 2 years ago and flushing is tolerable without it. Due to results of last blood test, dosage was reduced to 1,000. Not sure yet if reduction was result of positive or negitive Lipid Panel results. Needless to say I'm very happy to be able to take less. I'd be happier to be off it completely. | lowered triglycerides | M | 47 | 3 years | 9/16/2005 | 4 | hi triglycerides | I take it one hour after dinner with snack, sometimes flashing,itching,not too bad. | My triglycerides were 850 before and last few year around 250 and after cutting down drinking soda last week test was 186. Have to watch for sugar and bad carbohydrates.Cholesterol is 168 and rest of lipid panel O.K. | M | 49 | 3 years 2000 1X day | 4/19/2011 | 4 | CHOLESTEROL | I too had the burning,on fire feelings when I took Niaspan. An internal medicine doctor told me to eat unsweetened applesauce before I took the medicine. I tried it and it worked like a charm. I eat about a 4 oz. cup of unsweetened applesauce every morning. I have eatened sweetened applesauce by mistake and I had the burning,on fire feeling. So be sure to use unsweetened variety. | M | 66 | 3 years 500 1X day | 10/19/2010 | 4 | To Lower Lipids | Caused Gout & I must take Allopurinol for the gout, some mild flushing 4-6 times a year | M | 65 | 3 years | 4/27/2005 | 4 | Extremely high triglycerides/low hd | Usually no side effects. Occasionally, mild flushing. Tonight, entire body flushed red (head to toes)--fire and itching all over. Quite unexpected. | My triglycerides have gone from 1500 to 83 (taking 1000 mg Niaspan, 80 mg Lipitor, and 2000 mg Omacor(4000 mg/day). Cholesterol is 87. HdL is still a bit low. I'm not going to stop taking it,but tonight is the worst reaction I've ever had. (Maybe it has something to do with the chili I had tonight--I didn't realize spices aggravate the flushing) | M | 46 | 3 years | 1/21/2008 | 4 | High triglycerides | Occasional flushing, burning, prickly feeling in the beginning. Now, itchy for days after stopping medication. | I experienced the flushing when first taking it. Started taking aspirin 30 min. before. Even with aspirin, I have been getting occasional bouts of flushing. 2 weeks ago a woke up, with not just the burning, prickly feeling but also itching. The itching occurred again today. It has lowered my triglycerides and improved my total cholesterol. I am taking tricor along with the niaspan. | M | 43 | 3 years | 1/15/2008 |