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 Date added. 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 |
| 5 | High Cholestrol | I have taken 500mg Niaspan with Crestor for 3 months and take it at night with an aspirin, which is the big key to this. I have not experienced any side effects, except more redness around the neck. | I am on 500mg Niaspan with Crestor. My cholestrol problem is 80% heredity, therefore I have to take something and have for years. I have had this problem all my life. Without any meds it was 463! Have taken the Crestor and Niaspan for 3 months, it has now dropped to 219, of which the doctor and I are very pleased. I would say this combination works! I am glad this is a natural medicine, but wish it was cheaper. With my other meds and the Crestor, this all gets rather expensive. So far Niaspan has done a lot for me. | F | 57 | 3 months | 4/30/2009 | 1 | high tryglicarides | scariest burning and itching and dizziness- felt like my skin was on fire- had to lay on the cold floor to ease the pain, this happened one night after taking it for months with good results | F | 62 | 8 months | 4/24/2009 | 3 | cholesterol | Severe flushing | I switched from Niaspan to "slo-niacin" which is an over the counter time released niacin product made by a reputable company. Slo-Niacin starts at 250mg so you can gradually increase the dose over weeks which is very important to avoid flushing. I could not see spending so much money for niaspan when this product is very similar. I have no flushing at all if I take it when I first wake up and don't eat anything with fat for 90 minutes (cereal, fruit or oatmeal is fine). Alternatively you can take Niacin with half an aspirin and eat what you want after 30 minutes. | M | 45 | 90 days | 4/17/2009 | 4 | Lo HDL, Hi LDL, Hi TGL | Taking Niaspan for the past 8 months. Started with baby asprin and 500mg Niaspan. The LDL and TGL levels went down after 4 months but HDL stayed Lo. Increased to 1000 mg for 3 months but little change with HDL, though LDL went down to normal. Now taking 1500mg for the past 3 weeks with baby aspirin to raise HDL. For the past 9 months, I've changed my diet with lo fat food and burn 2000 cal / week thru regular exercise. For the past one week had severe stomach pain and further diagnosis revealed kidney stones. Stopped taking Niaspan as I'm taking medication to flush out the kidney stones. Not sure why this happened, probably niaspan flushing out all plaque and kidneys retaining all those? Need to continue when Kidney stones issue is sorted out. | An excellent drug that reduced my LDL, TGL levels. Tried Simcor before but discontinued due to severe muscle spasm and Niaspan helped to achieve control on my cholestrol levels. | M | 39 | 8 months | 4/5/2009 | 5 | Plaque Regression & low HDL | Flushing- typical, a minor nusance at best. | RESPONSE TO PREVIOUS POST: "Why would anyone take this medication when there are so many others out there that can help HDL without these drastic side effects. These side effects cannot be good for other organs in the body." Answer: Because it's the only drug on the market that has been proven by the FDA to actually regress the plaque in your ateries, i.e., remove it, while boosting your HDL. (Carries LDL-rich plaque stuck to your artiers back to the liver for removal) Statins don't do this nor does any other medication! OTC (aka immeadiate release Niacin is not nearly as effective, you would have to take the equivalent of 9 grams a day, and the flushing is more severe.) They have proved this with many major studies (FATS and Arbiter 2, just to name a few) of patients who had experienced heart attacks, with ateriograms taken before treatment and after treatment with amazing results, and the best part is its all natural. So yes, miss lady...you can take a statin or fibrate to slightly raise your HDL, but what are you going to do about the unstable LDL that's already stuck to your arteries that may break off and cause a stroke, a stent perhaps?? I have been on this med for months, and yes you will turn beat red, warm and tingly for around 30 mins, but is not taking it worth years off your life? You would be surprised how many doctors are truly not 'up to snuff' on disease state knowledge and effective prescribing, so choose wisely! | F | 29 | 13 months | 4/4/2009 | 4 | Low HDL, High Lp(a), High Lppla2 | It took my body nearly a month to adjust to the drug. Initially severe mood swings, severe headaches, exaustion, lucid dreaming, intense flushing on 14th day, mild flushing a couple of days after that, in general I felt like crap, and then everything went back to normal after taking it for about 30 days. I still have lucid dreaming, but nothing else really. At first the side effects were so awful that I almost quit taking it, but I decided to stick it out for about one month, and I'm glad I did. At least this is a vitamin, and not a drug like a statin. Everything can have side effects, but I'd rather take this. I also take Thorne Research Omega plus