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 |
| 1 | Taking Niaspan to raise my HDL. | Mild flushing at first, but tolerable when taken at bedtime. Now, after one month, I am experiencing awful burning and itching over my neck, scalp and back. I try not to scratch it, but do so sometimes anyway. I am miserable. I've taken my last Niaspan. I'll talk to my cardiologist about switching my statin to Crestor which is supposed to increase HDL. | This stuff may work for some patients, but I have normally low LDL and total cholesterol. I'm a diabetic and on a statin to reduce MI risk. Niaspan was recommended to raise my HDL. I am done with Niaspan. | M | 65 | 30 days | 6/15/2008 | 1 | To raise HDL | Just going to add my experience to the list. 500mg taken at bedtime with low-fat snack, 1/2 hour after taking aspirin, as recommended. First 9 days was fine. Night 10 I woke at 2:00am with my face on fire and tight, like a severe sunburn. Felt faint, started to have an anxiety attack due to not knowing what was happening. Had my wife call 911. By the time the ambulance arrived, I was getting over the episode. Spent 9 hours in the E.R.: I.V., Blood work, cat scan, x-rays...doctor wanted to keep me for more tests. I will never take this again. 'Flushing' my butt...felt more like I was going to die! I glad I found this site to confirm my suspicions about this drug. | M | 43 | 10 days | 6/10/2008 | 4 | To raise HDL and lower LDL | Niaspan has worked wonderfully in reducing my husband and my Cholesterol - particularly in reducing the LDL and raising our HDL levels. BUT most importantly you must take an aspirin or 1/2 an aspirin @1 hour before the Niaspan to PREVENT FLUSHING | Again I cannot emphasize enough that you must take an aspirin or 1/2 an aspirin at least 1/2 hour before taking the Niaspan. Then it can be tolerated. I also take it at night. | F | 66 | 3 years | 6/5/2008 | 4 | M | 77 | 3 years | 5/31/2008 | 3 | High Cholesterol/Triglycerides | Mild Flushing, Increased Appetite, Rapid Fatigue During Exercise | Have a combination of two rare high cholesterol and high triglyceride conditions (CHOL >300, TG >1000). Previously treated with maximum dosage of statins until Lipitor stopped having desired effect (CHOL> 220 on max dose) and switched to Crestor until labs showed liver/kidney problems even at lowest dose. Currently treated with 20mg Lipitor and 1000mg niaspan. Initially worked up to 2000mg per day niaspan over 4 months as directed. Month 2 (1000mg) showed best lab results but began seeing decreased stamina in gym and increased appetite (weight gain) which was at its highest during month 3 (1500mg) and month 4 (2000mg). Turns out niaspan effects the thyroid which results in these effects of winded/breathlessness after very short exertions and appetite changes. Effectiveness also decreased at highest dosage (CHOL back to 300, TG back to 750). MD reduced me back to 1000mg (when CHOL/TG were in perfect range)...awaiting quarterly lab results now. Other side effects (flushi | M | 39 | 9 months | 5/30/2008 | 3 | To raise HDL | Warm, red, sunburned-like skin on face, arms, legs and butt. Severe, torturous itching that moved me to tears and desperation. Cortisone cream did not help. After a call to the pharmacy, I tried Benedryl, which alleviated the itch only slightly. I went to the ER, where I was given Valium via IV. It helped the itch. After a few hours the redness began to dissipate. | At 2:30 in the morning, I was awoken by a burning sensation on my calf, behind my knee. My skin felt warm and was bright red, particularly my cheeks, legs and butt. I began to itch on my right upper arm and my thighs. Itch does not adequately describe the agony of the practically-painful itch. My body was twitching from the itch. My doctor had warned me about the flushing and hot skin, saying the side effect was not an allergic reaction and was benign. He suggested that each night I take aspirin (325 mg) with some apple sauce. Thirty minutes later I was to take the Niaspan with the other half of the apple sauce. He said for uncertain reasons the apple sauce helped reduce the effects of Niaspan. This seemed to work, and I only had one incident of brief flushing when I had forgotten the apple sauce. I have not needed to have the apple sauce at this point, or so I thought. Now, after seven weeks I had this drastic reaction. The ER considered this an allergic reaction. The ER | F | 41 | 47 days | 5/28/2008 | 2 | To raise HDL | Always followed directions, serious "flushing" at unpredictable times. | Has not increased HDL. Why has nobody mentioned that at the rate of 1000 mg/day Niaspan (eg from Walmart) costs $1,875. per year!!! | M | 66 | 70 days | 5/28/2008 | 5 | High Cholesterol and Triglycerides | If taken on empty stomach get occasional flush. Take after evening meal to avoid flush. Raise your dose slowly under doctor supervision. | 2.5 grams currently taken. I started at 500 mg and slowly brought up. This is one of the best medicines I ever have taken in my life as a natural substance. My Cholesterol dropped from upper 200's (260-280 type readings) down to 180 with 2.5 grams of Niaspan. Ratio's and Triglycerides all normal now. Side effect is only minor if brought up slowly. | M | 47 | 1 years | 5/27/2008 | 5 | C-223; T-259; HDL-32; LDL-139 | I have not had any noticeable side effects. | Must say that I found this site before starting Niaspan and was quite anxious after reading all of the side effects that people had. I have been taking