NIASPAN Reviews (NIACIN)

Average Rating: 2.7 (694 Ratings)

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 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)

  

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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
 
 2  Triglycerides and low HDL I had been on Tricor for a few years. It reduced my triglyrides from 900 to about 200. My HDL was still low (teens and twenties). So my MD wanted me to try niaspan. I followed his instructions to the letter. I have experienced flushing and developed what looked like eczema. I had to take prednisone for a couple of weeks. I stayed with niaspan but will be going off now. My latest results show a negligible improvement in HDL, a significant worsening in triglycerides, and a now for the first time in my life elevated blood glucose. I was better off on tricor. It may work for some people but not for me. M 56 3 months
9/3/2008
 1  High Cholesterol I really REALLY dislike Simcor. My doctor put me on it for high Cholesterol. I was warned about the hot flushes, however, during the 2nd month of this medication, I began experience extremely itchy skin. About 48 hours, I woke up with a rash on me from head to toe. I now look like I have a case of chickenpox. I stopped taking this drug from hell (It has been 1 week), the welts are drying up and scabbing. I asked to be switched to something else, but had no success. This does not look good when I am trying to find a job and go on interviews. I am forced to wear long sleeves. I have to put socks on my hands during the night so that I don't dig. My husband has woken me up on many occasions with me literally making myself bleed. The doctor says that it is all in my head and wanted to send me to a shrink. I am now headed to a dermatologist. F 41 2 months
9/3/2008
 4  Low HDL Been on drug approx 2 months and have flushed in a serious way just 2-3 times and lasted only about 10-20 minutes... and yes, it does feel like you're on fire and it travels down your body. Some minor flushing another half dozen times early on that woke me up briefly. Oddly, though it may be in my head, I seem to be more conscious of the feeling of my heart beating, though heart rate is normal... again, not sure if that's real or imagined. After reading many posts re: side effects, many seem extreme. Some, however, seem avoidable or controllable or your doctor didn't warn you ahead of time. Its important... don't take in the morning or during the day, take right when you go to bed. Take an aspirin an hour before (or an Advil). And take Niaspan prescribed by the doctor, NOT OTC self prescribed. If have a large dinner that contains something that is high in Niacin (beef, liver, brewers yeast in unfiltered beer) consider cutting your dose in half for that night only. Remember, for this drug to work, you need massive doses 1/2 - 2 grams.... if you're up to 2 grams and have been for a month or 2 and your HDL hasn't moved, there's no point to continuing... but for many, it will work wonders. M 37 2 months
8/28/2008
 5   itchy once a week in the morning This is my second try at Niaspan and I am glad I tried it again. Doctor told me my TRI were 1300. After six weeks @ 2000mg they were 113. I am 162 lb. and lost 22lb over the past year by going low carb and no alcohol. Boring but healthy. M 61 4 months
8/23/2008
 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
 1  Cholesterol and Triglycerides My doc put me on Simcor...a combination drug of Niaspan and Zocor. I had very similar reactions...extremely hot, waking up in the middle of the night sweating profusely, racing heart, can't catch my breath, etc. I agree that this is not normal flushing. It is more like your body is ON FIRE!!! I am hot natured anyway and it is summertime in Alabama. I might could possibly take this if I lived in the Arctic!!! I wonder if they used the name Simcor to hide the "Niacin" part of this drug so that drug reps could "sell" this drug to more doctors??? I agree with others...how can this be healthy??? F 35 7 days
8/13/2008
 4  Raise HDL I take 1500 mg anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours before bedtime with water and a cracker. Some occasional mild flushing. Sometimes after my shower in the morning, I'll itch for fifteen minutes (I think the water cooling my skin begins this on, and putting on my clothes and warming back up takes it away). HDL went from the teens to around 31. M 55 5 years
8/12/2008
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 2  Low HDL / High Triglycerides Early on there was intermittent flushing. Pins and Needles and really felt like an uncomfortable sunburn. Usually subsides in about a half hour. Dr. started me on 500mg. Latest blood work after three months at 500mg shows no improvement. Increasing dosage to 750mg for two months then will be re-tested. M 43 4 months
8/12/2008
