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.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR NIASPANCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 4  High Tryglicerides The only side effect I have experienced was the burning and itchy feeling everyone else has mentioned. When I told my doctor of this side effect he suggested that I take an asprin when I take the niaspan. Ever since I have been doing this, Ihave not experienced it again. To top that my last doctors visit mt tryglicerides are down near 500 from a high of 1330. M 34 1 years
3/26/2007
 4  Abnormal LDL A short time after ingestion, I felt like I had a sunburn. I begin to take a multiple vitamin and an aspirin one hour prior to ingestion of the Niaspan. The side effects decreased dramtically. Prescribed 1500 mg at bedtime M 50 1 years
5/11/2005
 4  M.I., March 25, 2004 Flushing, can't sleep at time. Not bad, seems to be improving my HDL. Also have high TG, but as of now it has not changed that number. M 35 1 years
3/20/2005
 4  High everything Taking 1000mg..NORMAL FLUSHING USUALLY THE NEXT MORNING AFTER SLEEPING ALL NITE. ALL LEVELS CAME DOWN. ALSO TAKING FISH OIL AND VYTORIN 10/40. I STOPPED TRICOR..DIDN'T LIKE SIDE EFFECTS. TO THE PERSON WITH HEART PALPS..TRY TOPROL XL THAT WILL STOP THAT , ALONG WITH HELPING LOWERING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE... I FEEL BETTER SINCE I STOPPED TRICOR...DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN MEDS...THE DOCTORS SHOULD BE WORKING FOR AND WITH YOU. SO FAR SO GOOD. M 59 1 years
4/3/2008
 4  High Cholesterol nothing to report except burning, itchy skin, not after every dose but when it happens it is severe. It wakes me from a dead sleep. I am taking aspirin before the niaspan, and am also taking fish oil with the niaspan. My regimine is 30 minutes before bedtime, I take an aspirin, then at bedtime take 750 or 1000mg niaspan ( my dose has changed) and fish oil. Usually do so without incident. On two occasions I have had sever reactions but otherwsie am fine. M 49 1 years
1/8/2009
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 4  High cholesterol In the beginning I had flushing every night for maybe five minutes, however that has subsided for the most part. Lately, I have noticed the joints in my hands ache, something I have never had before. All of my numbers are much better and sore hands beat another heart attack any day! M 56 1 years
1000 1X day
10/31/2011
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 4  Reduce levels of lp(a) I have been taking Niaspan for just over one year. Started with 500 mg per day and ramped up to 3000 mg per day over 6 month. I have been on the 3000 mg dose for about 8 months. I experience the flushing once a week. Some times it is minor and sometimes it is extreme but it always subsides witnin an hour. I use baby asprin and cold water when a flush hits. I am concerned about my anxiety levels and my reduced energy levels. I am very anxious (that knot in the upper part of the abdomen) several nights a week. My energy levels are very low. I would like to know if anyone else is experiencing heighten levels of anxiety and reduced levels of energy as a result of taking niaspan. lp(a), as I understand it, is a long chain protien that attaches itself to LDL molecules and creates a super sticky molecule. High levels of lp(a) significantly increase the chances of a heart attack. I took the Boston Heart test (I reccomend this test) and found that my lp(a) levels were off the chart. Normal levels are 30, mine were 170. After 1 year of niaspan my leveles are down to 70 so it does work. M 43 1 years
3000mg/day 2X day
9/4/2010
 4  high LDL and low HDL I started out at a daily dose of 500 mg, then a few months later was upped to 1000 mg, with another increase a couple months after that to a total daily dose of 2000 mg. Initially, the 500 mg dose caused flushing, especially if I had hot food along with it. That lasted only long enough for me to research what NOT to take it with on the internet. I was fine. When I was raised to 1000 mg a day, I started flushing again, but it only occasionally occurred. Again, when I went to the twice a day 1000 mg dose, I seldom had flushing in the morning, when I took my tablet with juice, followed by a bowl of cereal. On weekends, if I couldn't wait to have coffee, the half hour I had learned was the safe waiting period, I would flush again. The second dose, in the early evening, if I took it with my dinner, not with hot food, but after dinner if having hot food, I would not have a problem. But if I forgot and had to take it later in the evening, it seemed I would experience flushing occasionally. I I like the idea of a more natural Rx, such as Niaspan, than a synthetic compound that may have other side effects. From what I have learned, the flushing is a harmless, but sometimes embarressing side effect that is worth the benefit of the drug. F 57 1 years
1000 mg 2X day
8/25/2010
 4  Increase HDL Itching, no flushing. Take a whole aspirin 1 hour before at night. I think my dose is to high. It did raise my HDL from 39 to 79 M 61 1 years
2000MG 1X day
3/18/2010
 4  HIgh Cholestrol I have taken Niaspan 500ER for about 14 months now, on top of the Tricor 145mg. that I take during the day for my high cholestrol. My doctor just added Lipitor to the other 2 because my cholestrol has not improved in the past year. All of my numbers are in the extreme danger zone. Last Sunday night, at 4:30 am, I went to the bathroom and I was having an episode of flushing when I woke up. Sat on the toilet and the flushing seemed to intensify, and the next thing I know, I am laying in the floor of my bedroom with my husband trying to wake me up. I passed out while on the toilet and I was unresponsive when he tried to get me up, so he dragged me into our bedroom. EMS came and could find no pulse nor blood pressure so off to the ER I went, via ambulance. Once in ER, as the techs moved me to the bed from the stretcher, I passed out again and this time began to convulse. The diagnosis was low blood pressure but I go to a neurologist tomorrow. I am wondering if it is a neurological problem F 50 1 years