for around 45 days now; started with 500 mg and increased to 1000 mg after 30 days. I took my first blood test in Jan 2006 and C=315, T=1058, HDL=50, and LDL=81. I have always been active (jog 10-30 miles/week) and ate fairly healthy so my problem is hereditary. Have changed my diet in two years, lost around 20 lbs (must not have been eating as good as I thought, lol) and numbers haven't changed significantly in the last 1-1/2 years. Have been on 145mg Tricor for two years, Dr. decided to try Niaspan. I am anxious to have my next blood test to see the results. | M | 49 | 45 days | 5/26/2008 | 4 | High Triglicerides | On occasion, I have experienced the typical burning and flushing experienced by most users. I have found that drinking a lot of alcohol can cause me to wake up at night (2-4 hours later) with the side effects. The burning and flushing can be very strong at times, but knowing that these syptoms are normal helps me deal with them. | After taking Statins for about 20 years my body is starting to have some problems with Statins, e.g., muscle problems and not as effective. Taking Niaspan in addition to Tricor, has helped treat my high triglicerides and given me another option. The burning and flushing only occurs a couple of times a month so the benefits outweigh the side effects. | M | 53 | 5 months | 5/25/2008 | 5 | I Had cholesterol at 240. | Yes, I occasionally get that flushing sensation which scared the daylights out of me at first....thought I was having a stroke. When taken with food in the morning and with dinner at night, I rarely get flushed. But at least I realize that it is a side effect of the drug and will pass soon. | My cholesterol has dropped from 240 to between 165 and 180. I am a regular blood donor so I get a reading every couple of months when I donate. I'm thrilled with the results, especially not having to take a statin. I exersize, maintain my weight and try to eat well. I think that flushing is a small price to pay for a drug that is basically made up of B vitamins. My husband has been taking Niacin in his vitamins for years and has amazing readings. | F | 56 | | 5/10/2008 | 3 | high LDL | Flushing. Burning. Disrupted sleep. Tired, and fatigued. Noticed having more difficult time with exercise, even at more moderate levels than before taking Niaspan. I already had high HDLs, but Niaspan took HDL from 65 to 75. Lowered LDL from 159 to 133. | I don't know if my fatigue is a direct result (muscular) of Niaspan, or an effect of not sleeping well (which I believe is the result of the Niaspan). I have began taking it during the morning instead of at night to try to get better sleep. Has anyone else tried taking this medication in the morning or daytime rather than at bedtime? What were your results? | M | 45 | 7 months | 5/8/2008 | 4 | Low HDL | Had flushing 1x...Forgot to take advil before I took pills. I did wake up on fire. Next night I was okay. Since that one time I haven't had a problem | M | 35 | | 5/6/2008 | 3 | low HDL | In the 2 years that I've been taking the drug I've only had maybe 3 flushing episodes. They only lasted about 15 minutes or so. | They helped raise my HDL just slightly. I usually take 500-MGs just before bedtime. I do take a 325-MG aspirin in the morning but none before bed. | M | 60 | 2 years | 4/28/2008 | 1 | High Triglycerides | Horrible burning entire face lips neck legs arms turned red and body burnign all over!!!!! | I woke up had to go to emergency room!!!!I would take this medicine off the market!!!!! I spoke to a doctor who told me that one needs to start on 25mg!!! not 500!!!!! The doctors are starting people at 500mg!!!! Please advise the doctors/pharmacists to this danger!!!! | M | 44 | 4 days | 4/24/2008 | 4 | Low HDL | Have experienced the flushing on maybe five occasions. The itching in the morning is much worse than the flushing. I take it with an 81mg aspirin and two Kirkland fishoil pills and 20+ ounces of water. I haven't had a flushing episode in months. If I drink too much alcohol, I make sure to drink A LOT of water and I may drop dose to 500mg from 1000mg for that evening. | My HDL has raised ever so slightly, but its a tough number to move up. I'm sticking with it as the ratio is ugly and family genetics are not on my side. I'd rather wake up with itching once a month than not wake up at all. | M | 36 | 9 months | 4/16/2008 | 2 | high triglycerides | horrible "flushing"--on fire all over. Terrible itching. Had to leave work one time. No sleep another. | F | 64 | | 4/10/2008 | 2 | Lower Cholesterol | At times have had flushing, burning, tingling, itching all over the body. Those can be tolerated moreso than not, but the biggest issue is the sever eczema that has developed...In the scalp, several on the leg, side of abdomen, on rear cheek, in mustache.....It's getting really bad and continues despite using high potency cream (which seems to only make the scab fall off and expose the underneath, but comes right back after discontinuing the cream). It seems to have started after the first 60 days of starting the Niaspan. If anyone has pictures of the the rash or eczema please forward so I can compare! | M | 44 | 4 months | 4/10/2008 | 1 | very low HDL, high triglicerides | Burning sensation over entire body, itching top of head to legs,followed by a migraine headache | I feel I cannot continue to take this medication. especially when it involves migrainesa. | F | 71 | 30 days | 4/7/2008 | 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 |