and AR-ENCAP supplements alog with a daily multivitamin. | I read this site when I started on this, and it scared the hell out of me. It hasn't been that bad, really. You have to be prepared for flushing! Yes, it feels like you've been rolled in poison ivy and thumbtacks, doused with gasoline and set a blaze! Nothing helps it, you have to wait it out. My first flush lasted 3 hours. Luckily we live in the middle of nowhere, because I ended up sitting on the deck in February with no clohes on! However, if you read holistic boards, there are many people who take niacin in order to feel the flush. They use it to detoxify. You just have to remember not to panic, relax, it WILL subside. Do not sit up quickly, the flushing means you've vasodialated. I've been on it for 2 months and I flushed one big time and two other minor times right at 14 days. I do take it with 81 mg of aspirin. For the first month I took it with a snack, I don't do that anymore, I just take my aspirin and niaspan with a large glass of water with no problems. I'll retest in a couple of months to see if it is working. | F | 32 | 2 months | 4/4/2009 | 4 | Elevated cholesterol | Doctor put me on 500 mg for one month, then 1000 mg for one month. I am now in the middle of the second month. He suggested I take a children's aspirin before taking the Niaspan and eat some fat-free wheat thins after taking it. After reading this site, I began with a regimen of eating a yogurt, taking the aspirin, then the Niaspan, then about 5 fat-free wheat thins. I always take it before going to bed. I have had only a few times where I experienced mild flushing. Within the last week I decided to try taking the Niaspan without the yogurt and crackers and have had no side effects. For now, I am only taking the aspirin and Niaspan with no problems. | I rated this a 4 based on the fact that I've essentially had no side effects. However, I do not know yet if it has helped my cholesterol levels. After one month of 500 mg and one of 1000 mg the doctor will check my cholesterol again. I'm not sure if it can change that much in two months, but I'll find out. I was unwilling to take any statin drugs, so this is my doctor's other choice. The only problem I have with Niaspan is the price! I noticed at SAM's Club that 500 mg "non-flushing" formula Niacin is available at a very reasonable price. I wonder if it would have the same benefit as Niaspan. | M | 50 | 52 days | 4/1/2009 | 4 | high cholesterol | Standard flushing in the early stages of use. My concern after taking it for ten years is possible muscle cramps, especially leg muscles. | I have taken 1000 mg twice daily. The side effects will subside and not be a concern as you continue to use it. It has helped my HDL, LDL, and Trig. really well. The addition of Zetia was fantastic with immediate results within a few weeks, but as we know Zetia had bad reports so most of us quit taking it. My concern is muscle aches. One of my friends swears he took Niaspan for just a time, couple months and it messed his back muscles up majorly. I view that as questionable. The benefit from Niaspan seems to far out weigh the concerns. Research indicates a minimum dose of 1000 mg. to make any difference. If you can do 1000 mg. You can try twice a day and examine the test results. I have read many good reports here. Agree with those who advocate the massive dose, and taking it at night. Ten hears ago I had a massive heart attack, left ventricle damage. They gave me four months at best. I have tried it all at one time or another, and here simply because of alpha blockers, bata blockers, statins, and a very positive attitude. Those who complain of a little flushing will never survive a heart attack. Flush me, flush me, if it helps me live a longer and healthier life. | M | 69 | 10 years | 3/28/2009 | 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 | High cholesterol | With 500mg, I had a moderate flushing case after a few days - called the doctor and was told can happen but to follow the directions and suggestion carefully. Was told reaction varied significantly but some level of flushing was common. From then on was fine with the occasional flushing almost always as result of not followed the suggested directions. 1000mg was quite bad with flushing every time that varied from annoying turn red & pin itchy to near naked rolling in the snow screaming, running shirtless in freezing weather, cold shower for an hour, etc. After a couple of months I told the doctor I couldn't handle it emotionally and was switched me back to 500mg. I wonder if 750mg would have been ok, but that doesn't seem to be a standard dose. | M | 42 | 2 years | 3/15/2009 | 1 | cholestrol | increase in plasma homocyst(e)ine levels | plasma homocyst(e)ine levels INCREASES and ACCELERATES the formation of plaque in the arteries. Niaspan doubles the level of this in your blood (in some people). PLEASE tell your doctor to monitor yours if you are on Niaspan. Especially if you are Diabetic. | F | 51 | 30 days | 3/11/2009 | 5 | High