2/1/2010
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 4  Low HDL Flushing, itching, heartburn, muscle cramps all when I was taking 1000 MG/day at bedtime. M 72 1 years
500 MG 1X day
2/18/2011
 4  low hdl when first prescribed the doctor did not say much other than may have some flushing. I had major flushing and drop in BP. Bigeest mistake is the doctor did not know about starting patients out on low doses and building up. See that over and over again in these posts. Anyone should TELL your doctor that you want a starter pack. Go slow several weeks before increasing doses Has helped my HDL. I'm glad I did my research (former medic) and can probably stay on it. F 53 1 years
9/13/2008
 4  Cholesterol and Triglycerides I take Niaspan at night just before bed. Didn't know about taking an aspirin or a lowfat snack until reading these posts (thank you). Most nights, no side effects at all. In the year since I started Niaspan I've been woken up three times with a burning sensation. Feels like a fairly bad sunburn. Face, thighs and biceps mostly. Tonight was my third time, and I woke up at 3 am and couldn't get back to sleep. The other two times I did manage to get back to sleep, but less than an hour later the pain has almost completely passed. I have naturally high blood pressure, and am on lisopril hctz, and atenolol for cholesterol. My doc wasn't happy with my triglyceride and good cholesterol levels, so he suggested niaspan. After reading the warnings, I initially decided not to take it. Next doc visit, we talked, and he told me all meds have some side effects. Niaspan is a slow release niacin (natural vitamin) and other than the flushing he said there are no risks, when compared to the very real risk of stroke or heart attack due to my BP, weight (I'm a good 80 lbs. over) and family history. I'm going to stick with this until something better comes along or I manage to control my weight and eating habits. M 48 1 years
5/8/2009
 4  high cholesterol Taking 1500 mg. will occasionly wake up itching like crazy on arms legs, stomach. Had spicy chicken wings tonite might be the problem. Has helped all my hdl ldl cholesterol levels M 57 1 years
1/16/2010
 3  LOW GOOD CHOLESTEROL HIGH BAD CHOLE SCARLET SKIN, WORST ITCHING EPISODES EVER, ALMOST HYPER VENTILATED, FELT SO SO HOT, ADRENALINE GOES HAYWIRE, THE BEST CURE I HAVE FOUND IS TAKE 2 ASPIRIN IMMEDIATELY AND THEN SIT IN THE HOTTEST SHOWER YOU CAN AND CONTROL YOUR BREATHING SLOW AND STEADY. I FEEL THAT THE ADRENALINE KICKS IN AND MAKES IT 10000 TIMES WORSE. ALSO DONT "ITCH" SKIN. RUB HAND HARD ON IT...HOPE IT HELPS. THIS DID REALLY IMPOVE MY GOOD CHOLESTEROL BUT MAN WHAT A PRICE. MY DOCTOR GACE ME A CARD THAT I NOW CAN GET NIASPAN FOR ONLY $5 A MONTH INSTEAD OF THE 50-70 DOLLARS. I WILL LET YOU KNOW IF IT WORKS. NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO THE EPISODES. I AM LOSING WEIGHT NOW. HOPE TO LOWER DOSAGE. I WILL STILL HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING MY DOCTOR SAID EVEN IF I WAS A VEGETARIAN MARATHON RUNNER AS ITS THE LOW GOOD CHOLESTEROL IS GENETIC (OR A FACTOR) M 32 1 years
11/13/2009
 3  low hdl Flushing, burning, panic attack due to symptoms. These subsided after three or four weeks, but occasionally they return. Symptoms are helped by taking one aspirin one hour before taking my 2000mg of Niaspan. Also, lately I've been experiencing shoulder pain. I don't know if it's the Niaspan or one of my blood pressure meds. (Like lisinopril hctz) M 59 1 years
8/20/2008
 3  High cholesterol Occasional intense flushing and itching. I have total body aches and pains. Not sure if the pain is a side effect. Started out with 500mg & now increased to 1500mg. See doctor in 2 months for recheck. F 53 1 years
2/15/2006
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 3  High Unbearable burning/tingling feeling (severe sunburn) making one want to pull ones hair out; usually lasting between 10-30 minutes, cold water drink tends to help. Taking 500 mg for about a year now and getting worse if anything. ?? Has anyone else notice significant trouble with vision. Like many others have tried statins with much worse effects. If continues will ask consultants advice. M 50 1 years
11/12/2005
 3  high cholesterol Could not tolerate Lipitor and Tricor (terrible leg pain) so my doc prescribed Niaspan with milk thistle and aspirin at bedtime starting with 500 mg. Cholesterol started to fall but slowly. Increased to 1,000 mg and then had first flushing attack. Figured out that eating anything with fat (even low fat) close to taking dosage can trigger. Flushing is like being on fire, red ants stinging, can't sit, stand or sleep, swollen and red skin, next day fatigue and sluggish brain. You get the idea. This has now happened 4 times (like last night) and I am seriously thinking of asking my doc to reduce the dosage or take me off Niaspan since I am suspecting that my body is becoming sensitized. The side effects really suck. I'd rather take niaspan than the meds like lipitor or tricor but wish the niaspan flushing reaction could be controlled better. It is a problem. F 54 1 years
3/24/2009
 3  Cholesterol Issues Cholesterol under control with 1,000Mg 1X/day with Niaspan. Flushing is minor while the itching has been extreme however, a rare event thank goodness! M 53 1 years
6/26/2007

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