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 |
| 2 | Triglycerides | I followed all my doctor's directions. I experienced increased heartburn, upset stomach, nausea, increased liver numbers and soreness. I stopped taking the medication and all the side effects went away. It certainly didn't work out for me. | M | 62 | 4 months 1000 1X day | 3/10/2011 | 5 | angina; bad lipid profile | minor flushing - usually controlled by taking medicine after a meal or by breaking the pill and taking half in AM; half in PM - not a big problem. | Was apprehensive about flushing and possible liver damage. Started with 100mg straight Niacin. Then alternated it with 500mg sustained release one day and 100mg the next. After a while went to 500 one day and 250 (which I break in two and take half in the morning, half in the evening to avoid the flush) the next. Works great. No more angina. I can climb hills, walk several miles. This is a miracle drug! (and dirt cheap: I buy non-prescription; it's basically the same as Niaspan) Now, my lipid#s are great. Saved me a bypass operation! Of course exercise and diet probably had something to do with it, too. | M | 70 | 2 years 250 to 500 1X day | 3/8/2011 | 4 | High Trig and LDL | Severe flushing the first week or so, but I don't even think about it anymore. I did find that using NyQuil made it much worse (OUCH!) but even that doesn't bother me anymore. | I am experiencing increased general muscle pain and some type of vertigo that results in a "flash nausea" experience. (Suddenly feel the false need to vomit without cause.) This goes away as suddenly as it comes on. I don't know if any of this is being caused by Niaspan however. I do object to the $4 per pill price as I lost my insurance when forced to retire in 1999. | M | 61 | 120 days 500 MG 1X day | 3/7/2011 | 5 | High cholesterol | Initially took naiacin before bed - no aspirin - woke up on fire. Checked dosing instructions (duh) and recommended aspinin 1/2 hr before bed and niaspam. followed and no issues. | I normally can't drink wine (although I enjoy reds) w/o getting a severe hangover - 2 days later. Expect that is from sulfites and /or blood vessels constricting. With Niaspam I have had no issues. For this reason alone I would recommend this drug. I will go back to the Dr's in 2 wks for a check on cholesterol - If better then I would say this is a five fingers up! | M | 50 | 3 months 1000mg 1X day | 3/6/2011 | 4 | Increase HDL | Occasional flushing and itching, on rare occasion a mild headache | My HDL was around 30 so it was dangerously low. Exercise got it up to 39 but was still low. Enter Niaspan. I take 1500 mg every evening with plenty of water (important) and within 3 months my HDL was up to 54. It does what it's supposed to do. If your body does not react to it I highly recommend it. | M | 50 | 4 years 1500 1X day | 3/6/2011 | 4 | Cholesterol | NONE whatsoever. NO itching, NO flushing, NO nothing. Take it in the morning after a bowl of oatmeal. Don't need to take any aspirin either. | I read some of these comments before I started taking NIASPAN and honestly was a little concerned about starting. 6 months later and have had excellent results, especially with my HDL increase. I have been able to reduce my Lipitor by 50% as well. Recommend this to anyone who asks !! | M | 55 | 6 months 1000 mg 1X day | 3/6/2011 | 5 | High Cholesterol | Occasional itchy skin. | It is working well - decreasing my LDL and increasing my HDL. | M | 51 | 6 months 2000mg 1X day | 3/5/2011 | 4 | CHOLESTEROL | I have not taken the prescription Niaspan. I have just seen a commercial and thought that I would look up to see how new patients are doing with this new drug. Ouch, it does appear that people are having problems. I have been taking Niacin aka vitamin B-3 which is inositol hexanicotinate 500 mg once a day and this is Flush Free. I have never had any flushing with this and I feel fine. I have no allergies and no asthma. You can buy this at any Walgreens or CVS. It would be worth trying if you are having a reaction from Niaspan. I don't know what the difference is between Niacin B-3 and Niaspan. | I also tried Lipitor and had too much muscle weakness in my arms and legs. Since taking Niacin B-3, my muscles