triglycerides | Occasional, minor flushing. Can avoid by eating foods low in fat when taken. | This review is actually for the generic, slo-niacin. I worked with my doc for over a year trying different statins for months at a time with frequent cholersterol testing. Nothing has helped lower my triglycerides and raise my HDL better than the combination of niacin and fish oil. I take 2 grams niacin each night, and fish oil three times throughout the day (~1200mg, or 9 pills total). | M | 33 | 2 years | 3/2/2009 | 3 | high triglycerides | I started taking Niaspan on Thursday (today's sat)The nurse to my Dr. nor the pharmacy told me about the flushing. So much to my surprise 3 hrs after taking it I started freaking out when I was flushed all over like a lobster! My heart rate was fast, and felt like I was stuck with pins all over! I called my Dr office since it was 10:30 at night they contacted some on call Dr. That Dr. didn't mention it was a normal side effect either! Told me to take benedryl or go to ec!!!! It went away after about 2 hrs. I talked to my Dr. the next day and she then told me it was normal and blah blah blah. So I took it last night with Tylenol and benedryl 30 min before and only had mild flushing and some itching that barely woke me up. uh! | F | 25 | 2 days | 2/28/2009 | 4 | high triglycerides / cholesterol | Flushing from minor to severe. | I've learned to take an aspirin 30 minutes before I take Niaspan. For me, it reduces the flushing effect. Also, I have found it to be beneficial to take it right before I go to bed. | M | 49 | 2 years | 2/26/2009 | 1 | cholesterol | My 65 year old brother that lived with me took his first 500mg of niaspan and died within an hour. He was on Lipitor and Tricor. He had just taken his medicine and I went downstairs to do laundry. I came back upstairs and thought he was asleep in his recliner instead he had died. Niaspan is dangerous and should not be taken with statins. This is being investigated by the FDA and others. The doctor that prescribed the Niaspan also worked for the company going all over the country lecturing about how wonderful NIaspan was. Please be careful of statins and niaspan. There needs to be a lot more studies done and I believe there will be. I wish someone had warned me about what could happen.. My brother would still be alive. | M | 65 | 1 days | 2/23/2009 | 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 | triglycerides, low hdl, high ldl | Intense burning from mid body up. Legs and feet itching. Felt like my head could explode. Lips were numb. The hottest hot I have ever felt. I took only two doses. The first night was fine, the second I had eaten a chocolate brownie. Have noticed in some other testimonies that chocolate may be a problem. I have stopped taking them until I can speak to my doctor. I was on Lopid before this, lowered my triglycerides but not enough. I was taking only 325 mg of Niaspan and 325 mg of asprin. | I don't want to experience these side effects again but after reading comments of others and some ways to maybe lessen them I maybe will try it again. I think I might try yogurt. The asprin I take is enteric coated. I have read that it should not be coated. | F | 47 | 2 days | 1/30/2009 | 3 | High Cholesterol | Flushing | This stuff works. If you take it at night before going to sleep you sleep thru the flushing. On the other hand, I'm so tired of "drugs"...My mom had cholesterol 0f 400 and lived a long long life. My ex husband's cholesterol was 190 and he had a stroke at 54. Looking for alternatives. | F | 61 | 10 years | 1/29/2009 | 3 | raise HDL | Flushing | The first time that I took this, I took it with coffee. Huge mistake! Flushed like a big dog, head to toe. Because Niaspan is not a medicine but a vitamin (b3) I did little research like I would normally do. Did some research, learned to take it with a low fat snack. I seem to get the best results with Soy Milk. Not sure if that is luck or there is some science there. Three weeks into it at 500mg so far with about 3 major flushes and a couple of minor ones. Will be tested soon to see what is next. Was on Crestor which ended up with muscle cramps etc. | M | 51 | 21 days | 1/20/2009 | 4 | high cholesterol | Initial effects of burning up, but these have lessened over the 10 years that I've been taking them. Burn up starts if I have caffeinated beverages, black pepper, curry or other spicy foods. | Every drug has side effects from minor to debilitating. I'd rather take these and suffer the initial inconvenience than have complicated atherosclerosis and end up dying young. I have suffered a strok and had keyhole heart surgery twice. I find any form of statin impossible to take due to muscle cramps. I am always tired on Niaspan but that could be my thyroid packing up. I have seen some evidence somewhere that niaspan can cause hypothyroidism, and am wondering if that has been my cause as the family seems to be clear for generations back. Maybe due to the fluoride in the water. | F | 56 | 10 years | 1/14/2009 |