NIACIN Reviews (NIACIN)

Average Rating: 4.1 (9 Ratings)

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 VITAMINS MINERALS

 Type: Rx Drug

  

NIACIN  (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: 1992-04-28 (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 NIACINCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  Prescribes for ringing in ears Had a severe allergic reaction. Swelling of lips, tongue, throat, sudden drop in blood pressure, profuse sweating, severe muscle weakness, panic, intestinal bleeding, headaches, severe sinus congestion, vision blurring, whole body swelled with flushing, rapid heartrate. Symptoms went away after 911 call and trip to hospital. IV fluids given in ambulance to bring blood pressure back up, also given IV steroids and benadryl. EMT's did not believe it was allergic reaction, thought it was a heart attack. I am 56. No warning on label about possible side effect except flushing. I could have died. F 56 3 days
250MG 1X day
10/19/2010
 5  Low HDL, Moderate Total Cholesterol Over the past 15 years, I have tried Ruger immediate release, Endurance Products short release, Trader Joe's timed release (TR)and Endurance Products Endur-acin TR, usually with one or two 325 mg aspirin about 30 minutes before taking 500 mg or 1000 mg of niacin in the morning with breakfast and some ibuprofin plus 500 mg niacin at bedtime. With immediate release, I get some flushing about half the time. The short release gives some flushing about 10% of the time. Endur-acin is best with no flushing at any time, and I use it now exclusively. TJ's is variable from lot to lot, some lots with more flushing than others. Niacin reduced my total cholesterol from about 210 to 160 and raised HDL from about 33 to 45. Five years ago I added a low dose, 20 mg, of lovastatin (now 10 mg of simvastatin) that reduced TC more, to about 140, and some fish oil that raised HDL to about 52. I'm pleased with a low-cost regimen that has such good results with no adverse side effects. M 68 15 years
11/14/2009
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 5  High Tri High LDL low HDL the first few times i did flush but now i chew the Niacin Tablets to get flush but niacin works great lowered My LDL from 210 to 120 and Trig and my HDL went from 34 to 48 i did not have blood work for more than six months now which is hould one very pleasent side effect it really moves your sex drive , since my dose went to 3.5g and i just want to have sex daily and on most days i do this Niacin rocks M 44 2 years
10/4/2009
 4  Raise HDL For the first 3 months, 500mg didn’t cause flushing. Then I was flushing about once a week. That was unexpected very uncomfortable. Since then I have lowered it to 250mg My HDL doesn’t seem to have improved noticeably. However, my blood pressure has lowered significantly. So I’ve lowered my Toprol XL dosage and stayed with Niacin. M 43 90 days
5/27/2009
 5  High LDL high TG low HDL some occasional flushing much better than statins that i was on or 10 months and no improvment then switcehd to Niacin bought over the counter will do blood work in the next few days M 43 4 weeks
3/20/2008
 5  Low HDL and familiy history Family history of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular disease in all male members of family, and all with significant CV events by age 48. My TC was 200, but HDL was low 30s. The first two weeks of (immediate release) Niaicn at 250mg were unforgettable. Intense flushing over 97% of my body accompanied with intense itching, even with aspirin (helped a little). After a while, started taking Endurance Products, EP Plain Naicn, (1 g/dose) which seems to act like a delayed-release formulation, three times a day. After a while, had elevated liver enzymes, discontinued for a month, and started by with twice a day dosing (total 3 g daily). After 4 years, I'm still on twice a day dosage (2 g twice a day) and my HDL measures anywhere from 40 to 50, LDL <80, Triglycerides <50, TC <140 and normal liver enzymes. Now taking Carlson labs immediate release 500 mg tablets (from Vitaminshoppe.com) which costs around 20 cents per dose (nickel per 500mg tablet). Liver enzymes are fine. Have also l I still flush slightly and I'm very fair-skinned. The flushing subsides in 10 minutes and the itching is very minimal. I love what it's done for me and I'm glad I stuck with it. In the beginning, taking a baby aspirin 30 minutes before the daytime dose helped with the flushing and itching. M 50 4 years
1/30/2008
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 2  Help with High Cholesterol. Running to the rest room to urine 5-6 times a night was very bothersome. Could not sleep without constantly having to go to rest room. Fish oil worked much better with cholesterol medicine. F 52 3 months
10/26/2007
 5  Elevated Cholesterol First week or two experienced flushing, tingling and intense skin heating lasting about 30 minutes. After that, side effects compleletly disappeared. Internist instructed me to take 3 to 4 grams of niacin & salmon oil daily. Started with 500mg doses after breakfast, lunch and dinner and worked up to 1000mg after each meal. Here are the dramatic results: Cholesterol was 237; now 189, Trig was 83; now 60, HDL was 63; now 78, LDL was 157; now 100. Doctor was blown away!! F 65 3 months
10/11/2006
 5  Elevated cholesterol/Low HDL Flushing and some nausea when dose was too high Niacin is the cheapest most effective cholesterol med out there. It is one of the few that will also raise your HDL. Read Dr Parsons book about Niacin for the definitive story. M 51 5 years
7/12/2005
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NIACIN  (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: 1992-04-28 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

     

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