are back to normal and I can run and lift mt 10 lbs weights again. | F | 63 | 18 months 500 MG 1X day | 3/3/2011 | 3 | High cholestoral | Started taking low dose aspirin for a month now and have not had any similar reactions to the drug. | M | 57 | 2 months 500 1X day | 2/28/2011 Patient History | 1 | CHOLESTEROL | WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ON FIRE, MY ENTIRE BODY WAS ON FIRE, SKIN SWOLLEN AND BRIGHT RED OVER ENTIRE BODY, EXTREME HEADACHE...KNEW IMMEDIATELY IT WAS THE NEW DRUG NIASPIAN I HAD TAKEN TWO HOURS EARLIER. CAME DIRECTLY TO THIS SITE TO CONFIRM MY SUSPICIONS. STILL ON FIRE AND MADDER THAN HELL! WHAT IS THIS POISON THEY CONTINUE TO TELL US IS GOOD FOR US? OUR BODIES ARE TELLING A VERY DIFFERENT STORY. NEVER AGAIN WILL I BE DUPED INTO TAKING ANY OF THIS STUFF. | 8 YEARS AGO I WAS ON THIS FORUM TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT LIPITOR. NOW I AM BACK TO WARN PEOPLE ABOUT NIASPAN. JUST ANOTHER DEADLY DRUG FROM YOUR VERY WEALTHY DRUG MAKERS. DOCTORS ARE TRAINIED TO PUSH THESE DRUGS....YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THEM!!!! | F | 65 | 1 days 500 1X day | 2/25/2011 | 1 | High cholesterol | As others have commented, "flushing" does not begin to describe the burning, pins and needles sensation throughout my entire body - feet, groin, back, neck, face, eyes. I did not have any reaction for the first 10 days, so my reaction came as quite a surprise. The really scary part for me was the shortness of breath and tightness in the lungs. It was one of the most severe as asthma attacks I have ever had. Had I not had a rescue inhaler, I would have had to call 911. | Abbott should have to change the term "flushing" to something that describes the sensation better. It is not anything I would ever want to experience again. I reported the reaction to the FDA and my doctor and would encourage others to do so. | F | 42 | 11 days 500 MG 1X day | 2/22/2011 | 1 | Cholesterol/stroke | I have completely lost my sense of smell and taste, which I had before I took niaspan. I spent 1 day intensive care, and three days in a hospital bed due to the stroke. Also the flushing and needles like so many others. | my cardiologist said to Stop taking niaspan and they would contact me in three days to see if there is any difference, the same amount of time that I was taking the niaspan, in my taste and smelling ability. I quit smoking the morning of my stroke, so now I have no vices, including tasting food. I hope I regain the ability to taste and smell again. | M | 54 | 3 days 500mg 1X day | 2/21/2011 | 3 | high LDL | woke up thurday, 2/17/2011 morning about 5 am bright red and a burning itch all over my body. recently my md increased my dosage to 1500 mg at night. it is now sunday, 2/20/2011 and I am still flushing occasionally, itching and burning all the time. can't sleep even with increased ambien and trazodone. doctor said to tough it out that I need this medicine to balance out my ldl, hdl and triglycerides. after 2 heart attacks I want to do just about anything to be more healthy but this is too much! Question is--how can a drug with so many adverse side-effects directly related to heart health be good for you? | even with an ldl of 71, hdl of 34 and better triglycerides after using 1000 mg of niaspan with no side-effects my md says there is another measure of heart health I've never heard of that needs lowering so I'm not out of the woods yet and increased dosage to 1500 mg. plan to continue eating better and increase my cardio workout and stop niaspan. burning and itching all the time is no joke! | M | 64 | 4 months 1500 mg 1X day | 2/19/2011 | 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 | 3 | To win the battle | Doctor said: "You need the "good guys" to get better weapons to win the battle. He told me that right now the "good guys" are only fighting the battle with sling-shots. The "bad guys" have automatic weapons. | 20 minutes from taking this medication, I thought that I was having an allergic reaction to the new clothes I had just bought. It looked like I was getting hives all over my body. After taking a cool shower, benadryl, and a class of water it got better. Tonight the same thing happened so I came to your