 1  High triglycerides and cholesterol GI bleeding due to iritation of the stomach lining, jaundice, elevated liver enzymes, prolonged prothrombin time (INR), tachicardia, nausea, vomiting, itching, dizziness, fainted once, low blood pressure, edema in my face I took OTC niacin 1000mg for 10 years, until June 1, 2008, when my doctor convinced me to switch to Niaspan. I took 4000mg daily of the OTC, and I was switched over at the same 4000mg daily for the Niaspan. For the next 6 weeks I had nausea, vomited once, and generally felt bad. I went back to my doctor and questioned him about the Niaspan. He told me if I was going to have a reaction, I would have known it the first time I took it. I continued taking it until July 11, 2008, when I became so nausious that I couldn't get off the couch. Later that night, I went into the bathroom and nearly passed out. 5 hours later I was in the ER, then admitted to ICU with a bleeding artery in my stomach and a hgb of 5. I received 3 units of blood, but had elevated liver enzymes, was tachycardic, jaundiced, and had a high prothrombin time, all unexplained. I questioned the doctors regarding the Niaspan usage and was told that it wasn't the cause. I was discharged 4 days later and told to restart the Nia M 49 8 weeks
8/5/2008
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 2  To improve HDL A big flash the first time at 500 mg. Hit me when I was moving around. Flashes tapered off over the next few weeks, but I noticed whenever I had a big or late dinner and followed it with Niaspan, it increased the chances of flashes; big & small. Titrated up to 1000 mg tablet without much trouble and stayed with it for most of a year. HDL levels got worse (37 to 33). Now at 1500 dose, hoping for improvement. To ward off flashes, I've done 2 things... 1 - Eat light before taking the pill. I think that pill will disolve in your stomach acids on top of a big meal and feed you a big dose all at once when it finally moves into the intestines (that's my theory to explain my experience). 2 - Be still after taking it, as you would be still when you sleep. Moving around increases the risk of a flash, and if I have one, moving around makes it much, much worse. If I wake up with that sunburn type flash going on, I lay still & calm and it passes within minutes. If I get up, move around and fail to stay calm, I'm in for a whopper... M 52 1 years
8/1/2008
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 1  To raise HDL, lower triglycerides THIS IS THE DRUG FROM HELL!! If you want to know what the Salem Witch Hunt/ burning at the stake was like, ask your doctor for Niaspan. After 3rd day woke up at 1AM. Wife heard me in the shower screaming, "I'm on fire!" Like others on here, it started with my head and went down my body and limbs. Almost passed out and had nausia. Pins & needles all over body went to tingling and then had chills. My face swelled up and wife was about to take me to the ER. Thought I was going to die. Thankfully, she found this site, and we realized that this reaction was common...!! What in the world is it doing on the market?? Next day still warm, flush and occasional burning around nose and ears. NEVER AGAIN! M 48 3 days
7/31/2008
 5  High cholesterol, low HDL, high LDL Very intermittent flushing with only 2 or 3 somewhat intense episodes in 1 year. I'll have a low fat snack, or one aspirin, about 2 hours before bed, then the Niaspan at bedtime. I started with a 500mg dose around Sept. 2007. When the results showed only minor improvement, the doctor had me go to 1000mg, then 1500, then 2000mg, . Now, July 2008, my cholesterol numbers are almost where they should be. With my insurance, it costs me $40 for a 60 day supply. M 54 1 years
7/25/2008
 3  High triglycerides and cholesterol I took Niaspan for six months. On only three occasions I experienced the very extreme reactions others have mentioned. I awoke 'flushing' - it felt like I'd been skinned, dipped in gasoline and set on fire. I got up to splash myself with cold water. I was light-headed and very dizzy. Then I experienced nausea and belly cramps, diarrhea. Eventually, (a couple of hours), those symptoms abated and I experienced extreme chills. My doctor took me off Niaspan when I told him about the severity of the reaction, also my liver enzyme levels were rising, (I also take a statin drug to reduce cholesterol). Niaspan did reduce triglyceride levels appreciably. F 52 6 months
7/24/2008
 3  low hdl flushing at about 3 in the morning, would wake me up, I took Naispan at night, about 10 pm I take my other medicine now about 8 pm, with a 81 mg asprin. I take my Naispan pill to my TV chair so i will remember it and just before I go to bed I take it,(between 10-12 pm) a couple of hours after asprin...no flushing any more M 63 6 months
7/17/2008