site. I tried the applesauce, more water, and benadryl. I am allergic to Asprin, so I figured I'd also try to take some Flaxseed. It has now been about an hour and I am feeling much better now. I'll keep you posted on my progress. I am glad to know that others care enough to post and help everyone else. Thanks. | F | 45 | 2 days 100 mg 1X day | 2/11/2011 | 3 | Lp(a) Cholesterol | First night took with Benadryl only; had an IMPRESSIVE amount of flushing with burning, itchy palms & soles of feet. | Thank heavens I expected it.... Surprisingly, the first night's flush only lasted about 20 minutes, then it just felt like a mild sunburn. I expected much much worse from the blogs. Following evening took with 4 oz applesauce and 1T ground flax seed and had no flushing or itching. The first week I did notice I was waking up a bit earlier, and sleeping lightly, still take Benadryl to help the sleeping, and it does help considerably... Will report back when dosage is increased. So far, I feel pleasantly energized, but I am working out consistently to help the medication get cholesterol levels to the desired numbers. If you eat the right foods, you can combat the flushing. | F | 41 | 3 weeks 500 1X day | 2/9/2011 | 3 | high cholesterol | Insane burning, madening itch taht when you scratch it makes it worse. Shortness of breath, rapid pulse. I have been on niaspan for 2 yeras and folks, it doesn't get any better. I was awoke this morning at 6:00am skin on fire, lips and face swollen, itching like i have poison ivy and shortness of breath. I hate this drug, but it has it's benefits. I have asked my dr. to take me off of it, but he wont. Says it's a good drug. I have these attacks everynight. I've tried the aspirin, triscuit crackers, aspirin, water and a few other things but none of them work. Is there anything else out there?????? | good drug, horrible side effects. | M | 47 | 2 years 500 1X day | 2/8/2011 | 4 | Low HDL | Flushing in face, neck, chest and arms. | I have been taking this stuff for 4 years plus and still experience the flushing, not every time but pretty regular. It does work though - if you can stand it. My HDL level was in the low 20's when I first started. After a few months is was up in the lower 40's and has continued to stay there. If there was any other medication to raise HDL I would switch, Niaspan has too many side effects. | M | 62 | 4 years 1500 mg 1X day | 2/5/2011 | 5 | High Cholesterol | Minor flushing in the beginning | I started on 500 mg of Niaspan in August 2010. Cholesterol was 247. I refused to take any more statins due to dizziness and overall yucky feeling. Doctor prescribed the Niacin to see how I would handle it. I posted last September (2010) on my immediate reaction, which was a very hot, flushed, skin on fire reaction. That happened only once. I then learned to take it with dinner instead of a small snack before bedtime. If I get a feeling that the flush is starting I read to drink an 8 oz glass of water right away and the flush will disappear instantly, and it did! I get a very minor flush maybe once every two weeks,but it only lasts a minute or so and that's without taking water. My body has become used to the niaspan. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WITHIN 6 MONTHS MY CHOLESTEROL LEVELS DROPPED TO 193 !!! The blood test I took came back just fine, with no problems with my liver or thyroid. I am a Believer in this Medication ! | F | 57 | 6 months 500 mg/day 1X day | 2/4/2011 | 1 | High cholesterol | I woke up at 2am and my face was on FIRE. I felt like if someone had slapped my soooo hard all over my face. My heart rate went up. When I looked in the mirror, my face was blood red. I am a teacher and the next day I could't read from the computer because my eyes were not fucussing well. I had a terrible headache for days and I was shivering. I felt very cold. I turned the heater all the way up, but it did not help. My back pain got five times worse. I feel like if I have grown old, very tired. I have even stopped doing the little exercise I was doing. I have decided not to continue taking this stuff any more. | Very dangerous stuff!!!!Plase read my experience with this medication!!!!!!!! | M | 35 | 1 days 500 1X day | 2/4/2011 |