 1  Raise HDL Muscle soreness, fatigue, shortness of breath, unstable when standing or walking, headache. I took Niaspan for one week. My doctor gave me a good detail on use and effects, and how to counter. I had no flushing or itching. After s24-hours I couldn't complete a workout at my fitness center; and getting out of my pool I couldn't get my breath and felt faint. I had unexpected headaches and restless sleep. I am alergic to statins and there were similar effects with Niaspan. I am a type II diabetic and my blood glucose score increased an average of 10 points while taking this drug. I stopped and after one day I feel much better but am not back to where I was before I started this drug. Niaspan is not for everyone and the side effects are not worth it for the meager improvements it brings. M 73 7 days
7/14/2008
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 4  lower cholestrol Before taking this medicing i real many comments having flushing side efects. almost got scared by not taking. ask doctor to change to some other medicine. doctor told me every medicine has side effects. niaspan only with flushing. 2 of days felt like i on heat. but later now i am not getting flushing. taking over 20 days. doctor said this medicine benefits are greater then side efects. M 29 20 days
7/11/2008
 1  high ldl, low hdl very real dreams every night. If they ever turn bad I'm going to quit this stuff. Got results back today after 30 days @ 500mg-no change in blood numbers. I see the doc Friday probably to increase dose to 1000mg. I've only flushed one time but have had bad acid reflux & heartburn since starting Niaspan. So far I'm not happy with it. I'll give it another rating after next blood test. F 47 30 days
7/7/2008
 1  high ldl Insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, general malaise,increased appetite. This is my 7th day, it is 4:30 am and I am now awake...again. Intermittent hot flashes and chills...aggravating menopausal symptoms. Feel like I cannot function at work; an avid exerciser, but no energy to make it to the gym. Liver does not tolerate statins, so not sure about next steps...by reading the reviews here, seems the worse is yet to come. Sugar seems to aggravate the symptoms. F 57 7 days
7/1/2008
 3  raise HDL Originally took 500mg and then increased that 1000mg after a week. Took it with a baby aspirin and only had a couple instances of minor flushing (warmth and tingling that started in my head and face and moved down my body). After a 1.5 months, my cholesterol numbers worsened. My HDL actually went down (37 - 34) and my LDL went up. I eat very healthy, hit the gym 4x week (run 12-15 miles a week and lift weights), and have been losing weight. Doctor increased dosage to 2000mg. I've since had a couple of intense flushing episodes that woke me up in the middle of the night where I was boiling hot and skin was tingly. Itching followed that was difficult to bear. Then took a shower to get ready for work and the itching was insane. My doctor wants me to increase my dosage to 3000mg, but I'm nervous about the itching. The heat and tingly feeling is bearable, but the itching is not. I will try it with applesauce as mentioned in some previous posts. M 34 3 months
6/30/2008
 1  High Triglycerides, HDL at edge (4) On only the 3rd day of taking one 500 mg. pill at 8 AM I was driving and suddenly went totally hot, burning prickling hot all over my face. It spread down my neck to the rest of my body, my thighs esp. were burning like mad. My hands swelled up (I was wearing rings and noticed it) and saw my face swelling too. Was ready to go to the ER except I had heard the flushing would stop. I was boiling hot and had trouble focussing and pulled over at a fast-food place. I thought I was going to faint, and was shuffling like an old woman hunched over from the pain. The pain(s) did not stop for over an hour, I tried to eat something, thinking my breakfast hadn't been big enough. But I felt nauseous and ended up in the bathroom dry-heaving and then had violent diarreah. I managed to drive home 25 minutes and had trouble focussing and pulled over twice. When I got home I lay down and passed out. My whole body was aching like a flu reaction. When I woke up I felt weak and disoriented. I had wanted to take regular Niacin, which I had done in my 20s for depression. So I know what that flushing can feel like -- and this was OUT OF CONTROL! Like people on here said, really, really terrible and painful. As per lowering triglycerides, from the reviews here it does not seem either as if it works very well for that. The pharmacist had talked me out of taking regular Niacin 'because there's no quality control.' Ha, I'm wondering why she works at Pharmaca which specializes in thousands of 'no-quality control' supplements! This drug should be contraindicated for anyone who has to work with the public, or drive, because the side-effects are unpredictable. F 55 3 days
6/17/2008

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